Now that Erica Mena has had some time to process all the chaos that quickly unfolded in her life over the final weeks of summer, the reality starlet is using her platform to speak out. She recently lost her role on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta after using derogatory language toward another cast member, Spice, specifically calling the Jamaican artist a “monkey.” When viewers witnessed the moment on TV, backlash quickly came flying in for both Mena and MTV, who have since parted ways.
Social media users spent much time debating whether there was racist intent behind the New Yorker’s word choice or not. Some noted that it’s not uncommon for two Caribbean women to speak to each other in such a manner, but others feel that it’s not cool for Mena to use a word with such negative connotations when raising Black children of her own. Many of these conversations are likely to come up on tonight’s (September 26) roundtable racism episode of L&HH.
A recent tweet from the show’s official account confirmed that the episode will air at 9 PM, following the season finale of L&HH: ATL. “The roundtable discussed the recent events that aired on the show before MTV decided to stop filming with Erica Mena,” they explained. “International colourism expert Dr. Sarah L. Webb, founder and owner of Colourism Healing” will appear with Spice, Yandy, Joc, Scrappy, Sierra, Amy, and Rasheeda to discuss the incident.
While it’s nice to see at least some action taken, many fans feel as though the conversation doesn’t have much point if Mena isn’t in attendance. Interestingly, she’s been using her own platform to put MTV producers on blast for not firing her immediately after her Spice diss, if they found it so troubling.
“Working on @loveandhiphop August 25th, 2023,” Erica Mena wrote on her IG Story earlier this afternoon. “Three days after, August 29th, they aired that episode proudly. I was even being asked to shoot a scene that Monday (August 28th).” Do you think the actress should’ve been fired much earlier on in the Spice debacle, or does she deserve her spot on L&HH: ATL back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
After being fired from the set of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Erica Mena has issued an apology for the racial slur she directed at her co-star, Spice. The reality star expressed her remorse for her offensive comment, referring to the Dancehall legend as a “blue monkey.” Erica Mena Apologizes On Tuesday, September 12, Erica […]
Erica Mena called out Spice on Instagram, Tuesday, in the comments section of a public apology she posted for her racially insensitive insult leveled at the Jamaican musician on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. After admitting her wrongdoing, Mena replied to a fan, suggesting that Spice doesn’t have “the guts” to apologize for bringing her kids into their argument.
“I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness,” she said. “My choice of words was wrong, and I take full responsibility for what I said. I am committed to listening to the voices of those affected and will work toward making amends. As a woman of color and the mother of two black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven. That said, I do understand the gravity of what I said and want to use my platform to promote inclusivity and equality.”
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 17: Erica Mena attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2016 Green Carpet at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on September 17, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
In the comments section, one fan asked: “Did she apologize to you for bringing up your child?” Mena replied: “She will never have the guts unfortunately.” While Mena says Spice hasn’t apologized, she did address the incident during an Instagram Live post. She argued that, while bringing up Mena’s kids is wrong, it doesn’t excuse racism.
“I’m not being ignorant; I’m not playing victim,” Spice explained. “I am taking full accountability because you said I experienced the racism because I triggered her. So, is that a new thing now in 2023? It’s okay to receive racism as long as you’re angry? I’m just asking. Feel free to let me know.” Check out Mena’s post featuring her dig in the comments section above.
Erica Mena has issued an apology for calling Jamaican musician Spice a “fucking blue monkey” during an episode of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. Mena has since been fired from the show due to the racially insensitive remark. She addressed the situation in a statement to TMZ.
“I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness. My choice of words was wrong, and I take full responsibility for what I said,” Mena told the outlet. “As a woman of color and the mother of two black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven.”
Erica Mena At “Love & Hip Hop: New York” Season 5 Premiere
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 15: Erica Mena attends “Love & Hip Hop New York” Season 5 Premiere at Suite 36 on December 15, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Mena wasn’t alone in her apology. MTV also published a statement online addressing Mena’s comments. It reads: “The Love & Hip Hop franchise has never shied away from hard conversations in our community. Working hand-in-hand with our partners, viewers will see the impact of Erica Mena’s remarks play out in the final three episodes of the season. Effective immediately, she will not appear in the next season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.” Mena has been a staple of the Love & Hip Hop franchise for years. She previously starred in Love & Hip Hop: New York before becoming a regular on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.
Spice broke her silence on the incident during an Instagram Live session on September 5, admitting that bringing up Mena’s child during the argument may have been wrong, but doesn’t excuse racism. “I’m not being ignorant; I’m not playing victim,” she explained. “I am taking full accountability because you said I experienced the racism because I triggered her. So, is that a new thing now in 2023? It’s okay to receive racism as long as you’re angry? I’m just asking. Feel free to let me know.”
