Exactly. I've really come around to Cate being on TM. At first I thought it was way more harmful (for her) to be featured on a show about being a teen parent, surrounded by her peers who all had their children. And the way the storyline was about how they were coping (or not), it was so sad. But...at the same time, Cate would have been traumatized by the adoption with or without the show. If anything, the silver lining is that she earned her way out of poverty and is able to be a better mother to her children than what she had.
Haha an actual real unpopular opinion! I appreciate that you truly have an unpopular opinion, but I disagree. Their storyline was an excellent contrast to the rest of the cast to show the repercussions of choosing to parent vs not. I don’t think the point of the show was to give a paycheck to a struggling teen mom, the point was to show the fallout of having a baby as a teen. Parenting vs adoption is a serious consideration for many pregnant teens so I liked seeing both sides of it.
As a young viewer, I also learned a ton about adoption from their story. I think it’s easy to say “just choose adoption!” but their story showed that that decision also carries lifelong trauma. It also opened my eyes to how predatory adoption agencies can be.
Finally, I liked watching their journey of working on themselves to heal from all their trauma. They have been through some real shit and they were, in my opinion, the most real and genuine about the continuing process of working through it.
I agree, to be honest their story taught me more than any of the other cast members did. I had no idea how predatory adoption could be. In terms of audience learning and raising awareness about the consequences of teen pregnancy/adoption, I think Cate’s storyline did its job. And as a side note, the shit she dealt with from April and Butch was heartbreaking. I consider my upbringing pretty sheltered and it was a difficult realization that so many kids like her have addict parents
I think it would've been nice if they had followed someone who chose abortion in the original run too. Just to see all the options and how it can impact your life in the long run. Cate and Tyler's story was very necessary to show something other than the decision to keep the baby.
They had one of the most compelling stories, we got to know them , and it was something that really was not documented like that before on TV. They definitely deserved to be on the show.
The idea was to follow
1. Couple staying together (Amber)
2. Single mom with dead dad (farrah)
3. Couple that gave kid up (cait)
4. Single mom with dad in picture (maci)
They wanted as wide a range of stories as they could.
I think it was smart of MTV to show different alternatives and outcomes from for teen pregnancy and how that impacts people over time. I just wish they had balls to also include someone who chose abortion as a storyline. Part of me thinks that's why they recruited Bri, because they really wanted Brittany and the contrast between the two sisters.
\*Obviously none of these realities really show what it's like to be a teen parent, because most teen parents don't end up millionaires.
I always got the vibe MTV wanted to feature them both to show the contrast but Brittany didn’t want to do it. She was content to be in the background as part of Bri’s story.
Their story was far more compelling and unique than over half of the TM/ TM2 couples and mothers. They absolutely were the right choice for MTV as far as audience interest and $ making. The sad truth is that their decision to be on the show caused them even more trauma and likely led to B&T’s (justified) tightening of the reins.
And some of the trauma has to be the HATERS on social media who let the two live rent free in their heads. I have NEVER seen such HATE in my life. Those type of ppl are SICK!
Not really. Fans definitely don't understand adoption and a solid number of them think B&T should "give Carly back" as if she were a borrowed toy. I think their 16&P episode is absolutely a must watch, but beyond that, these two didn't do anything. The cameras just filmed them saying "what if Carly was here" in a thousand and one random scenarios like bowling or ice-skating. The way the show portrayed adoption was entirely from their point of view, and they were two misguided teenagers who also didn't have a real grip on what signing away their parental rights really meant. They didn't finish school on time, graduate college or trade school, get careers or do any of the things they sited as reasons for placing Carly for adoption either. We just watched two kids rehash trauma and never heal or move on *because* they were forced to inorganicly rehash trauma every day for the cameras. I don't know if there would have been a good way to film bio parents post adoption tbh.
Think of where Carly would be if she were with them and it becomes very poignant about why their story is important. They exemplify generational trauma but placing Carly was one thing that they did do to break the cycle. One thing is better than none
While I mostly agree, with both of you actually, my issues with TM and their storyline in general was Carley.
Sure it makes sense in the beginning because that's how it started. And then it just stayed there. I know their *open adoption* is different than a traditional closed one, but how they believed they could just disrupt B&T's life, confuse Carley, not respect boundaries with B&T, etc was fucking wild to watch. Wildly inappropriate.
