Teen Mom executive producer Morgan J. Freeman fires back at critics

Teen Mom franchise executive producer Morgan J. Freeman has filed another chapter in the never-ending debate over the production and social value of the hit shows 16 & Pregnant, Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2.

Freeman, who rarely speaks out about the shows he’s had a major hand in bringing to the public, apparently had enough with all the criticism. He fired off some tweets in defense of the way the shows are handled following the season finale of Teen Mom 2:

Sometimes having more eyes on a situation is inherently safer than none. Do your homework.

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) June 9, 2016

you are the eyes. this is the process.

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) June 9, 2016

we document what is happening. we are not parents. we are not police. we do open up powerful discourse about many many things. that is good.

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) June 9, 2016

I can't make people do what I'd prefer they do. Can you?

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) June 9, 2016

The debate of these shows’ value vs. the celebrities they’ve made of the participants is something we’ve discussed at length numerous times before. The franchise, beginning with 16 & Pregnant, has had a major influence in bringing what was once a taboo subject out into the open. This has created a healthy public dialogue and brought home to millions of households the often impossibly difficult realities of becoming parents at such a young age.

Also, with Teen Mom (now Teen Mom OG) and Teen Mom 2 continuing on season after season (and a failed attempt at a Teen Mom 3), there’s been an undeniable celebrity creation out of the cast members. There’s no way to separate that reality from the story lines of Amber Portwood, Maci Bookout, Farrah Abraham, Catelynn Lowell, Jenelle Evans, Chelsea Houska, Leah Messer and Kailyn Lowry.

Jenelle Evans has recently expressed her own dissatisfaction with the production of the show:

Not watching once again. Highly disappointed and only caught a glimpse for 5 secs. Rethinking ever letting my life be filmed ever again.

— Jenelle Evans (@PBandJenelley_1) June 7, 2016

In an interesting piece via Jezebel, blogger Clover Hope argues that at this point Jenelle should opt out. “So now would be a good time, since she’s not at all a teen anymore and exceedingly fulfilled her duty as a cautionary tale, to follow through on her plan and get away from the cameras for good,” she wrote.

As long as the shows roll on, so will the debate.