Love & Hip Hop is known for some outlandish characters, and Erica Mena is one of the biggest. With a slick mouth and fast hands, Erica Mena isn’t one to back down, and many times, that has gotten her into some big trouble. However, Erica always seemed to bounce back. That was until her latest dust-up with fellow castmate Spice. As a result of the now-viral moment where Erica used racial slurs, producers fired her from the series. While Erica Mena has had countless wild moments over her tenure, we’ve narrowed them down to her top 7.
Erica and castmate Kimbella Vanderhee had real tension in the air as the two sat down. Erica already had problems with how Kimbella was moving in the industry and told her she didn’t consider what she did modeling. Instead, she viewed it as “soft porn.” As the two went back and forth, Kimbella asked Erica if she knew who her baby daddy was. Erica replied yes, and then accused Kimbella of trying to sleep with her baby daddy.
As temperatures started rising, things boiled over when Erica said, “You f*cked up my money, b*tch!” Kimbella responded by splashing a drink on her, and Erica returned the favor. Erica then ran up on Kimbella, grabbed her hair, and Kimbella responded in kind. It took security to separate the two, but eventually, they were unlocked. Erica screamed for a phone and said she was calling the cops. Before long, sirens were wailing in the background, and the paramedics tended to Erica as Kimbella took off.
6. Erica Vs. Scrappy
Erica Mena doesn’t just get into it with women — men can get it, too, as seen from her explosive argument with Scrappy. Erica started by dissing “men in this generation,” but Scrappy explained he wasn’t like that. Then, she escalated the situation by asking him why he didn’t pay child support to Bambi. Immediately, Scrappy told Erica she could go. Not only did Erica not go, but she kept the argument going.
Scrappy told Erica to take the situation up with her friend Bambi and not bring up his kids. Erica then jumped up on a couch, putting her finger into Scrappy’s face, and accused his mother of spreading his business. Scrappy stood up on the couch face-to-face with Erica and brought up her oldest son. Erica described it as a “disgusting situation” to bring up her child to deflect his bad actions. As the two continued to trade insults, security, once again, intervened and got them off the couch.
During Love & Hip Hop: Family Reunion, Erica put it all on the line about her and Safaree’s contentious relationship and divorce. Erica accused Safaree of “entertaining another woman” soon after she gave birth. Safaree said that wasn’t the case, and he had a right to talk to other women since they were going through a divorce. Erica said she was in pain and wanted Safaree to feel the same.
Erica then threw out a severe accusation, claiming Safaree abandoned her. Safaree had a problem with the word “abandoned” and said she was lying. Erica then accused him of making her pregnancy hell and said he was “flying out b*tches.” While Erica continued to get heated and others consoled her, she said she was done with Safaree and he had lost his family for good.
4. Erica Vs. Rich Dollaz
In one memorable episode, Erica entered the studio where Rich Dollaz was working on a song with Olivia. When Rich asked her what was up, she said she wasn’t about to talk in front of “this thing,” referring to Olivia. She and Oliva had a little back-and-forth before Olivia left the room to let Erica and Rich hash things out.
Erica told Rich, “You’re f*cking with me right now. You’ve been hovering this song over my head since the time I f*cking laid it down.” She explained her issue was it was her song and since Rich had given it to Olivia, she felt betrayed. Rich said she didn’t deserve the song because she hadn’t signed his contract and didn’t want to be managed. Erica screamed that Rich needed to meet her halfway.
Rich said she was like “the girl who cried wolf” because she was always promised to do better, but she never did. He added he didn’t feel any emotions for her at the moment because she had run him off with her antics. Erica retaliated by saying Rich had no feelings and began to cry. She also accused him of taking what she wanted most — her music. Eventually, she settled on being numb to feelings, thanked him for the “reality check,” and made a dramatic exit.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 28: Erica Mena and Cyn Santana appear at the VH1 “Love & Hip Hop” Season 4 Premiere at Stage 48 on October 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for Vh1)
Erica’s romantic relationships with women became a point of contention during her timeinLove & Hip-Hop. That proved to be especially true when she confronted Cyn Santana after her friend Albee spilled some tea. While Cyn admitted she loved Erica, she said she was sick and tired of all the lies, cheating, and BS. Cyn was taken aback when Erica said she was going to be honest, feeling as though Erica never kept it real. She accused Erica of continuing to do the things she didn’t like, but Erica said she wasn’t going to change who she was.