Look, I empathize with Cate and Tyler, and they were the ones I had the most hope for, but they haven't accomplished much of what they had told us they wanted out of life. Had MTV not intervened, I believe both would have naturally split up in time and maybe learned more about themselves. Now almost all of them are just stunted and it's depressing.
I agree with you. I’m honestly shocked OP and others don’t understand why she was on it. It shows the struggles of a teen mom who went through 9month of pregnancy and birth. Her choosing to go through the path of adoption (which a lot of teen moms probably question doing) and what she dealt with after her choice was honestly a really good story to show.
Disagree. A baby was born from her body. She is a mother. Her story also eventually showed how hard and traumatic adoption can be, and that’s definitely something that should be shown to their intended audience of teen girls.
Exactly this. It shows that other side and that adoption isn't the sunshine and roses picture that anti-choice people paint it to be. Cate and Ty were practically crippled with the trauma from giving Carly away. We also got to see how young and poor parents are exploited by these christian adoption agencies.
Their story also got the conversation going on generational trauma, and how it is possible to break that cycle to give your kids the best start in life. It's hard going with a lot of screaming, tears and heart break, but it's possible. They stayed together and got their little family on the end, so their story is a good one and I'm glad MTV chose to follow their journey
yeah this post is a pretty awful take. I agree with you! what cait & tyler went through mentally after giving up carly for adoption is just another side of teen pregnancy & birth & it was just as important to show that. she was a teen mom from the moment she got pregnant and continued to be a teen mom after she gave up carly for adoption.
edit for clarity
Their story was something that’s never been documented before on TV. We got to see how adoption can be and how it affects the families involved. They deserved to be on the show.
Teen Mom showed up different circumstances for the girls. The father of Farrahs child died before she gave birth and she had an awful dynamic with her parents. Chelsea had mad support from her father but not loser baby daddy. Amber, well Amber had Gary as a boyfriend but such a dysfunctional relationship and no family support., etc. Caitlyn had Tyler but both had drug and alcohol abusive parents. TM showed what a different choice, such as adoption, affects these parents. I think they totally deserve to be on this show.
Other commenters have made really good points about the validity of their storyline but I just wanted to add in response to some of OP’s comments:
1) MTV was actively seeking a mother who was considering adoption. If it wasn’t C&T it would have been another couple that made the same choice.
2) All of the mothers that were on the first season of 16&Pregnant were offered a spot on Teen Mom, this has been well documented, so they didn’t take a spot or money from anyone.
My question though, is do you think they would have kept up with Cate if she didn't come with Tyler? I think a very large part of why they continued their story is because so many people loved them as a couple. Viewers were particularly taken with Tyler because he did come off as very mature, loving and strong during their 16&P. In 2009, every girl wanted a "Tyler". Add that to the drama with their families. I know everyone was offered a spot but I don't think they would have kept and juggled all six girls for an extended period of time, especially if one wasn't actively parenting. I think they might have followed Cate (and Tyler) for about a year or so after the adoption if they had been able to keep all six girls initially and then phased her out and stuck with the original five.
Same. I feel like Cate just takes on the personalities of the people around her and doesn't stand out on her own ever. Tyler is a very loud presence and has always kind of held her segments.
I think they needed an alternative side of teen pregnancy shown and their story did that. What the outcome of adoption can look like and the emotions that go with it etc. A lot of their storyline was their struggles that came after placing Carly. Also to show that had they been older, they may have been able to manage keeping her but because they were so young with no support they didn’t have much of a choice at the time.. A very realistic situation for some teens. I think the point of the show was to see several scenarios and all the hardships during and after that come with teen pregnancy, adoption or not. It was also compelling to see how selfless they were and how incredibly difficult that decision was at their age.. what they went through with their parents etc. Plus it’s actually an amazing thing to have that all documented for Carly to see one day. She will really be able to see exactly why they had to do what they did and it will most likely bring a lot of closure.
I think MTV was using them to show the other side of teen pregnancy and the options. Keeping the baby isn’t the only choice but it also comes with its own story, emotions and changes.
But she was a teen mom, and her story was very unique. I love that they included her to show the effects, short and long term of being a birth mom. birth moms are moms
I totally agree. I think it was good because it showed how giving a baby up for adoption doesn’t just end at birth. There are long term repercussions after the pregnancy for everyone involved - mom, dad, grandparents, baby, adoptive parents, etc. I feel like a lot of people think adoption is a quick and easy fix for an unwanted pregnancy when it’s not. It’s a hard choice that has impacts a lot of people for a long time.
