Singer Kandi Burruss' fiance' Ashley "A. J" Jewell was killed this weekend at a strip club and gratefully there is an arrest, but it got me to thinking that nothing good ever comes of being on a reality show. You may recall that Burruss and her fiance' were together when they started out on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but reports of thier split followed a few weeks after the show hit the air. There is nothing like having your business out in the street to cause dissent in your relationship. We don't know if they were on the outs before, but I bet the show didn't help.
We can't make a solid correlation here, but I'll tell you what: I can't name one person who has ever benefited from being on a reality show. These shows that let us into the lives of stars and micro-celebrities bring out the worst in people while propping up negative sterotypes, tearing up families and feed dysfunction. Worse yet, sometime they become kidsploitation and domestic freakshows, like Jon and Kate Plus 8, who needed a social service intervention long before they got divorced. You kids should not be the hook for a reality show. How could that possibly be a in thier best interest?
Of course, my heart goes out to Jewell and his seeds and I know dude was reportedly an part-owner in the club, but I can't help but wonder if the high of cheap reality show stardom had him out tossing dollars at strippers instead of at home tending to his kids. Do you think I am making a connection where there is none to be made here? Can any of you name anyone who has been on a reality show that has not just come out unscathed, but benefited in the long-term? Why do people still go on these shows, after seeing couples crash and burn?
Single Father, Author, Screenwriter, Award-Winning Journalist, NPR Moderator, Lecturer and College Professor. Habitual Line-Stepper