STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Exclusive: Yandy Smith Responds to Criticism That 'L&HH' Makes Black Women Look Bad

The reality star broke it down in detail.

Yandy Smith stopped by the BET offices in New York to dish on her new book, My Blended Family, and spoke on the backlash she and some of her fellow female Love & Hip Hop castmates get in the process.

Her response to those who criticize the franchise for being the falling grace of Black women may surprise you.

So, how does she feel about Black women, especially on her reality show, being labeled "ratchet?" According to her, it's all entertainment.

"I feel like there's a lot of backlash to reality TV and I do understand, as a mother, why there may be such, but I think what viewers need to understand is this is for entertainment purposes only," she said. "No one signs a Love & Hip Hop contract and there's an amendment that says, 'I'm also signing up to be a role model.' Morally, yeah, you should have some responsibility to your community. I do believe that, but again, the purpose of these shows [is] to entertain. When they stop entertaining or when they fail to entertain, they will no longer be on the air."

Breaking down the logistics of it all, Smith explained that it's the viewers who hold the future of reality TV in the palms of their hands, as, according to the numbers, "ratchetness" is what sells.

"So, I think a lot of times instead of pointing fingers at reality TV, people need to turn and point the finger at themselves because if you stop watching and you stop thinking it's so ratchet, there will be no reality TV," she said. "But because so many people watch it and are entertained and continually support, the advertising dollars keep coming in, the bigger budgets keep coming in, our paychecks get higher every season. You know, you are helping for this to stay on the air."

Yandy's new book, My Blended Family, is currently available online and at Barnes & Noble bookstores.

See the reality star dish a bit more on the backlash of reality TV in the video above.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.