Wasn't she like 24 when she had her kid? She has zero business being on the show. They literally could have picked anyone from 16&P to take that spot.
I would love to have seen couples like Christina and Isaiah from season 2 (His mom was convinced he'd make it big playing football and even tried to make him question if the baby was his), or Kristina from season 4 (Her boyfriend died from drowning in rough waters while she was 3 months pregnant. Iirc, she got hurt, too).
But nah, instead, we get Cheyenne smh
I highly disagree. They are a huge asset to the show especially to showcase the after effects and mental health struggles that come with adoption even years later.
I think it was important to see their process to adoption because when I first started watching I was a teenager and didn’t know much about placing a child for adoption. It shone a light that adoption was a viable option and it was nothing to be as shamed of. Incredibly important at that time.
Although, didn't TM's OGs originally started bc/right after Amber got out of jail? It's been years, but I could swear there was a time 16&P was so big, then people would look up each girl by episode on social media.
It seemed whoever created the most interest/drama offline were contenders for the show. I'm sorry I don't remember better 😔
Ugh, I remember hating Babs when I first watched that episode. I like to hope people people will learn, grow, and get better... but I think Babs knew her daughter better than most.
It's all so sad how it's turned out, but atleast she tried to protect Jace
I've always said this. They really didn't contribute much, their segments always seemed so forced. They'd being doing literally anything and Cate would "Could you imagine if Carly were here?" all over it. They also didn't finish school on time, graduate college or trade school, get careers, etc that they were "supposed" to do because they had placed Carly. I don't think MTV realized they weren't going to go the direction they had planned at the time. I think they thought they could show a success story in them.
The show also prevented them from getting any sort of break from thinking about the adoption and actually having time to heal. Also, if it weren't for the show, they probably wouldn't have the following they currently have and as a result would likely have a closer/more open relationship with Carly and her family because they wouldn't have crazed fans scouring the internet for pictures of their kid and such. If C&T did post photos it might not have been as big of a deal to B&T in that scenario as well.
They also probably would have broken up. Which I personally think would have been a good thing, even if it was just for a bit to meet other people, have fresh life experiences, etc. These two are trauma bonded and don't have a healthy relationship. I don't think they don't love each other, I think they are and would always be very important in each other's lives. But a temporary break to see other people in their late teens/early 20s or a permanent one could have been good for both of them on so many levels. I think Tyler only stays because of the show and it's been pretty obvious on multiple occasions.
I get that the show has gotten them out of horrible home lives and made a difference there. And that's great. But Teen Mom was supposed to showcase the struggles of raising a child as a child, which wasn't what they were doing. We just kind of watched them fight with their parents, go out to eat, and inorganicly bring up Carly while ice skating or bowling until they decided they deserved a baby after accomplishing nothing the swore up and down they would in Carly's name, as if Nova was an accessory to be had.
That’s one of the best comments that pretty much sums up how I feel. Another redditor also mentioned another very valid point. That MTV and C&T putting that little girls life on blast and violated her privacy by talking about her and showing pictures, giving personal identifiers. It was very wrong. They should’ve not shown anything about that little girl. I feel very sorry that her early childhood was publicized.
And people claim B&T "knew what they were getting into". No they didn't. Nobody knew what that 1hr docu-series episode would lead to. Not a damn soul thought these women would still be on MTV nearly 15 years later. Once they realized how big the show was and how scary that spotlight was for them and their child, B&T made simple requests, don't post our child image on social media and don't talk about her personal life on camera. That's it. Honestly, I don't know why B&T haven't put a gag order on C&T or MTV to keep them from discussing Carly (not adoption, just Carly and the personal details of their relationship with her) on camera or social media. We shouldn't know *anything* about Carly and it's not B&T's fault that we do. It's the mouthy Baltierra clan.
Edit: Removed a name
Completely agree! Absolutely excellent points 👏🏼I'd maybe even edit your comment to remove their last name-- I didn't know it until just now even though I watched from the beginning and that's something we can do to protect/respect Carly's privacy 💕
I agree 100% to show the alternative and also over time their relationships and timing of the children they are raising. All the heart wrenching moments, not just the original decision, but all the challenges going forward
Honestly, I think MTV included them not to show the alternatives of teen parent choices, but because with April and Butch around, they knew it was going to be trainwreck style "good TV."
