Did you know MTV still films “The Real World”? Yeah, we didn’t either. Turns out 27 years since they first aired the revolutionary reality TV show of “seven strangers picked to live in a house…to find out what happens … when people stop being polite … and start getting real,” the network has not stopped. Despite MTV’s viewership considerably different from back in the day, the network is still pumping out the show, but we’re actually looking forward to this season because of one cast member.
The new season of MTV’s “Real World” taking place in Atlanta includes a DACA beneficiary.
Instagram/@_arelyyy
Meet Arely, a 21-year-old single mom from the Midwest. Arely is the youngest in the house and is the first “Real World” castmate to have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status.
Arely came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was a child with her parents and had a baby when she was 16.
Instagram/@_arelyyy
According to her bio, “Arely became pregnant and began to realize the challenges of being a teen mom. She always imagined life as a registered nurse but found she was unable to take her nursing exam due to her status as a DREAMer. After years of hard work and sacrifice, Arely is ready for adventure and new opportunities.”
The new season airs June 13 on Facebook Watch and looks like things will get heated for Arely.
Facebook/@realworldonwatch
One of her roommates actually said to her that people should come to the U.S. legally to her face. Ugh! As if she had a choice.
Her problems are way more crucial to life than random hookups and barfing in the sink.
We will see how this season goes down, but it should be more fun to watch especially because viewers can have real-time reactions on social media.
Since the premiere of FX’s “Pose,” the show’s subject matter put the series on another level. Had you ever seen a TV series based on the New York City iconic ballroom culture on television before? Didn’t think so. While mainstream programming has ventured into programming featuring the LGBTQ+ community, “Pose” brought forth a new kind of experience, mainly because of its incredible stars. One, in particular, is finally getting the attention he deserves.
Angel Bismark Curiel, who plays Lil Papi, is getting more screen time in season two and people are starting to pay attention.
Instagram/@angelbcuriel
We didn’t see much of Lil Papi in the first season, but he was up to no good. The Dominican-American actor did an incredible job that first season. But back then he was selling drugs, and Blanca (played by MJ Rodriguez) wasn’t having it so she kicked him out. This season, however, Lil Papi got his act together thanks to love.
Lil Papi and Angel (played by Indya Moore) have embarked on a new romance and Curiel’s acting skills are in full bloom.
Instagram/@angelbcuriel
In season two we see this love blossom, and we didn’t really see it coming, but now that we’re here we’re rooting for these two.
“Angel Bismark Curiel is really stepping it up this season and might even be the MVP of the episode,” AV writer Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya said. “Leading up to this episode, even when they aren’t the main focus of the scene, the chemistry between Lil Papi and Angel has been palpable, and Papi seemingly worships her. It’s sweet, and it’s nothing short of revolutionary to see a trans woman get a beautiful, fully fleshed out love story on a major television show. Mock directs these big romantic scenes superbly, too. Their first kiss is as dramatic and captivating as it should be.”
People are (understandably) drooling over Lil Papi and his swoon-worthy looks.
Credit: @andreshjimenez / Twitter
Yas, Lil Papi. Look at him on the beach and on the pool serving those Lil Papi looks we have come to love. Who couldn’t fall in love with that smile and face?
Lil Papi’s big love and energy is giving men a very high bar in the love department.
Credit: @the3rdjp / Twitter
Looks like men everywhere are going to have to step their game up. Lil Papi is relentless in showing Angel all the love and respect she deserves. Not only does he defend her and care for her, he is unapologetic and unstoppable in supporting all of her dreams and ambitions.
Honestly, the world doesn’t deserve a love as pure and real as Lil Papi’s.
Credit: @sebbyskywalker / Twitter
Fortunately, his love and honesty are giving everyone a glimpse into what you should be expecting from your lovers. They should do anything for you, like Lil Papi. If they aren’t, are they really worth your time?
Oh! It’s also rumored that Curiel is dating author and “Pose” producer Janet Mock.
Instagram/@angelbcuriel
Mock and her husband divorced earlier this year, and Curiel captioned the picture above by saying “Date night.” We love them as a couple!
We can’t wait to see what else this season has in store for Lil Papi.
