Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Erica Mena finds herself at the center of controversy following a racially insensitive comment made in Season 11, Episode 12 of the popular reality series. The fallout from her remark has not only incited strong reactions from fans but has also led to repercussions within the show’s cast.
In a recent development, it has been disclosed that Erica Mena was terminated from the show “Hush” just a week after her dismissal from Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.
Reports suggest that filming for the second season of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta has concluded, which means fans will see Erica in the upcoming season. However, she will not be returning for subsequent seasons. The show issued a statement via social media, expressing their stance on the matter:
“We do not condone Erica Mena’s recent 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.”
In the show, Erica Mena portrays the character Gina Rodriguez. The cast also includes Joyful Drake, Caryn Ward-Ross, Candiace Dillard, TS Madison, Khalilah Joi, Kevin Savage, Lanre Idewu, and Rob Gordon.
The catalyst for Erica’s dismissal was her racially insensitive comment directed at Spice in Love & Hip Hop Atlanta Season 11, Episode 12, where Erica referred to Spice as a “Blue M*nkey.”
The controversial episode saw Spice and Erica engage in a heated argument, with both parties trading insults. Spice commented on Erica’s recent divorce, prompting Erica to lose her composure. She flipped a table and made remarks about Spice’s past health issues. In the heat of the moment, Erica used the derogatory term, saying:
“This woman was given a second chance at life by God and here she is choosing to use that second chance at life to come at me and my son, which just speaks volumes about who she is. That btch should have died. You want to mention my kids. You mnkey, you fcking blue mnkey.”
While Erica Mena’s firing did not happen immediately after filming, the episode drew widespread disappointment from both fans and cast members, prompting the Love & Hip Hop Atlanta franchise to take decisive action. In a social media statement following Episode 12’s release, the show announced:
“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,’”
Spice expressed her anger in the subsequent episode of the show, while Erica has not issued an apology regarding her comment towards Spice. Other cast members of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta have also weighed in on the issue and Erica’s subsequent firing.