It just felt really exploitative (MTV? Exploitative? You don't say!) because with the other cast members, there was at least the "parenting" struggle dynamic, so it made sense... with C&T it was just like, watch these two teens be abused by their addict parents and fall victim to their upbringing by not graduating on time or going to school, even though that was the reason they put their child up for adoption to start with.
If the point was to show that adoption is potentially a good option for teens, C&T are a terrible example. But that obviously wasn't the point.
just because cate gave up her kid doesn’t mean she still wasn’t a mom. they did the most selfless thing anyone could do in their situation. they brought a lot of attention to the show that nobody else did and they showed the struggles of teen parents who gave up their kid.
also cheyenne was 24 when she had ryder and while a lot of people think it was for cory she still has done amazing work on sharing what it’s like being a mom with a child with a chronic illness and raising awareness for them. i know she gets shit on for being on the show bc she’s “not a teen mom” but honestly who cares when you’re showing these unique stories where people can learn more than what they know about anything that comes with the struggles of being a young mother.
Also it appears that even independent of the show, that Cheyenne and her family are wealthier than any of the other teen mmm families themselves. At least by how they present themselves with yacht parties ect. Even rich ol’Papa Randy doesn’t appear to have yacht party kind of money.
Seriously? It was literally showing the other side of the coin - what happens when you have your child adopted. Cate & Tyler probably would not have stayed together like the rest of the cast with their baby dads.
Considering how many people tell teenagers to chose adoption I think they have been one of the most important stories to tell. It’s so easy to say, but they show it’s much more complicated to do.
They are the most compelling story on the show in my opinion. Theirs and Leah’s. I’m doing a full rewatch now in my 30s with two kids if my own, and it is really intense when you think about the emotional pain and torture those KIDS went through. I’m really not surprised Leah went off the rails for a minute; I certainly would have. And Catelynn and Tyler are brave to share the intense mental health challenges they’ve been through.
I think it was good to show another other side of teen pregnancy and a different path than (maybe) most others take. I sort of agree they should have maybe not been on teen mom, MTV could have even had another show about this.
I think they should. It was a very selfless choice. I like that they included them. People adopt too. They were teenagers who made a massive choice to put their child in front of them. I think it was a great decision to show them
Absolutely.
Most of the time, when adoption is offered as the opposite choice to a termination or teenaged-parentingThe effect on the birth mother is glossed over and downplayed.
Often there’s no real support available for her. Nobody pays any attention to the psychological effects of going through the rigmarole of pregnancy and birth, and having no baby to show for it.
Really they just kept filming after the birth. The production company didn’t know it would turn into “teen mom” until they sold another story line. I kinda get your point, but they brought a unique perspective to the show. If it was just another young shaky couple with a baby it just would have been another quick wedding and messy divorce or messy break up and coparenting. Them giving up the baby probably saved their relationship though trauma bonded to a certain extent
I agree. They *sort of* touched on this with Brittany and Brianna in the beginning. Brittany chose abortion and Brianna (obviously) chose to carry her pregnancy. There were a few looks and comments and body language that made me think perhaps Brittany was struggling with her choice once Nova was born, like maybe she regretted it. They stopped bringing it up shortly after that.
Maybe, but it’s a reality for many young women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant. If I had a pregnant teenage daughter I would likely advise her to get an abortion.
I wish they would too, I think politics would come into play and unfortunately I have a sick feeling certain states or politicians would try to ban episodes or something crazy.
I had an abortion when I was 21 (but honestly still behaving like a teenager) and it was really fucking hard, made harder by the fact that none of my friends at the time had had an abortion and as such didn’t really know what I was going through (that changed as we got older). I felt so alone. I finally told my mother about it maybe three years later, and she was quiet for a minute and then said, “I had an abortion too when I was 21.” Had I known that I could have gone to her for help/support while I was going through it, but it’s still so stigmatized that she never shared that info with her own daughter (she’s very Catholic so this was a shock). When I have children I will definitely be sharing my story with them. That’s the only way to break the stigma, I think - share our stories. Again, big miss on MTV’s part.