Then, Erica flipped the script and accused Cyn of being a liar and cheat, which Cyn denied. Erica continued to get loud and told Cyn, “I’ve walked into a room full of n***as you f*cked, and I’m so secure that I still repped yo ass.” Cyn denied it and called Erica names, but Erica wasn’t having it. She said she was good without her and pushed Cyn in the throat. As expected, security jumped into the mix.
2. Erica Vs. Peter Gunz
/ohnny Nunez/WireImageGetty Images/Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Things went completely left when Rich Dollaz thought it was a good idea to put Erica Mena and Peter Gunz together. When Rich “officially” introduced them, Erica wasn’t having it and questioned why they needed to meet. As she looked at Peter with disgust and disdain, she claimed he didn’t even know her last year when he was talking recklessly about her to Rich. Moreover, she blamed Peter for breaking up her and Rich.
Peter said the streets were talking, and since he was trying to get into business with Rich, he had to let him know what was going on. Erica said she didn’t care if Peter didn’t think she could sing and called him a clown with no credibility. Peter said she was one to talk with her fake body parts, which Erica acknowledged but said, “My mouth is real, motherf*cka.” Peter told Rich to get this “b*tch out my face,” and Erica responded by throwing things. Yet again, security had to intervene.
In Erica’s wildest moment — and the one that cost her job — she went up against castmate Spice. The two were presumably brought together to hash out their differences brought on by the things Erica’s ex-husband Safaree had told Spice. Spice told Erica that she acted like she was the only divorced single mother of two, adding that she had been doing it for 14 years. Erica retorted she had been a single mother for 16 years. Spice said, “With your son that don’t like you.” That was the remark that sent everything to hell.
Erica went ballistic and flipped the entire table. She then said that Spice should’ve died on the operating table after her surgery, but that wasn’t the end of it. In an extreme fit of rage, distaste, racism, and colorism, Erica yelled, “You monkey, you f*cking blue monkey.” To make matters worse, she made monkey noises. The world quickly reacted with fans calling for Erica’s cancellation.
VH1 heeded the calls and released a statement shortly afterward stating, “Working hand-in-hand with our partners, viewers will see the impact of Erica Mena’s remarks play out over the final three episodes of the season. Effective immediately, she will not appear in the next season of ‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.’” It appears Erica Mena won’t be making any more wild moments on the LHH franchise.
The fallout of her viral Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta moment continues to hit Erica Mena. The Allblk network has announced that Mena will no longer appear in their original drama, Hush. “We do not condone Erica Mena’s reprehensible comment. She will be featured in the upcoming season of Hush, set to premiere later this year, as production was completed months ago. But in the event of additional seasons, she will not be part of the cast. Mena had appeared in all eight episodes of Season 1 of the show.
The news comes a little over a week after Mena was dropped from Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. “Working hand-in-hand with our partners, viewers will see the impact of Erica Mena’s remarks play out over the final three episodes of the season. Effective immediately, she will not appear in the next season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” read a statement from the show’s producers. All this stems from Mena calling fellow L&HH:A cast member Spice a “monkey” during a recent episode of the show.
However, the debate regarding what Mena said is far from over. Jess Hilarious, co-host of The Breakfast Club, gave a passionate defense of Mena in recent days. “That’s what I don’t get. Every time they get into it, Erica Mena, they always bring that shit up. That’s the only thing they can say about her, is something about her son. That’s what’s fucked up. What’s wrong with her son? I don’t think Erica was using it as a racial slur. Maybe Spice [looks] like a monkey to her. Whatever the fuck you look like, you look like. And the fact that they found it back in the dizzle, and it come on now, and then you choose to fire her for the backlash. You not even protecting your cast like you did.”
Meanwhile Spice, the victim of Mena’s verbal faux pas, has started to get some flak herself. In the show’s most recent episode, Spice can be heard calling co-star Bambi Benson a “giraffe”. While “giraffe” doesn’t carry the same racial implications as “monkey”, there are more than a few people that believe Spice should also be removed from the show for that comment. This all remains a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they emerge.
Shortly after the Erica Mena firing from “Love & Hip Hop” for calling Spice a “monkey,” it seems like the zoo isn’t closed just yet. Moreover, Spice herself got some more backlash for calling Bambi a “giraffe” during a recent altercation on the show. As such, fans are now divided: should this be held to the same standards of racism as Mena’s incident or is this just an overblown response? Of course, plenty of people are on either side of the coin, with others arguing that neither insult is appropriate. Regardless, it’s a pretty drama-heavy show, but clearly that backfired in a lot of areas, particularly with the show’s production.
