Basketball Wives Reality Series Renewed by VH1 Despite Bullying & Fighting
Reality show "Basketball Wives" has been renewed for a fifth season. The show has been heavily criticized for promoting bullying after cast member Tami Roman was filmed verbally assaulting Kesha Nichols. However, Shed Media, the company that produces the show, has reassured viewers that cast mates to resolve issues in a non-violent fashion.
Shed Media released a statement saying: "Shed Media US is fully committed to telling the compelling stories of the Basketball Wives in a balanced way. Our producing partner Shaunie O'Neal feels strongly about this, and we fully agree with this stance. We support her as she encourages the cast members to work out issues in a non-violent fashion. We look forward to working with her and the rest of the cast on conveying more balance in the next season."
VH1, which airs the program, also released a statement which said: "Our viewers' opinions always matter a great deal to us at VH1. Lately, there has been a lot of conversation about Basketball Wives, a series featuring strong, intelligent women with very passionate viewpoints, which can sometimes escalate.
"We at VH1 agree with and support Shaunie and the show producers' "no excessive physical confrontations" policy on the series moving forward. We are all committed to balancing the candid, bold excitement that the viewers have come to love in the series with storylines and representations they can be proud of. Shaunie has been a strong advocate for a more balanced approach to the show and we, along with our producing partners at Shed Media, are all in agreement about moving forward with that goal."
Recently Tami Roman of the reality show issued a public apology to new cast member Kesha Nichols after verbally harassing the cast-mate to the point of bullying.
Roman wrote in a Facebook post: "I don't apologize for it 2b accepted - that is ultimately the other person's right to accept or deny it. My only responsibility is to acknowledge a mistake was made and own up to it. I apologize to my family, my REAL friends, my business colleagues, and my Project Girl ladies 4my recent behavior on BBW. I am NOT a bully as depicted on the show, but I did make poor decisions in handling my differences with my cast mate. I sincerely apologize to all of us, as well as to my castmate who was on the receiving end of my wrath."