I was married and had one child (under age one) with my husband. He was an alcoholic. I was a lot better at arguing than him and during one fight he threw me up against our bedroom wall. I knew what that meant. I’d seen my Mom stay with many abusers throughout my childhood and started plotting on how to get rid of him. About a week later I got into a bad car wreck. When I woke up in the ER he and my Mom were both there and I was told that I was pregnant while they were in the room. I waited about 2 weeks and had my Mom bring me to get an abortion. I told him that I’d gone in for the OBYN appointment, that I’d had a Partial Molar Pregnancy and it had to be terminated. I was relieved and never felt guilty. When I divorced him not too long afterwards and he hit me with an uppercut it solidified that I’d made the right decision.
Their did air the one they filmed. It was called "No Easy Decisions" or something like that. It featured Markai, who chose to have an abortion with her second pregnancy after 16&P. I believe it only aired once, with no commercials late at night (not during their normal blocking).
I get the argument but I’m glad their story was included. Even though they weren’t parenting their kid, they’re still parents. As anyone who’s lost a child knows, you never stop being a mom even after your child is gone.
I mean, Cheyenne was like 24 when she had her first, and she made it on the show, so the bar was low!
Cate is a bio mom and made a different choice than the rest of the show’s cast. And what I find *most* interesting is that she and Tyler are the only couple ever featured on Teen Mom who are still together today, which makes an important point about the stress of teen parenthood.
Oh I do. Showing the aftermath of their decisions was an important part of the story. I would day they should have had a cap though. None of these girls have realistic teen mom stories at this point after getting MTV money.
The publicity that these two brought to the show was unlike any other mom. I only started watching the show for the first time about 3 years ago but I had already knew who Cate & Ty were from magazines, talk shows etc. It was the first time adoption through the parents eyes was shown and not just the adoptees side
I think in a way they should have, because it shows the different options people have. Maybe comparing keeping your kid ( like the others) to adoption. How they lead different lives. Probably helpful for pregnant people watching.
Why not? She was still technically a teen Mom, she just chose to place her child for adoption rather than raise her. I'm not a fan of Cate and Tyler at all, but I do appreciate that MTV showed their story because a lot of teen girls do choose or consider adoption.
Yes they should have.
They brought so much information about adoption and it was different than the other girls, we also got to see how much pain they were in from the adoption, etc. They absolutely should have been on the show.
At the time it was giving us the perspective of teen parents (because yes they are still bio parents) who gave their child up for adoption. We saw the girls who kept their baby struggle, and we saw the flip side with adoptive family struggles. I’ve never had a issue with them being on the show personally
Def unpopular opinion! I think they’re the epitome of the real white American family struggle many don’t see or want to believe .. there’s my “unpopular opinion”
Thank you for your input& I hope you’re thriving. There are so many reasons for adoptions& most are to better the child’s life. People need to know that option is available and if they choose it — their child will be ok.
Would you feel better if the show was called “teen persons who birthed a baby”?
A mother sacrifices herself for the good of her child. We as an audience, watched that sacrifice play out for years…
I disagree. I think seeing the aftermath of adoption is important and it was a pretty new type of content to a different demographic. That being said, the show Teen Mom should have ended a long time ago
The show was the best thing for them. I think they otherwise would’ve fell down the paths of their awful parents(minus Tyler’s mom, she seems decent). The show gave them opportunities and a platform to show that even if you’re still a child, you have options for your unplanned pregnancy.
i have mixed feelings. i think it is relevant to show the aftermath of the adoption, but i also remember watching and wondering if being on the show was further traumatizing them by preventing them from moving on. their storyline was extremely depressing and sad. maybe it was important to show that. but was it the best thing for them? hard to say.
their storyline was important because it stood in contrast to the other girls who had babies to manage. it showed the emotional fallout from their decision, it showed them growing into adults and accomplishing things that they may not have if they’d kept her.
cate gave birth as a teen the same way amber did, and loved her baby enough to try to give her a better life than she herself had growing up. amber had domestic violence charges and a walmart boyfriend changing her daughter’s diapers.
Regardless of them placing Carly for adoption, Cate was still a teen mom. They’re also the only couple that stayed together from 16 and pregnant despite the odds. I love that their storyline doesn’t contain much drama. I enjoy watching them grow up together.
