Why even NBA stars are slamming 'Basketball Wives'
OPINION - In a not-so-surprising turn of events, the latest trend in celebrity parenting drama turns famous fathers against their fame-seeking baby mommas...
It’s a tough season for celebrity baby mamas. Whereas her biggest concern used to be making sure the hefty child support checks came in on time, now an enterprising baby moms can’t even try to make an honest living without an angry baby daddy standing in her way.
Cause let’s face it: unless they hold a degree, there aren’t a lot of job options for celebrity baby mamas. Get a taste of the multi-million dollar lifestyle and see if you’re ready and willing to shop your paltry resume around when your sugar daddy kicks you to the curb. If a baby mama wants to recreate any semblance of the life she once had pre-break-up, it’s probably going to involve some type of fashion line, shoe store, and, if she’s really lucky, a reality TV show.
But celebrity baby dads ain’t having it. Not one bit. No reality TV shows for you baby moms.
Call it the revenge of the baby daddies. In a not-so-surprising turn of events, the latest trend in celebrity parenting drama turns famous fathers against their fame-seeking baby mommas, dragging them to court to keep their business and association out of the public eye.
VH1’s Basketball Wives has become the top forum for this drama, a show that ironically only features one currently married NBA wife, and a lot of other women who used to be married to, had a baby by, once been engaged to, brushed the hem of a jersey of…in short, drama-filled women who have probably seen an NBA player naked. Not much to base a TV show on, but it’s a living.
Or it was for a while. Now some savvy NBA players are trying to block their baby moms’ from getting theirs on air, trying to legally enforce the hood threat, “keep my name out of your mouth.”
Dwight Howard has famously championed this movement, smartly launching various legal battles for hefty sums against Basketball Wives star and baby momma Royce “I can hold my leg behind my head while having sex” Reed. Clearly this is a woman who has no reservations about dispensing her personal exploits, so injunctions against her loud mouth seem like a necessary step to protect Howard’s family-friendly image.
Fellow NBA player Chris Bosh is taking the cause a step further, this time trying to prevent his baby moms from even appearing on the show. Bosh is suing Allison Mathis and TV production company Shed Media for “infringing his trademark and publicity rights.”
It’s a interesting case Bosh pleads in court documents filed this week. Allison Mathis was hired to appear in the third season of Basketball Wives, a move which Bosh says is in pursuit of fame (duh). He is arguing that the show is exploiting his likeness, using his name for her own personal gain. Furthermore, the lawsuit says the show “is not transformative, but rather the use, depiction, or imitation of celebrity NBA basketball players, including Plaintiff, is the very sum and substance of the show.”
To which Bosh has a very valid claim. I mean, the show isn’t called The Dramatic Women of Miami (which is really is) — it’s called Basketball Wives (even though, again I say, only 1 of 6 cast members is married). And though I doubt Bosh’s personal life is exciting enough to warrant much of a plot line, Allison Mathis’ whole raison d’être on the show is that she had his baby.
I can respect his frustration — no one wants their ex to get a national stage on which they can potentially air their dirty laundry. But I doubt it will work. Not only is it free speech, Bosh looks kind of petty for his reaction. We know you’re upset buddy, but can’t you just put a court order that prohibits her from talking about you in the media like everyone else? It’s the playoffs for crying out loud, don’t you have bigger things to worry about? Your case doesn’t stand a chance Bosh, but here’s some good news: you can sue for defamation, should the moment arise.
It’s pretty pathetic, the depth to which celebrity co-parenting has devolved. While I can’t knock a baby momma’s hustle, I can see the athlete’s point of view as well. Although I do think a celebrity baby dad may have a bit more responsibility in the situation: if there’s anything he should know about fame and fortune, it’s that people are out to use him. May this serve as a cautionary tale for celebrity baby daddies everywhere – kindness comes first, but if you can’t manage a good relationship with your ex, I’ve heard hush money works wonders.
