Shawty Lo, His Baby Mamas And Who We Should Really Be Mad At

Plenty of finger-pointing about this reality idea, but is it in the right direction?

When you think about it, there might be more black family representation on television than we realize. But still, the number of Shawty Lo's "baby mamas" and kids still outnumber those shows. The harsher reality is that when and if "All My Babies' Mamas" hits the air, its viewership is probably going to trump that of all of those too.

Let it be known that 2012 was the year of "ratchet s**t." Nobody had a problem yelling "all I want for my birthday is a big booty h*" in the club. Everybody knows exactly what a "Stevie J face" is too. Hell, one of the biggest songs in rap this year was one called "I Do It For The Ratchets." So it's only right that news of "All My Babies' Mamas" caps off the year.

On social media, people have been directing most of their anger at the Oxygen network and Shawty Lo himself. Granted, it has not been confirmed that the show will air, but if it is true, what are folks really upset about? Oxygen is only doing its job. Reality shows like the ones it airs are its biggest winners. Same goes for "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" on Bravo, and the "Love and Hip Hop of Basketball Wives" conundrum Vh1 has been showing for years. The team who created MTV's "Teen Mom" are reportedly the executive directors for the show. Oxygen is selling to whoever is buying. 

[Also Read: Do Reality TV Producers Go Too Far Sometimes?]

As for Lo? Well, the guy's biggest hit is a song called "Foolish" but beyond that, his work was done before this pilot even existed. Eleven kids by 10 different women? We still don't have words for that. Maybe creating this show is his trying to find a way to better provide for them. In the trailer, none of the "baby mamas" talked too slick about Lo or said that he was a terrible father. Their only gripe was that one of the picks of the litter got to go to private school. None of them seemed to have a problem with Lo himself, but instead, problems with each other.

Which brings us to who people should really be mad at, and if anyone, it's the "baby mamas." Sure, say what you want about Shawty Lo being promiscuous. Call him a dog, whatever. But it takes two (multiplied by five) to tango. Lo is a known attention hound who always finds his way in front of the right camera at the right time, but he can't make a show called "All My Babies' Mamas" without the babies' mamas' full participation. Hell, he can't become a "baby daddy" without their cooperation either. 

On Friday, soon after the trailer leaked, an online petition began circulating, demanding that the plug be pulled on the show before it even airs. Obviously, "pulling" hasn't worked very well for anybody involved in this show so far, so a petition isn't going to do much to help either.

At this point, the only feasible thing that anybody who disapproves of this show can do is to keep their young daughters away from Shawty Lo.

Just for kicks, we wanted to share this photo of Shawty Lo at an event sponsored by Trojan condoms' Magnum brand a couple of years ago. 

Guess we know who didn't take any samples home.

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Shawty Lo Starts Petition To Reinstate Reality Show

More than 250 signatures have been signed to the petition so far.

Rapper Shawty Lo has decided to fight fire with fire after having his reality show “All My Babies’ Mamas" canceled. The 'Dey Know' rapper has started a petition to have his show, with his 10 baby mamas, reinstated on Oxygen. The show was pulled off the network after a Change.org petition received more than 37,000 supporters.

In a letter attached to the petition, the race card was pulled as a defense for Lo’s actions. The letter also cited financial hardship as a reason to reinstate the show. “Would you rather see 11 children struggle with mothers on welfare? Or watch a man support his children?” the letter asked. Kali Bowyer, a spokesman for Shawty Lo, claims that their camp has received 123,000 emails in support of the show; the petition had only received 282 supporters at the time of this post. (Hip Hop Wired)

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Oxygen Kills ‘All My Babies’ Mamas’ Project

Network offers no reason for halting production, in the wake of public disapproval

The folks at cable’s Oxygen got an earful of criticism after announcing plans for a reality special about Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo and his 11 children with 10 different women. Now, in a statement issued Tuesday, Oxygen Media says it is killing its “All My Babies’ Mamas” project, after having “reviewed casting.” The network did not offer any specific reason for the cancellation. “All My Babies’ Mamas” was the subject of intense public outcry, as critics accused the network of peddling unflattering stereotypes of African Americans. Oxygen denied that was their aim in previous statements. At least one online petition calling for Oxygen to shut down the production had collected more than 37,000 signatures. (Associated Press)

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All My Babies’ Mamas: How Low Can We Go?

Stereotypes, minstrelsy abound in Oxygen's upcoming parenting reality special

While most children in the U.S. are born out-of-wedlock, 73 percent of black babies are born to single women, according to government data analyzed by Child Trends, a Washington, D.C. research group. Fifty-three percent of Hispanic babies and 29 percent of white babies are born to unwedded mothers.

Although Oxygen is known for the rarely-edifying shows Bad Girls Club and Snapped, Lamb believes the network has crossed the line with All My Babies’ Mamas, which she says trivializes black motherhood.

“The people who decided this were so disconnected from the African American community that it was okay for them to sell out our children, to sell our souls,” Lamb said. “It was okay for them to do that because they didn’t have any compassion, no connection. We weren’t in the room. And my question is, in 2013, why? And, as a community, why aren’t we holding these networks accountable?”

In a statement sent to Loop 21, Oxygen said it is not trying to peddle stereotypical images of African Americans.

“(All My Babies’ Mamas) is not meant to be a stereotypical representation of everyday life for any one demographic or cross section of society.,” the statement reads. “It is a look at one unique family and their complicated, intertwined life. Oxygen Media’s diverse team of creative executives will continue developing the show with this point of view.”

Oxygen’s statements to the press have not quelled public outrage. The Parents Television Council, a non-partisan organization advocating responsible entertainment, has called on the Oxygen Network to cease further development of the show.

“Every time we think that the television industry couldn’t stoop any lower, sadly one of the networks steps forward to prove us wrong,” said PTC president Tim Winter. “This new project … is grotesquely irresponsible and exploitive…”

Joining Lamb’s call to boycott show sponsors, Winter’s group pledged to hold “hold them accountable as well.”

There isn’t complete agreement on this in the parenting advocacy community. Kenneth Braswell, executive director of Fathers Incorporated, an organization that focuses on responsible fatherhood, believes the uproar behind All My Babies’ Mamas is only temporary and will blow over in a few weeks.

“There’s never any sustained thought on how media is presenting us and we don’t engage in the activities that would change and transform [reasons] why they would air these shows in the first place,” he said.

Braswell points to shows such as “Basketball Wives,” “Love & Hip Hop” and, most recently, “The Sisterhood,” which enjoy high viewership in African American households.

“Every time one of these shows hits the airwaves, there’s a flurry of conversation around how it diminishes the images of African American people. Yet, when the show is aired, everybody is tuned in,” Braswell added. “If we don’t want it, then we shouldn’t consume it. As long as we consume it, they’re going to continue to produce it.”

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