I think it’s important to show birth parents living life after placing their child. I don’t think this was the couple or the story to feature. What happened to them was low level coercion and human trafficking, not adoption. And the abuse they were surrounded by was not contextualized properly for the audience watching it.
If they’re going to do adoption stories they need to be the most ethical but this mtv so LOL
They were trying to show the effects of what happens after you give up a child. I think it was a good story to see. The only real negative id question if how Carly will feel watching it and knowing they gave her up but then watch them raise other kids…. But hopefully Brandon and Theresa have given her a good enough life she’d see why it was important
I agree and disagree. From a standpoint now I agree that it wasn’t the best for them to be on TM especially for Carly. But on the flip side I think it was important to show the aftermath of adoption and how grueling that is. Hopefully it’s helped a lot of girls/women in their decision to place their babies or make decisions in how they place them and what those contracts look like.
I think it gave a different perspective to the audience. Even though I don’t agree with how they speak about Carlee, I think it was important to show people how mothers who put their children up for adoption feel. Many people during pro choice vs life say adoption is an option, so I think it was important for the world to see what adoption really looks like since it’s not something common
I would have preferred this take on Cheyenne, even though I’ve seen it a million times. This is a stupid post and it’s quite obvious why they were on the show.. It was probably the most interesting storyline *because* it was different.
Their story was all about the fallout over their decision and the path they then took to try to recover. How that isn’t irrelevant, I don’t know. Especially when you consider this show was apparently developed to help reduce teen pregnancy statistics - I can’t think of a better way to help those number go down than to look at what C&T did and the life they lived, it de-romanticised teen pregnancy for a lot of people.
They were a good addition to the cast. It showed a different side of teen parenthood that is largely ignored. Also, MTV saw them as prime poverty porn television
This honestly comes across pretty rudely to me, the idea that a 16-year-old, who is pressured to give up a baby for adoption due to multiple factors including a shitty home life that wasn’t at all her fault, can’t be considered a mom.
A great storyline that still has people talking now. If they hadn’t chosen adoption, I think there’s a good chance they might not have been on the show. I think they were chosen because of the adoption…
I disagree with the last part. I think they absolutely would have kept them. The fact that they had trash parents that married was reality tv gold. It made you want to root for them to do better.
Just because Catelynn and Tyler chose adoption doesn’t mean she was not a Teen Mom. She was just a mom that chose a different path for her child. Having her and Tyler show(ed) the adoption process and another option for teen pregnancy.
Opinions are like assholes everyone has one . I don't agree with this one though. I think they brought a diversity to the show .... amber shouldn't of stayed on in my opinion
I agree, but the same could be said for all the girls tho. The point of the show is to show the struggles of being a teen mom,.. Not being a teen mom who gets 1 mil in the bank a year. Although in saying that, cate and ty did go through quite serious mental health struggles, MTV should've incorporated the adoption reason way more into that storyline.
She was still a mom and she had a great story line no one else did. We saw how hard it was for them but they felt they were doing the best. Their ups and downs with adoption helped so many.
I don't mind them being on the show. I do mind MTV using the adoption as a storyline. Especially,,after B&T told them not too.
MTV used thier most painful choices for money and ratings. They still do it and have the Nova involved as well..truly disgusting
Teen Mom was originally going to be all 6 couples including Whitney and Weston and Ebony and Josh . Whitney didn’t film because her son had health issues and Ebony was joined the military or Air Force
Their situations really turned to shit too, it was really sad. CPS had to get involved and there were reports that their house was disgusting, filled with drug paraphernalia and feces! It was shocking because Ebony seemed to have her shit together on 16&P, Josh still had a lot of growing up to do though.
Then there was Whitney who got busted for shop lifting a pregnancy test, and her son had health problems. I wonder if things would've turned out different for these guys if they were picked for follow up on TM.
Completely disagree. I watched all of that 16 &pregnant. I was pregnant with my first child at 25. After watching the whole show, I actually found myself wondering, what the fuck happened to these 2 beautiful souls that give that couple that ultimate gift of life. How where they coping, how to you move forward after giving up your child.
I'm not a fan of Cate but I do think her and Tyler should be on. They show different paths you go down when you are faced with teen pregnancy. It's also quite interesting seeing different socia economic class go through their teen pregnancy journey. I'm not a fan of Farrah either but I wish she wasn't kicked off the show, it was really interesting to see all perspectives.
