The Love & Hip Hop franchise has announced that they will air a special on racism and colorism called Love & Hop Hop: Racism, Colorism, and the Uncomfortable Truth.
The episode is scheduled to air after Atlanta’s season finale – the same season Erica Mena was fired from after calling one of her castmates a monkey.
According to Mena’s representative, Steve Honig, Mena was not pleased that she was not asked to join the conversation, although some argue that it would have been counterintuitive to have her on the show following the remarks she made that got her fired in the first place.
When Love & Hip Hop made the announcement about the show’s airing, producers said: “This roundtable discusses the recent events that aired on the show before MTV decided to stop filming with Erica Mena. International colorism expert Dr. Sarah L Webb, founder and owner of Colorism Hearing, leads an open dialogue featuring the Love & Hip Hop cast members.”
Mena was fired from the reality series following backlash over a clip that surfaced in which she called one of her castmates a “monkey.” The show made the announcement on their social media accounts shortly after the airing.
“The Love & Hip Hop franchise has never shied away from hard conversations in our community. Working hand-in-hand with our partners, viewers will see the impact of Erica Mena’s remarks play out in the final three episodes of the season,” the message reads. “Effective immediately, she will not appear in the next season of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.”
Before the firing, Shine My Crown reported that the 35-year-old New York native trended online after MTV posted a clip of a recent episode, where she is seen amidst a controversial argument with fellow reality star Spice.
During a heated exchange between the two, Spice, a dancehall artist, is heard saying that Mena’s oldest son doesn’t like his own mother, causing Mena to flip a table, wishing her death and calling her a racial slur.
“That bit*h should’ve died!” Mena yelled referring to a health scare Spice endured last year.
“Your son hates you, bi**h!,” to which Mena replied, “You monkey, you f**king blue monkey!”
The exchange immediately set internet users ablaze, with many suggesting the term “monkey” is a term used to degrade Black people. Some also blamed Spice for bringing up Mena’s son during the argument, but by and large, it was Mena who was at the fore of the confrontation.
Following Mena’s firing, she said “I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness.”
