MTV’s ‘Are You The One?’ And The Future Of Queer Representation In Reality TV

Season 8 of “Are You the One?” features 16 contestants who identify as “sexually fluid.”

Reality dating shows are nothing new.

You know the tropes: a bunch of conventionally-attractive heterosexual young people vie for the heart of an eligible bachelor or bachelorette, conflicts arise and drama ensues.

In an effort to stand out from the crowd, shows have used gimmicks from pitch darkness to mandatory nudity.

But MTV’s latest season of “Are You the One?” promises something different: For the first time in the show’s eight-season history, all 16 contestants identify as “sexually fluid” and are attracted to all gender identities.

The stakes are just as high as in the show’s first seven seasons: If they all find the “perfect” match by the season’s end, they split $1 million.

The show provides a platform for a range of identities that are seldom represented on TV — let alone reality TV. But it’s wading in tricky territory.

BuzzFeed’s Pier Dominguez weighs in:

Sexual fluidity often gets reduced to this trope of “will this (conventionally hot) woman ultimately pick a man or a woman?” in a way that seems designed to turn on straight men — or at least, the trope is designed not to offend straight logics about desirability.

But the housemates in “Are You the One?” aren’t just fluid in terms of their sexual orientation, and the actual show doesn’t limit itself to that straight-gazey question of “which gender will they pick?” The castmates represent a much fuller range of the gendered spectrum, from femme and masc queer men to butch and femme queer women, to nonbinary and trans castmates. In bringing them all together, the show is creating a televisual space to stage the complexities of gender and desire that can come with queer dating and that are rarely seen on television ⁠⁠— or in pop culture, period.

Can we trust reality TV not to exploit those it claims to champion?

Show produced by Kathryn Fink.

A Gay Trump Voter Will Be Featured on MTV’s New Naked Dating Show ‘Undressed’

Undressed, the brand-new dating show coming to MTV on August 16, promises to be very hot and sexy. It also promises to be a tad controversial, and the new promo suggests a gay Trump voter will be featured.

MTV explains: “Undressed, the brand-new series coming to MTV on August 16, will feature two strangers becoming acquainted with one another — with a sexy twist. Mere minutes after exchanging formalities, the duo will be instructed to remove their clothes and answer questions/perform challenges in order to test their compatibility. It’s time to strip — and get really real.” 

Things seem to get heated between a gay couple in bed when one asks the other, “As a gay man, how could you vote for Trump?”

This isn’t the first time MTV has featured a show called Undressed. From July, 1999 to September, 2002, the network aired a series that followed the relationships of young people, often high schoolers, college students, and twenty somethings in the Los Angeles area. The series was controversial for its frank discussions about sex, including depictions of promiscuous behavior between teens, as well as gay and lesbian relationships.

The new iteration of Undressed hails from Australia where the reality series is already extremely popular.

Read more: unicornbooty.com

Trina Calls Out Jealous Women in Instagram Live Video

It’s not often we get to see Trina get angry, but a new rant shows her going off on jealous women in Miami. 

The “Damn” MC posts an Instagram Live feed, where she rants at other ladies who are allegedly jealous of her, which may reportedly have something to do with the upcoming series, Love & Hip Hop Miami.

Trina is FED 👏🏾 UP👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/Uhynn4d66E

— cam (@20goodminutes) August 10, 2017

Fans are speculating that the video may be partially taking aim at KimBRocsMics, who is rumored to be part of the cast on the VH1 series, as Trina says they’ve been “plotting to get on TV.” Not only does the female MC call the ladies “bum ass hoes,” but she even mentions them not being at any toy drive to give toys away to children in need.

“I see you bum ass bitches around, i don’t speak on you bitches,” Trina rants. “I don’t give a fuck about you hoes. I’m too busy getting money. Fuck you talkin’ about? Too busy planning for Trina Day next year. 

Since I don’t give back–give back that, hoe! Did you ever give at a toy drive? I ain’t ever see you at a muthafuckin’ hospital giving toys to the kids, bitch!”

There’s still no confirmation as to who Trina is going off on, but her rant is definitely hitting hard with social media users, who are still trying to dissect who she’s aiming at.

Read more: xxlmag.com

Maci Bookout’s Ex Ryan Edwards Appears High On Drugs In Disturbing Teen Mom OG Scenes

Ryan Edwards is being faced with allegations of drug use after an out-of-character appearance on Monday night’s new episode of Teen Mom OG.

As Maci Bookout thrives in her personal life with her recent marriage to Taylor McKinney, and also the recent addition of her third child, son Maverick Reed, Ryan Edwards appears to be struggling immensely.

