Dear Mary Mary, 
I’m a big fan of reality TV…In fact, earlier this year, I interviewed Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Mama Joyce about her increasingly volatile relationship with her daughter Kandi Burruss over her her fiance’ Todd Tucker, a production manager, whom Kandi met on the show…
I’m a big fan of Mary Mary, I interviewed the two of you at the Atlanta premiere of your reality show when the show debuted in March 2012. After watching the first show at the premiere, I was excited to see what was going to unfold…During that first episode, the two of you questioned aloud if y’all could balance two husbands, six (now seven children as Tina was pregnant then) a thriving career in the spotlight and capture it all on your new reality show…
Two years later, we all know the answer to that question is a straight up “No!” In the beginning of the show, the drama was rather benign for a reality show – drama with your manager Mitchell Solarek and your sister (their stylist Goo-Goo Atkins) over a wardrobe choice and mommy guilt over opting to perform at Macy’s Great Christmas Tree Lighting concert on Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta rather than spend the holiday with your families…But now in this season, we have learned that your husband (Tina Campbell’s husband Teddy) cheated on you. However, you take some of the responsibility for his transgression and are committed to making you marriage work…
In an interview with CNikky.com, you said, “I Tina assume full responsibility for the issues that I contributed to the relationship. I was controlling, talked too much. And you can never be heard over me because when I wanna talk I got the floor and ain’t nobody gonna get it from me until I give it up. Real talk. That was the way it was and I have to work on myself. You know what I mean? I was selfish. When we started having children it’s like, I forget that I have a responsibility as a wife.”
I applaud you Tina for making that poignant statement because as I am learning as a new wife (seven months to be exact), you have to take care of your man and you can’t be loud-talking your man all of the time and expect him to stay around…I know some of my liberated lonely ladies are gonna show out when they read this…And if in fact, you were criticized for taking some of the responsibility for her husband’s cheating…But any woman who has been married for any length of time knows the truth I’m speaking or writing in this case…
But based on what is going to unfold in this week’s episode of “Mary Mary,” it seems that Teddy may be owning up to “countless affairs!” SCREECH…Hold up cuz I need to get off the bus…There is a difference between cheating and being a downright philanderer…And we’re supposed to watch the televised unraveling of your marriage all in the name of entertainment? Not to mention the fact that we learn in this season that you fire your manager on the show…And now he is actually suing you, claiming he is owed wages and commission…You (Erica) is recording on your own…And most grievous of all is the passing of the your father Eddie Atkins from cancer…Yes, this all makes for riveting reality television but reality TV is a ravenous beast eager to devour all in its path…sound familiar Christians? For my non-believers, check out 1 Peter 5:8…
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Yes, reality TV is a kind of devil…In the fascinating and illuminating article, “Scott’s suicide reveals tragic side of city’s glitzy scene” in the New York Post, Maureen Callahan writes about the recent suicide of Mick Jaggers’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott who was also a stylist to the stars but seemingly had no one to turn to in her despair despite the glamorous life she seemed to lead…Callahan blamed reality TV for glorifying wealth when many reality TV stars are actually struggling financially and destroying the personal lives of its stars…
“Over the franchise’s eight-year lifespan, 12 Real Housewives have filed for bankruptcy, one has been evicted on camera, several have battled substance-abuse issues, one couple has pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court, one husband has been indicted for fraud and identity theft, and one husband has committed suicide.”
Those numbers speak for themselves…As I watched the most recent episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” it was nearly painful to watch the strained relationship between Attorney Phaedra Parks and her husband Apollo Nida…She seemed to be tolerating him just for the sake of the cameras and his passive-aggressive behavior was embarrassing…Since this show was filmed before it was revealed that he was indicted for fraud and identity theft, that may have been the reason for their obvious disdain for one another… Yes, I know that reality television can provide an awesome platform…Kandi Burruss has reportedly said RHOA has enabled her to broaden her financial empire…But at what cost? Bottom line: As Christians, we cannot do things like the world and expect different results…That principle is made clear in Romans 12:2…
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.
I’m sure you have your personal relationship with God so I’m sure that God is leading you where you should go in your lives, but as a fellow Christian on the journey to heaven, I’m just sayin’….Right now, you have something to save, but only God knows what will happen in another season…In fact, Tia and Tamara ended their reality show after three seasons…
And if you were wondering, I will always be a fan because God has obviously given you a beautiful music minstry…But I would prefer to only see Mary Mary, the gospel duo, rather than “Mary Mary,” the reality television casualty….
