We all have guilty pleasures.  Some of us like to gamble.  Some of us like to club.  Some of us like to read steamy novels. Some of us play video games.  Some of us even like to go to seedy clubs.  No one really questions these people.  We let them go on their merry little way and enjoy their vices, as long as they are not hurting anyone.  So why is it women, especially black women, get so much flack for watching reality television?  I admit when I was younger, I watched “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”, “Bad Girls Club”, just about all of the Housewives series on Bravo, and any “love” show VH1 had on like it was going out of style.  As I’ve gotten older, some shows have fallen by the wayside, but others I still watch.  Some people seem to think that’s a problem.

I have seen numerous stories and Facebook posts shunning women, making women feel ashamed, and questioning anyone that watches these types of shows.  So, if anyone questions you about what you do in your spare time, here a few anecdotes you can share. (Honestly, I wish I had 5 so I could do a countdown like Olivia did to Edison…) First and foremost, it’s my money and my time.  And if I want to spend my money and my time watching this, that’s what I’m going to do.  Second, I don’t do drama in real life.  So I get my fix from watching crazy people on tv.  Lastly, it’s a sign of the times.  Unfortunately, reality television has taken over our tv channels.  And let’s just be honest; some of these shows are pretty entertaining.

Now, no one has questioned me directly about what I watch on television (except maybe Southern Mom when she’s visiting and I’m watching “Big Brother”), but I felt the need to respond to all these naysayers.  My opinion is that as long as I’m not allowing what I see to negatively influence my life, I’m good.  Unfortunately, not everyone can say the same.  And that’s ok-it’s important we know our strengths.  If you’re the responsible, make sure to reiterate to the person in your life that these are not every day people and 95% of this stuff will not work and would not happen in the real world.

Another great thing is that we have great reality tv to counteract the ridiculous drama.  I love watching my favorite twins “Tia and Tamera”. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching Kimora Lee Simmons latest foray in television on “Life in the Fab Lane”.

So, if your girlfriend/wife/mother/friend/whatever wants to watch the “Real Housewives of Miami” or “Love and Hip-Hop” or “Bad Girls Club”, don’t question her.  Let her enjoy her guilty pleasure.  Be glad she’s not getting drunk every night.  Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!

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• Kim Kardashian And Kris Jenner Ending Keeping Up With The Kardashians?! (perezhilton.com)
• Kris Jenner denies Kim ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ exit (digitalspy.co.uk)