Erica Mena Faces Public Outcry for Racial Slur Against Spice on ‘Love & Hip Hop’

Erica Mena is facing public backlash after a recent episode of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” where she used a racial slur against co-star Spice. The episode, which aired on August 29, 2023, has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with fans demanding that Mena be removed from the show.

The incident, which unfolded on the episode of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” that aired on August 29, 2023, has sparked a firestorm of controversy and public outrage. Erica Mena, a reality TV star and mother of three, sat down with Jamaican dancehall artist Grace Latoya Hamilton, popularly known as Spice, to discuss matters related to their mutual friend and co-star, Safaree Samuels. The conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument, culminating in Mena hurling a racial slur at Spice, calling her a “blue monkey.” The derogatory term has historical implications and is considered a racial slur against Black people.

The meeting between the two women was arranged by their mutual friend and co-star, Shekinah Anderson. The primary focus was for Spice to share information that Safaree Samuels had told her. Mena and Samuels were married for nearly two years and share two children. Spice also has two children from a previous relationship. The argument between the two women was ignited when Spice questioned why Samuels was emotional about her health scare but indifferent to his divorce from Mena.

Mena's comments have led to a public outcry, with many fans demanding that she be fired from the show. Social media platforms were flooded with comments criticizing Mena for her racially insensitive remarks. One user stated, “Erica Mena is a white Latino racist cosplaying as a black woman. To call THEE Spice BLACK & MONKEY then a BLUE to say she should've died? YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO YOU!!”

Spice also faced backlash for mentioning Mena's child during the argument but received significantly less criticism compared to Mena. In a post on her Instagram account, Spice questioned the double standards, asking why her comments about Mena's child were off-limits when other cast members had made similar remarks in the past.

VH1 and the producers of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” have yet to publicly address the incident. However, this is not the first time Mena has been accused of making racially insensitive comments. In 2015, she reportedly called club promoters “black monkeys” after failing to make a scheduled nightclub appearance, as reported by VIBE.

The incident raises several questions about the responsibility of reality TV shows in moderating and addressing racially insensitive behavior by their cast members. It also brings to light the broader issue of racial insensitivity in the entertainment industry, where such incidents are often overlooked or normalized.

The controversy has also led to discussions about the role of social media in holding public figures accountable for their actions. Many users tagged the streaming platform Toby, where Mena has acted in several films and TV shows, demanding her removal from future projects.

It's worth noting that this is not the first time Erica Mena has been accused of using racial slurs. In a previous incident reported by AllHipHop, Mena allegedly referred to club promoters in Cleveland as “black monkeys” after a dispute over a nightclub appearance. The promoters had paid for Mena's travel, hair and makeup, and hotel stay, but she failed to show up at the club. When confronted, Mena allegedly made racial slurs directly to the promoters and their staff, calling them “black, broke, monkeys” and “f*cking monkeys.”

Additionally, in a tweet dated January 20, 2010, Erica Mena wrote [a] [b], “I'm sorry but Kendra Is a Big Monkey see Monkey do! she is the only one besides nat that gets under my skin,” further adding to the instances where she has used racially insensitive language.

In summary, the incident between Erica Mena and Spice on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” has ignited a public debate on racial insensitivity, accountability, and the role of entertainment platforms in perpetuating harmful stereotypes. As the public awaits an official response from the show's producers, the controversy serves as a stark reminder of the deep-seated racial issues that still plague society today.

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