In Christian Love With Church Hugs 🙂 ,
Jackie
Amen sister on all points!!
Thanks Steph 🙂
LOVE that you are writing more!!! No comment on Mary Mary ;-).
Thank you Sabrina and LOL…Trying to write more 🙂
Very good letter and so on point! When it was first announced that the Mary’s would be starring in a ‘reality’ show, I groaned. I was afraid of what could happen if they put themselves out there, and sure enough it has happened. I understand that Christians are human, are not perfect, and make mistakes, however, their show focuses on the drama and negativity that comes from the mistakes, as opposed to showing how people can turn to God for help and continue with the healing. Watching the way they treated their manager was more than enough to make me stop watching the show, but the infidelity issues made me wonder if this was a ploy for higher ratings. Our personal lives, especially a troubled marriage, should remain personal between God and the individuals involved. Instead of ‘showing the world’ that Christians make mistakes, they’ve opened themselves up to be nothing more than tools for gossip, he say/she say, and nasty rumors. Hopefully, if they’re smart, they’ll pull out before things get totally out of control. Take a page from the Tia and Tamera handbook, both of whom are also Christians.
How I really wish they’d listen and retrace their steps before it’s too late. From the few episodes I’ve watched, their love for fame and the world in general (especially the older one I must say) is alarming. Please Lord help.. I really did love their music. And by the way, they obviously want to be “real” but is this really how Christians live? No talking of Scripture, morning devotions, going to church. That might make a boring show but
At least would better represent a true christian.
They are real Christian born again believers just because they been there self and get flesh like us they still are spiritually family and love god you suppose see people after spirit not flesh and want trip off there sin are mistake they aware of them self and know you have to be light in dark world and the have repent and some changes had happen where god had worked on them mainly Tina and husband got show his love and forgiveness to them and they received it and giving it to one another and just turn channel if they offend you cause god grace mercy they have just like us we can get his grace mercy also and he allowed them be on then they assignment is tv media and god useing them and it is not over till he say over als we need Christian on tv time they rule reign and if want all perfection then it start with us now see if that go well for us well want only thing that’s perfect is our spirit and if show too much love hip hop new york is on seem people love watch them without any complaints
I just post last comments and forgive me I misspelled some words and did not look at what I post to correct misspelled words until I push comment button I will make sure next time watch my spelling still love Mary Mary hope god expand them more and become stronger and powerful so he can get his glory out there life they just have lot people watching and we don’t have as many as they do so we can get away it our fleshy ways want get many comments as them
All the Reality shows are an embarrassment to black people, I mean who wants to see loud mouth washed up black females act like immature kids? wearing cakes of makeup, fake boobs, fake butts, fake eyelashes, and of course a hair hat down their backs. I have yet to see a real black woman anymore.They have fallen prey to the euro-concept of what beauty is and lost theirs in the process.Black people can’t see this but this whole reality thing is just another way the Gay Jewish Mafia trick everyone, while you push their agenda for the crumbs they give you.Bottom line We have lost our identity, We get caught walking in somebody else’s, now that should be Identity Theft.
You see, as humans it’s natural to think that because someone sings gospel music and takes a microphone and testify WE form this image in our heads of how WE expect them to behave. When we do not get the behavior WE are expecting WE get disappointed and blame others for not living up to OUR expectations. I learned that the hard way. I expected Yolanda Adams to behave in a manner as I would like to see. I made the mistake and called her show and she happened to disagree with my views. She chewed my ass BEHIND THE SCENES and then got back on air like a sweet little saint the way she wants to be perceived by the public. Of course you know that’s the last time I listened to her show or even played her music. Is it her fault? NO. I take full responsibility. I expected something from her that she wasn’t able to give me.
i totally agree. how can true Christians put their business in the street?. i am sure God did not direct them to do that. The reason has to be “MONEY”. I no longer want to buy their music after seeing this side of them. i was hoping the show would be about Christian women, their faith and positive images. Now they are just another sleazy reality show.
Tina your husband had the affair now you have told it to the world. Let it die ,you seam like you have to do this because it wasn’t enough that you only had to go through it. And stop latching on to him your very insecure. Stop with the ungodly things that’s not apporpret for being a Christian
Leave in the bed room.you should think about someone else like you thought about telling every one your business . you said alot ofsouls are saved . but are you there with these couples.lord Jesus he will still creep because you have e hoverd enough he is your husband not a child.you still have anger from the affair but you take it out on your family.you are suppose to work for God Ll this is to a running behind your husband d. Let go and let God.