Sex Acts on Reality TV?: Has “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” Gone Over the Edge?

Picture it: You're sitting on a terrace at one of Atlanta's swanky hot spots, sipping on cocktails at a celeb-filled bash, when all of a sudden a male exotic dancer begins tantalizing the guest of honor with a little naughty dance. But then things get a bit heated, and the dancer begins-ahem-pleasuring himself (without his hands) in front of dozens of guests. I'll let you do the math.

Gone too far...

You might think that the scene was ripped out of some sordid indie film. But no. The scene in question was part of a recent recent episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" (RHOA)-which is causing quite the uproar. Kandi Burruss' 35^th birthday party took a turn for the worse when Phaedra's "gift" was unwrapped before eager guests. We've all seen strippers on this show before. A group of ladies, a few bottles of bubbly, and a juicy male dancer. What's so weird about that? Nothing really. But Kandi's birthday soiree was a different story. Held in a public venue, and in the company of her mother and several other guests of both sexes, the impromptu striptease left some excited and others repulsed---namely, Burruss' mother Joyce.

To say that this was the most awkward moment in RHOA history is a grand understatement. But who should be blamed for the obvious discomfort caused by the vulgar striptease? Phaedra, for hiring the dancer in the first place? Kandi, for failing to put a stop to the Raunch Fest? Or show producers who could have omitted the scene altogether?

We can't help but wonder whether Phaedra would have unveiled her gift had her own mother (who is a pastor) been in their company. We also wonder why Kandi didn't shut things down, knowing that her mother would be uncomfortable with this kind of entertainment. And we are dying to know whether the show will suffer a backlash as a result of this little incident. After all, RHOA otherwise falls right in line with the guilty pleasure we get from watching this kind of programming.

Blurred Lines...

Bravo knows that America loves it when TV pushes the envelope of good taste. And it's certainly not the first time that questionable scenes have slipped through the cracks on reality shows. But even longtime fans of RHOA are disgusted by what they saw on the November 27^th episode. This franchise of the "Real Housewives…" series has been deemed the most successful, possibly because of the city's urban setting and colorful personalities. But this off-color incident has corroded what little "respect" some fans had for the show's success.

Will we still watch the show? Sure. Especiailly if the franchise offers other (perhaps not so offensive) surprises for viewers. Did the stripper's brazen performance further blur the lines of decency? Perhaps. But lucky for Bravo, the popularity of reality programming relies on blurred lines.

SOURCES:

www.bravotv.com