On October 12, Radar Online shared a report about Ryan Edwards’ behavior during the latest episode of Teen Mom OG, along with a headline suggesting he may be a “druggie dad” and revealing he’s been accused of “being high” on the show.

During the episode, Ryan Edwards was seen visiting with his son, 7-year-old Bentley Edwards, after the boy’s baseball game to celebrate Father’s Day.

However, instead of a happy celebration, questions of drug use arose as Edwards was seen talking to Bentley, whose mother is Bookout, with bulging eyes.

As the episode aired, fans weighed in with comments suggesting he was “totally drugged out” and “higher than a kite.” Others pointed out that Ryan Edwards chose to sit home on the couch rather than attend his son’s Championship game.

“After tonight’s episode I am convinced that [Ryan Edwards] is on drugs and that’s why Larry kicked him out,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Bugged eyed [Ryan Edwards] asked Bentley if he hit well in his game twice in two minutes and nodded off.”

On Monday night’s show, Ryan Edwards’ father chose to kick him out of their home after accusing him of being “lazy” and “selfish.” Larry also labeled him as a “blood-sucking leech” before Ryan Edwards claimed the two had engaged in a fight about his father’s wrenches.

Another report on October 12, via The Hollywood Gossip, also spoke of Ryan Edwards’ possible drug use and shared a headline that asked if his behavior was the result of drugs. The outlet also suggested that Edwards’ potential drug use may have led Larry to kick him out.

“I’m over his lies. I’m over his laziness, selfishness. I’m done with it,” Larry said during the episode. “I’m done with him forever. I don’t want him anywhere around me ever… And I never wanna be around him ever ’cause I’m tired of that bloodsucking leech. I’m over it.”

Shocking! Maci Bookout’s Ex Ryan Edwards Appears High On Drugs In Disturbing #TeenMomOG Scenes 

https://t.co/Ruso4DGhBw pic.twitter.com/Md3iJ76o9G 

— All About The Tea (@AllAboutTheTea_) October 12, 2016

Read more at inquisitr.com

Oxygen Network 'Sisterhood of Hip Hop' Star Is Joining VH1 'Love & Hip Hop Miami' Cast!

Cast of Oxygen Network Sisterhood of Hip Hop 

Mic Check... Come again?! What Oxygen Network star is joining the 'Love & Hip Hop Miami' on VH1?!

   A certain member of Oxygen’s “Sisterhood of Hip Hop” cast was previously asked to join Mona Scott Young’s “Love & Hip Hop” franchise.

   According to this lovely femcee before Oxygen execs started calling, she was asked if she’d be interested in the glass throwing shenanigans of the VH1 program.

Love & Hip Hop via VH1

        Diamond was originally rumored to be joining the Atlanta version of the show in 2012 while dating Soulja Boy, an interesting move that would’ve put her onscreen with her ex Lil Scrappy. With that said, who do you think would’ve been a viable candidate for present day “Love & Hip Hop”??? 

Do you think it was Brianna Perry...??

YES, she got the call from Mona Scott Young’s people.

Brianna Perry

    The American rapper and actress from Miami-Dade County, Florida. She was the youngest act signed to Missy Elliott's label The Goldmind Inc. as well as the youngest to be affiliated with Slip-N-Slide Records, home to rappers Trina and Rick Ross. 

    Perry made her debut on Trina's album Diamond Princess on the track "Kandi". Since then, she has released several mixtapes and starred as a regular cast-member on the reality-television series Sisterhood of Hip Hop.

      Trick Daddy confirmed on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, that a Miami edition of the popular Love & Hip Hop franchise is indeed in the works. Now Headkrack & Special K are letting their imaginations run wild as they begin dreaming up a cast! Check out the video to hear him explain more in this edition of the Hip-Hop Spot! 

Sisterhood of Hip Hop on Oxygen

           Love and Hip Hop Miami has been a rumored new addition to the LHHseries for some time. Scott-Young, who oversees all LHH-related productions, once teased south Florida as a destination in an interview with The Jasmine Brand. “It’s no secret,” she said, “that I’ve looked at a few cities….I think that there are some great stories…to tell.”

      

           Some of the bigger names being mentioned in connection with Love and Hip Hop Miami include Brianna Perry, Rick Ross, and Trina. It is worth pointing out, though, that Trina was vehemently against getting involved with any LHH spinoffs just a couple of years ago. Trina claims she was asked to participate in Love and Hip Hop Miami back in 2014, but declined because the show’s formula was too limiting. 

Source: rickeysmileymorningshow.com