Fans of the long-running VH1 reality series Basketball Wives are petitioning to have longtime cast member Evelyn Lozada removed from the show over a racist comment she made about a fellow cast member.
During last week’s episode, things among the group took a turn for the worse after Lozada confronted CeCe Gutierrez about a comment she allegedly made about her work life. The argument between the two intensified when Lozada asked Gutierrez about a nickname the veteran reality star heard her give to her and Jennifer Williams: Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.
“You always have a problem, Evil-lyn,” Gutierrez, a registered nurse and medical spa owner, said after Lozada called her “fake.” This is where things took a problematic turn for viewers.
The Livin’ Lozada star responded, “No, I have a problem with you. I have a problem with you, Lee-Lee.”
Malaysia Pargo, another star of the series, pointed out that Lozada’s comment was made in reference to a nail shop technician. Gutierrez immediately took offense after noting the reasoning behind it: “So, it’s racist. She’s racist,” she said. The show’s executive producer and star, Shaunie O’Neal, who sat at the head of the table during the argument, even pointed out in a confessional scene that Lozada’s comment was “all types of wrong.”
Take a look, below:
In response to this particular exchange, a fan named Jay Dominique launched a petition on Change.org to have Lozada fired from the show.
“This racial comment ‘SLUR’ is unacceptable, especially from a show with a majority female and minority cast. Regardless of being Black, white, skinny, fat, diabetes, gay, lesbian, transgender, Asian… It’s unacceptable to make fun of someone because of these things, and Ms. Lozada has done this on multiple occasions throughout the show’s runtime,” the letter reads in part, addressing O’Neal and VH1. “The viewers of VH1’s ‘Basketball Wives’ demand Ms. Lozada be terminated from employment indefinitely… by the executive producer Shaunie O’Neal or the other VH1 underlying personnel.”
The petition, which originally aimed for just 500 supporters since its creation on Sunday night, has amassed more than 6,700 signatures, as of typing. Its new goal is set to 7,500. Lozada has not commented on the backlash from her remarks. Do you think Lozada should be punished? Peep some of the reactions below:
How is Evelyn Lozada still employed with your network after multiple racist comments @VH1??? #bbwla #basketballwives
— Rerun Stubbs (@StubbsRerun) September 12, 2019
Ooohhh Evelyn Lozada!!! Girllllllllll– you racist ass paint palletes!! #BasketballWives
— Five G's please : Good God Get A Grip Girl (@Maya_NoAngelou) September 11, 2019
Evelyn Lozada will go down in history for being a bully n now she can add racist. Smh
— SayOneMoreWordAndIGotYou (@allywallywoochy) August 28, 2018
Hey, @VH1 you guys need to suspend Evelyn Lozada for that racist comment. No one (or race) should get a pass to make fun of someone racist. @BasketballWives
— marielle larsen (@561marielle) August 28, 2018
@BBWLA I THINK#evelyn lozada should be removed from the show for her racist remarks
— netsey preston (@missinflint) August 27, 2018
