Is Teen Mother Exploiting Its Youngest Stars with On-Display Remedy?

[ad_1]

Over time, we now have heard numerous dialog about whether or not Teen Mother is exploiting children.

That’s no shock. Exploiting the real-world drama and struggling of youngsters — significantly, pregnant teenagers after which teen mother and father — is the entire premise of the franchise.

Has that exploitation handed on to their children? Properly, in some instances, actually. However some instances are higher than others.

Life coach Dr. Cheyenne Bryant (you recognize, Coach B) is instantly addressing followers’ considerations.

Maci Bookout is extraordinarily shut together with her eldest youngster, Bentley. And now she’s sharing her ideas on the boy’s lack of privateness. (Photograph by way of Instagram)

The title of this franchise is a complete misnomer. The mother and father haven’t been teenagers for a very long time. And the present additionally spends time on the Teen Mother solid’s companions and oldsters and exes. There’s loads of speak in regards to the children.

Generally we see Leah Shirley, daughter of Amber Portwood.

Usually, we see Maci Bookout’s son, Bentley. These aren’t little children anymore. They’re sufficiently old to have actual discussions, and even on-screen remedy periods, about their lives and their respective households.

Amber Portwood Rejected by Leah: We Don't Have a Bond! She's Never There for Me — Leah Shirley is just not thrilled about her mother. (Photograph Credit score: MTV)

Followers have apprehensive for years that these on-screen moments are exploiting the solid’s youngsters for TV rankings.

And, particularly, many fel that it’s straight-up inappropriate to even contact the kids’s remedy periods.

Remedy periods are non-public by nature. Youngsters’s remedy periods much more so.

Bentley Edwards says he has no relationship together with his father. (Photograph by way of MTV)

With that in thoughts, the nice of us over at The Ashley spoke to Dr. Cheyenne “Coach B” Bryant in regards to the on-screen remedy and extra.

“I think that if it’s not done in a very protective, safe space way, it can [be exploitive] to film on-camera,” Dr. Bryant acknowledged.

Nevertheless, she added: “As long as the environment is safe… If not, it could be something that could cause damage.”

Kristina Shirley, Emilee Shirley, Leah Shirley for Mother's Day 2021 — Teen Mother stars Kristina Shirley and Leah Shirley and 6-year-old Emilee Shirley posed collectively for completely satisfied Mom’s Day photographs.

Dr. Bryant then emphasised: “It just has to be done right and be done very delicately.”

A part of doing it the appropriate means, she says, contains numerous off-camera steps to guard the kids.

“I make sure Bentley always has a safe space,” Dr. Bryant shared.

Maci With Teenage Bentley — Maci Bookout us opening up in regards to the relationship between Ryan Edwards and son Bentley. As you may’ve guessed, it’s not good!

“Bentley and I always pre-brief before we film, and we de-brief after,” she detailed.

“We have a full session on what filming will be like,” Dr. Bryant famous.

“What he’s comfortable speaking about,” she detailed. “What is he uncomfortable speaking about.”

Amber and Leah at the Salon — Amber Portwood’s daughter, Leah Shirley, is already 12 years outdated. And never surprisingly, she has numerous questions on her daughter’s life.

“We also have a non-verbal cue that he is allowed to give me when he’s in a space where he’s feeling unsafe or uncomfortable,” Dr. Bryant revealed.

“Or,” she continued, “he doesn’t want to go down that route while we’re filming.”

Coach B added: “So I have gone above and behind to make sure Bentley — and whoever I am filming with who’s a minor… is very protected.”

“Bentley hasn’t seen his dad in a long time, and he’s made boundaries to keep his distance until they go to therapy together,” Maci defined in a voice-over, simply earlier than his grandmother invited him to a celebration for Ryan’s son Jagger.

“And,” Dr. Bryant went on, “that they trust me and that I’m advocating and showing up for them within their comfort zone.”

She additionally defined why Bentley is so prepared to look on digital camera to debate these points.

“Bentley is such a young man with a big heart that he usually says yes [to filming],” Dr. Bryant described.

After cautiously inquiring as to who will probably be there, Bentley hesitantly accepted his grandmother’s invitation. And Maci appeared happy by this growth.

“… But he also is mature enough to know where he needs to be reserved,” she noticed.

“And,” Dr. Bryant added, “what he does not want to talk about or what the viewers are not privy to.”

“Maci and I make sure we have this conversation with Bentley,” she famous.

Maci and Bentley on Mother's Day — Maci Bookout loved a Mom’s Day tribute from her son Bentley over the weekend. And he or she used the chance to flip the chook to the boy’s father.

“And,” Dr. Bryant then introduced, “we totally leave it up to Bentley to say if he wants to or not to film.”

“Maci checks in with me before Bentley films ever, and Maci and I have a full session just discussing what that looks like,” she dished.

“We both — her first as the mother — ask Bentley if he’s OK with filming and is comfortable with filming?” Dr. Bryant added. “And if he is, we do. If he’s not, we don’t. There have been times that Bentley has said no and we did not film.”

In the meantime, Gary Shirley received some wonderful information: the identification of his father. Sure! Lastly!

She added that this is applicable to different children as nicely. Moreover, she is all the time ensuring that issues are okay.

“I have to make sure I’m very aware of the non-verbal cues. I check in a lot, [asking them], ‘Are you OK? Is this OK with you? Do you feel comfortable talking about this? If not, I’ve got your back. We can stop,’” Dr. Bryant defined.

“That is not for the cameras and that’s why they don’t show that part on the show,” she shared. “That is for Bentley or whatever adolescent is filming on-camera.”

[ad_2]