Former “Love & Hip-Hop: New York” star Erica Mena apologized profusely for calling a “Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta” cast member a racial insult.
The 35-year-old mom-of-three said she was sorry for calling reality show co-star, Spice, a “blue monkey.”
Erica is a white Puerto Rican and Spice is Black. But Erica insists she’s not racist.
Erica was fired from “Love & Hip-Hop” and she was dropped from the next season of “HUSH,” a streaming TV series on AllBlk Network.
Erica tells TMZ, “I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness. My choice of words was wrong, and I take full responsibility for what I said.”
She added, “I am committed to listening to the voices of those affected and will work toward making amends.”
She pulled the race card, saying, “As a woman of color and the mother of two Black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven.”
She concluded: “That said, I do understand the gravity of what I said and want to use my platform to promote inclusivity and equality.”
MTV aired the controversial episode and received backlash from social media.
The producers issued a statement:
“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.”
The drama was followed by a bar fight in Atlanta that ended with Erica being booked in the Fulton County Jail on simple battery charges, including allegedly attacking a police officer.
Also charged were “L&HH: Atlanta” star Addie “Bambi” Richardson and “L&HH: Hollywood” cast member Rodney “Zellwag” Shaw.
Erica has 2 minor children with aspiring rapper Safaree Samuels, 42, and a son with former Terror Squad rapper Raul Conde. She was previously engaged to actor/rapper Shad Moss, a.k.a. Bow Wow, 36.