After the Erica Mena outrage, many questioned how networks allow content like this to make it to airwaves in the first place. In fact, some took even more issue with them firing Mena because it was purely a response to fans’ backlash for her comments. Regardless, they waited until after the spectacle to give their verdict, which many saw as exploitative. It’s unclear if this instance with Spice and Bambi will yield similar results, thought assumptions point to “no.”
So @MonaScottYoung since u firing people, are u firing spice for calling Bambi a giraffe on this week episode. Or that’s gone get overlooked just like when she fat shamed tokyo. #LHHATL#LAHHATL
For one, calling a Black person a “monkey” has different racial and negative connotations than calling someone a “giraffe.’ Neither is derogatory on impact, but many fans believe the attack towards Spice followed a history of questionable behavior and statements from Mena. However, there are some circles in which the term “giraffe” can also be derogatory, particularly to people of African descent. As such, context turns something simply brash and argumentative into something much more sinister. Maybe Spice didn’t mean to do so with her insult, but the parallels and proximity between the cases make it hard to overlook.
Meanwhile, she responded to the Erica Mena situation by dismissing claims that she insulted her son. As she puts it, it was more of a question of parenting than anything else. Still, it’s possible she has more to answer for and explain now, but people can sweep hist under the rug more easily than the example against her. With that in mind, stay logged into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Spice, Bambi, and the Erica Mena situation.
Erica Mena has recently been under fire for a comment she made about Spice during an altercation on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. The two of them got into an argument at a restaurant, and things escalated when Spice brought up Mena’s son. Mena responded by calling Spice a “blue monkey,” and has since been hit with a ton of backlash. The scandal has even resulted in Mena getting booted from the next season of the show.
Various social media users and peers have weighed in on the debacle, with many claiming that Mena’s use of the slur showcased racism or colorism. Now, Spice herself has chimed in, and she seems to agree. The rapper has been facing her own criticism for bringing Mena’s family into their debate, and she hopped on Instagram Live to share her thoughts. “I’m not being ignorant; I’m not playing victim,” she explained. “I am taking full accountability because you said I experienced the racism because I triggered her. So, is that a new thing now in 2023? It’s okay to receive racism as long as you’re angry? I’m just asking. Feel free to let me know.”
Spice continued, sharing a photo of herself with lighter skin. “If I looked like this then some of the Black people who are commenting that it’s okay would not be saying what they’re saying,” she explained. “You can play hypocrite if you want.” She went on to clarify the comment she made about Mena’s family during the argument, noting that she didn’t go after Mena’s son personally, but rather her parenting.
“I would never say anything bad about someone’s child,” she explained. “I have two kids, I have God kids, I love kids.” Spice continued, “I came for Erica’s parenting, and I can take full accountability for that because that’s exactly where I was coming from, because that’s what we were talking about.” Keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Spice and Erica Mena.
Erica Mena has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Following a controversial incident involving the reality star and her co-star Spice, reports now indicate that she has been fired from her role on Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta. Erica Mena Terminated & Cancelled After recently facing immense backlash for spewing a racial slur toward […]
Many online have continued to watch and share a particularly hilarious video of Saucy Santana. The clip shows the start of an altercation that ultimately led to Erica Mena’s arrest and Saucy didn’t want anything to do with it. The speed with which he leaves the entire club had fans cracking up and memes of the video began to emerge quickly. Even City Girls rapper Yung Miami got in on the fun making her own jokes and observations about the video.
Now Saucy Santana is speaking up about the clip, claiming that he’s still scary despite what happened. “Ain’t no day a b*tch think they will smack me in my face,” he said in response to a reported threat from the night the video was recorded. In a repost of the video, fans seem to largely agree with him. “Santana actually has a career that could’ve been jeopardized so it made sense he gotta up outta there,” one of the top comments on the post reads. “We understand when you got something to lose you can’t be involved with foolishness,” another agrees. Check out the entire video below.
Saucy Santana has also found himself caught up in recent Blueface drama, though that one wasn’t by accident. Last week Saucy cosigned Jaidyn Alexis’ new single “Workout.” The shoutout further proved that Jaidyn’s music is succeeding much more than many thought it would. Saucy’s acknowledgment of the song ended up getting reposted by Blueface himself.
Saucy doubled down with another retweet a few days later. Blueface himself made a tweet explaining how much he missed Jaidyn when he’s drunk. Saucy put his support behind the statement with a quote tweet that simply read “Period!” The interaction was in a lot of people’s minds as Chrisean Rock gave birth to her baby over the weekend. What do you think of Saucy Santana clarifying things about his viral video? Let us know in the comment section below.
(@ericamena)
