Former WAGS Speak Out About Racism They Experienced From E!

Source: Jeffrey Mayer / Getty

Autumn Ajirotutu was one of our favorite L.A. “WAGS”. What she said in the comments of Hencha’s post was very true. She, along with Sasha Gates, Dominique Penn and Michelle Quick were all married to NFL players while her white castmates Natalie Halcro, Olivia Pierson and Nicole Williams were either girlfriends or just in the dating pool (Williams got engaged to and later married Larry English) for most of the shows three seasons. She reposted the E! statement and in her caption she talks very candidly about how she felt E! tried to divide the cast based on race and portray her differently than she showed up for.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBZBWP3nUVm/ (Autumn)

So this came on my time line at 6am this morning! My mouth literally dropped!!! I sat here perplexed and appalled as I read this. I had to let it set in for a while before I responded. This is so far from the truth.

As an employee for E! Network on the WAGS show for 3 1/2 years, I sat on this show where I saw E! Network uplift the White cast, while they intentionally divided and separated the Black cast. I remember countless times during my green screens when production would ask me questions about how I felt about certain pieces in the show and I would respond, “I feel like E! is racist!

This is not a post to complain. We are all grateful for the opportunity to have the platforms given to us. I’m grateful I at least got on the cover of the promotional things. But the main problem is the equal opportunities as the other cast members. People loved our show, yet we were canceled without any explanation. This is a post to show you that we spoke out, cried, begged and pleaded with y’all and you did nothing to help us feel safe and protected. You did not stand with US!!! It was as if it was a joke to you, or you could tell us how we should feel when we brought up certain matters. We won’t be quite anymore. How we were treated was not okay. From WAGS LA to WAGS MIAMI to WAGS ATL. We deserved better. There is still 0 representation of Black women, mothers, families, entrepreneurs on your network. @eentertainment

You never stood by us. You used us. Please, tell me what opportunities you offered/gave us after the show ended?! To make us feel included, or to thrive after the show ended? NOTHING ☺️☺️

Dominique Penn spoke up as well and we were appalled to learn E! once used a photo of her husband’s mistress at a photoshoot.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYt0bxsLf1/

Yea the f**k right!!! They don’t give two shi** about black people! They had me on a whole show in 2017 and showed what? That I could be civil in some drama? I had a whole business at the time @strollersandmore A REAL STORE FRONT and @eentertainment didn’t show it not one freaking time. Yet I had to sit and watch a clothing line that wasn’t even out yet. They never truly supported black women unless they were arguing but anything other than black they were arguing, going on trips etc. I was surprised that they even filmed Sasha in Trinidad (I felt because they had to cover their a**es). I repeatedly told them I’m an author, a store owner etc and still received nothing yet I had to go back and fourth with Amber (a racist) about NFL players kneeling. Want to talk about treatment? Hell I went to a whole photo shoot and they had my husband mistress at the time as my picture! @eentertainment doesn’t give two damns so they can save it!! Unless you’re friends of the Kardashians they aren’t fu**ing with you like that!! It is what it is!! Support us by having a show that shows strong black women who are business owners etc. Show that! All the money you have made @eentertainment donate to BLM or the communities of the very people that you praise be fu**ing on. How about that!! Miss me with the fake support. They cut so many scenes that we actually had fun on!! Things that would’ve boosted our ratings on!!! You wanna support us start with the people that you cut off. Take a meeting up so you can diversify your portfolio! I challenge you to that! @henyvbaby @ms_michelle @telliswift @ash3nicole @darnellnicole @favenliuget @autumnajirotutu @iamhopesodope @sincerelyw @thesashaway We are worth more than drama we have real stories! Period✊🏾 We know how to give balance and tea like tf

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Btw this is a message of frustration not anger!! There’s still so much more that I didn’t say! But honey I hope they really try to hold meetings with more black people so they can know how to represent us, and treat us. Not the ones that only fit in the bubble. @ms_michelle and I begged them to show us a trip that we paid for and they refused so yea… they major cappin @eentertainment @nbc

Again, Autumn, Ashley Nicole and Darnell all left comments supporting Dominique’s statement.

Michelle Quick, who is Latina, and appeared on Season 3 of “WAGS LA” had her own story to tell.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBY4CQsB4x2/ (Michelle)

This statement right here 🤦🏽‍♀️Could not be more inaccurate when it pertains to the network. I’m so glad that my fellow cast mates are speaking up. I know when I spoke up no one listened, no one cared about what i had to say.

But now that they’ve gotten your attention, I’d like to express my embarrassment for ever being part of the show. When people see me out and say “You look so familiar ! Wait you’re on that show Wags”. I immediately get anxiety. My time on the show was NOT PLEASANT! To say the least.

When I first signed on to be a part of the show I was so excited, I was so proud to be a Latina woman on the network! So happy to be able to come on the show build friendships with the other women there, but most importantly happy to be able to stand alongside @autumnajirotutu who seemed to be getting the short end of the stick. I really thought that I was going to be able to showcase who I am as a woman, as a mother, as a wife. Little did I know that reality TV did not actually mean your reality.

I vividly remember my first time shooting, I was eight months pregnant. I was anxious to get to know everybody , I was actually happy and open to the experience. To my surprise they already had a stance on what I was going to bring to the table. They already had a character in mind, they already knew how they were going to upset me , disrespect me, bring out the worst in me. I feel so stupid, I fell for their trap. By the end of the first day I was labeled a hormonal pregnant woman. I was also asked if I got married for my citizenship. It all went downhill for me after that. No matter how hard I tried to enjoy the moment and make the best of the opportunity, those words stuck on to me. In the end I feel like I let so many people down. I wasn’t given an equal opportunity to sit at the table.

I also challenge E! To uplift us! To properly represent us when asked to be part of their “family” @eentertainment @dominiquepenn_ @autumnajirotutu @thesashaway @ash3nicole @astridbavaresco @sincerelyw @telliswift

19h

Autumn showed up in Michelle’s comments for support:

Awwww!!! I love you! It was an awful experience to say the least. While they elevated the other girls it was hard to be around. I am so glad you were able to ride the rest of the shyt out with me.

Hated how they allowed them to treat you was horrible! I’m so sorry!

E! isn’t the only one of the NBC Universal networks to be called out.

Hit the flip to see how one USA Networks star spoke out about how her show was handled.