The second night of the Democratic debates in Miami were held last night and the undocumented and DACA communities were the main topics. The clear winner of last night’s debate was California Senator Kamala Harris who took on former Vice President Joe Biden and emerged victorious. Here’s a quick recap of what the 10 candidates had to say last night.
California Kamala Harris took a stand with DACA recipient and pledged her full support if elected
“Immediately on January 20, 2021, I will… First of all, we cannot forget our DACA recipients, so I’m going to start there,” Harris answered moderator José Diaz-Balart when asked about dealing with the migrant crisis at the border. “I will immediately, by executive action, reinstate DACA status and DACA protection to those young people. I will further extend protection for deferral from deportation for their parents and for veterans, who we have so many who are undocumented who have served our country and fought for our democracy.”
She added: “I will also immediately put in place a meaningful process for reviewing the cases for asylum. I will release children from cages. I will get rid of the private detention centers and I will ensure that this microphone that the president of the United States holds in her hand is used in a way that is about reflecting the values of our country and not about locking children up and separating them from their parents.”
Sen. Harris then turned to Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden and addressed his record on the issues of race and school integration.
“So, on the issue of race,” Harris started looking at Biden. “I couldn’t agree more that this is an issue that is still not being talked about truthfully and honestly. There is not a Black man I know be he a relative, a friend, or a coworker who has not be the subject of some form of profiling or discrimination. Growing up, my sister and I had to deal with the neighbor who told us that her parents said she couldn’t play with us because we were Black.”
Harris then took on Biden’s record on race saying: “It was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and careers on the segregation of race in this country. It was not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose bussing. There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public school and she was bussed to school every day. And, that little girl was me.”
The moment was one of the most stunning at the debate. The audience was silent as Harris captivated the audience giving a personal story on race in America.
Harris was referring to Biden’s remarks from a New York fundraiser where he spoke openly about how he was able to work across the aisle with to segregationist senators in the 1970s.
“I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland… He never called me ‘boy’. He always called me ‘son,'” Biden said of the segregationist senator from Mississippi.
He then brought up “a guy like Herman Talmadge, one of the meanest guys I ever knew, you go down the list with these guys. Well, guess what? At least there was some civility. We got things done,” Biden said. “We didn’t agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished. But today, you look at the other side and you’re the enemy. Not the opposition, the enemy. We don’t talk to each other anymore.”
The other big moment from last night’s debate was the candidates agreeing to healthcare for undocumented people in the U.S.
Credit: NBC News
Moderator Savannah Guthrie asked the candidates a show-of-hands question about which candidates included undocumented people on their health care plans. Every candidate raised their hands in solidarity.
Guthrie then turned first to South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg as to why his plan allows undocumented people to have healthcare coverage.
“Our country is healthier when everyone is healthier,” Mayor Buttigieg said. “Remember, we’re talking about something that people are given a chance to buy into. In the same way that there are undocumented immigrants in my community who pay. They pay sales taxes. The pay property taxes directly or indirectly. This is not about a handout. This is an insurance program.”
Debate viewers were pleased to see the show of support for the undocumented community.
Credit: @un_documented / Twitter
The undocumented community has faced years of attacks from the current administration. The community does not have the power to vote so their future and wellbeing is tied directly to the people around them who have the ability to vote. Hearing candidates talk about issues impacting the undocumented community with compassion is something so many voters have been looking for.
It gave some people hope for the future of America for the first time in two years.
Credit: @CarlosGSmith / Twitter
It is not a secret that several communities have been in distress as the Trump administration steam rolls over everyone’s rights. Seeing this display is something that is sending a message to Americans seeking a compassionate and better functioning government.
It is also important to note that nay sayers of the idea claim they don’t want their tax dollars paying for this. Undocumented immigrants pay taxes. Undocumented people in the U.S. pay billions of dollars in taxes. According to a 2017 study, undocumented people paid $11.7 billion in taxes in 2014.
Texas is the second largest beneficiary of undocumented taxes with a total of $1.6 billion in taxes coming from undocumented people in 2014. California was number one with $3.2 billion in tax dollars in 2014. That said, the debate of whether or not undocumented people deserve healthcare ignores the fact that undocumented people are subsidizing the federal programs Americans use on a daily basis, like Social Security, but those same people do not benefit from those tax dollars spent.
