The popular television personality, comedian Loni Love, has faced significant backlash on social media due to some of her remarks on ‘The Real.’ Specifically, she received criticism for her comments about Porsha Williams, a cast member of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ who has been navigating challenges in her relationship. Despite enduring infidelity from her fiancé Dennis while pregnant, Porsha has chosen to continue with their relationship. During a discussion on ‘The Real,’ Loni Love jokingly suggested that Porsha might be staying with Dennis to secure another reality show.
I’d be intrigued to tune in because great TV makes for great TV. What if she’s planning on taking them all the way up to the altar, only to leave? That’s what Lonnie remarked about Portia, and honestly, I didn’t find anything wrong with it. I thought it was quite humorous. Lonnie’s there for comedic relief, so it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. However, Portia took offense and called Lonnie out on Instagram. She wrote, ‘This B F you fake a don’t run up smile, and when I see you.’ Someone suggested, ‘Take this down, sis, you’re better than this,’ to which Portia replied, ‘I will after she sees it.’ Lonnie responded, ‘Portia, I didn’t say anything negative about you, and you know it. It was a light-hearted comment. I wish you well.’ #comic. I’ll reiterate, I don’t think what Lonnie said was harmful. She was just joking, and frankly, being real. I do believe Portia and Dennis might land another reality special when they tie the knot, so it’s not far-fetched to suggest Portia might be angling for another show because I genuinely believe she will. However, I don’t think she reconciled with Dennis solely for another reality show. Portia has a daughter, and she wants to give her a shot at having a family, so that’s probably why she got back with Dennis. But I don’t think Portia should have reacted so strongly to Lonnie’s comments because Lonnie was just joking, and Portia should recognize a joke when she hears one. Portia is on ‘Dish Nation,’ and she often jokes about celebrities, so I think she was being a tad oversensitive. That’s just my take.
Here’s a general guideline: if you’re dishing it out about other celebrities, you’ve got to be able to take it when the tables turn. Let’s dive into the recent remarks made by some ‘The Real’ co-hosts aimed at black bloggers and YouTubers. These are the very individuals they often rely on for information. Yet, suddenly, they’re discrediting them, seemingly because they’re uncomfortable with being discussed themselves. It’s quite amusing, considering they freely discuss others on their show and often draw from the same sources we do. They’ve even shared their opinions on Porsha’s relationship, so it’s puzzling why they take issue with black YouTubers and bloggers doing the same. Credit where it’s due, though—Loni Love stood up for Instagram bloggers and YouTubers, recognizing the show’s own sensitivity when they become the topic of discussion.
“Now, let’s play what was actually said: ‘Why do we give so much credibility to blogs and online news sources without any credentials? There are people out there spreading false information. You can go on YouTube and find countless stories about each of us, most of which are far from the truth. What’s frustrating is that many of these videos have millions of views. It should probably be against the law to be a source without revealing your identity. I believe if you’re confident enough to voice opinions about elections, you should be accountable for what you say. I do acknowledge that there are both good and bad blogs. Historically, people of color blogs often struggled to gain visibility in mainstream media. While some platforms like People.com and TMZ have given us recognition, we still rely on press coverage to keep our show going. However, there are blogs that cross the line with ridiculous claims, and it’s important to call them out. I appreciate Loni standing up for black blogs; she’s absolutely right. Without the attention from blogs and YouTubers, ‘The Real’ wouldn’t be as widely discussed. They shouldn’t see us as adversaries.’
While I understand that not all stories we cover may be favorable to them, ultimately, we’re boosting their show by discussing it. I harbor no ill feelings toward any of the ladies on ‘The Real.’ Tamara, Jeannie, Adrienne, and Lonnie all possess talent and contribute to a great show. However, it’s inevitable that drama sometimes surrounds their program, which brings me to my next point.
Recently, there was a tense moment on the show between Lonnie and Jeannie during a discussion about Shannon Bodrum, known as Shan Booty on YouTube. Shannon, a sex educator and advocate for sexual health, discussed in her book ‘The Game of Desire’ about using cue cards to assist someone on a date. When the topic was brought up on ‘The Real,’ Loni’s remarks stirred controversy and nearly sparked a clash with Jeannie. Loni’s comments, while possibly intended as jest, missed the mark and came across as ignorant and offensive.
So, while Loni may have meant it as a joke, her remarks didn’t land well and ended up being quite problematic.
Shannon identifies as multiracial, with her father being of Indian descent and her mother being of both white and black heritage from Caribbean countries (her father is Guyanese, and her mother is Dominican). Growing up, she was immersed in West Indian culture. She points out that being multiracial doesn’t always mean being mixed with white and black exclusively; there can be more to it. However, she emphasizes that her race isn’t relevant to the discussion at hand, making Loni’s statement about it seem out of place.
In response, Shannon shares a powerful realization she’s had in her life: that the only negative opinion that truly matters is her own. She acknowledges feeling drained by the situation but remains focused on her journey and accomplishments. Shannon explains that while pushing her book forward, various messages arise, and people form opinions, which is natural. She encourages everyone to seek the love and sexual life that suits them best and to find educators who align with their values. Shannon accepts that not everyone will like her, and she’s okay with that.
She reflects on how comments like Loni’s might have affected her in the past but now sees them as outdated and not representative of the majority’s viewpoint. She suggests that this moment serves as an opportunity for Loni to self-reflect and recognize the insensitivity of her remark. Shannon’s full response can be found on her YouTube channel for those interested in hearing more.
Lonnie did address the backlash she received, expressing, “You know, the thing is, just like we make black-and-white jokes, everybody on this table makes black-and-white jokes. But it’s just about how you do it. Yeah, how you do it. And for me personally, I never intend to say something hateful. Any joke I’ve made on this show has been said out of love, not hate. But people need to loosen up.”
However, I must respectfully disagree with Lonnie. The jokes she made weren’t rooted in love; they stemmed from ignorance. While she may have initially intended to be funny, the reception was far from humorous, leading her to become defensive. This was one of those instances where the joke fell flat. While Lonnie is undoubtedly funny, she occasionally misses the mark, as she did here.
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