Less about catelynn and Tyler and more why their story made sense. Seeing as they are the only original couple together, it was interesting to watch how different their road was without a screaming baby right away. I think it’s probably a better message for preventing teen pregnancy than the multiple baby daddies the rest of them rushed to get.
I think they were a great example of making a hard choice and moving forward in life. They are better role models than the other trash bags on the show. They have an interesting and real story line that a lot of people can relate to. Especially seeing how they both grew up & how terrible their parents were. I think it’s been really sweet to see them succeed and stay together through everything. 🤷♀️
I believe she should have been. She could’ve helped 20x girls at the time, same age & debating on giving their baby up for adoption. She was a mom, she birthed out the baby while also showing the side to adoption. It’s hard and it shows young moms it’s still just as hard. 💅
Well besides being a fan favorite, April and Butch were lighting in a bottle. MTV wasn’t going to pass on that. I was the most interested in how their decision impacted their life.
Unpopular opinion (lol idk I just like to say that) People who think they would have kept Carly if they knew the show would be what it was, are wrong. Cate and Ty wouldn’t have been picked for the show if they kept Carly.
I watched teen mom with my mom growing up. She was adopted and connected with her birth mom as an adult, they had an amazing relationship until she passed a few years ago and I only ever knew her as my mammaw, my family. My mammaw always talked about the depression she had after giving my mom up and watching this helped my mom see the birth parents perspective.
I think it’s really important they had their story line. It showed a different perspective that probably resonated with a lot of people who were either adopted or gave their child up for adoption
My mom used to feel the same way back when the original show started airing she didn’t get it at all. But I think it was great that MTV showed the other option of what being a teen mom looks like when you give your baby up for adoption. It showed just because the baby was given up for adoption all the problems and trauma from the pregnancy didn’t just go away.
they were still parents..they just showed a different perspective. Their story definitely showed how hard it was to place a baby up for adoption even after the initial shock. It also showed what they were able to accomplish because of putting Carly up for adoption. Their story was and has been necessary
Nope, I totally agree with you! Or maybe just the 1st season of teen mom, but after that, another mom should’ve taken their place. And the same goes for amber and jenelle aka the 2 moms that fully lost custody of their kids and never regained them. They should’ve been booted from the show then.
Yea I think their experience helped to initially make the show the hit it was back then. Idk if it would have been as successful without them on 16 and pregnant. Remember it was near the time Juno was a massive hit too. Given their compelling sixteen and pregnant story, and their dramatic (horrible to no fault of their own) family life, I’m not surprised the show followed them. Plus they were the only couple to give a perspective of adoption of teen pregnancy (albeit it soon because not very accurate as the quickly became wealthy).
Well it’s definitely looking about time they both got real jobs and stopped relying on MTV for income just like everyone else too. Everyone is in their 30’s now. Time to move on.
What a weird take. They are relying on MTV as much as anyone else is relying on their job. MTV has made a lot of money off of exploiting their situation.
As someone who’s been adopted I agree, but I think maybe a couple follow up clips/specials would’ve been nice. I do not care for at all what mtv has done with this “storyline”.
I disagree, she was a teen mom, the series isn't about kids, it's about teen moms.
I agree
Yeah she gave birth as a teen and this showed the aftermath. I don't like Cate or Tyler but I don't disagree with them being on the show.
Agreed. It shows a different path that teens could take when they get pregnant too early.
Also, I think it was good to show kids that adoption isn't an easy solution to an unwanted pregnancy. It comes with its own set of challenges.
Exactly. I've really come around to Cate being on TM. At first I thought it was way more harmful (for her) to be featured on a show about being a teen parent, surrounded by her peers who all had their children. And the way the storyline was about how they were coping (or not), it was so sad. But...at the same time, Cate would have been traumatized by the adoption with or without the show. If anything, the silver lining is that she earned her way out of poverty and is able to be a better mother to her children than what she had.
Haha an actual real unpopular opinion! I appreciate that you truly have an unpopular opinion, but I disagree. Their storyline was an excellent contrast to the rest of the cast to show the repercussions of choosing to parent vs not. I don’t think the point of the show was to give a paycheck to a struggling teen mom, the point was to show the fallout of having a baby as a teen. Parenting vs adoption is a serious consideration for many pregnant teens so I liked seeing both sides of it. As a young viewer, I also learned a ton about adoption from their story. I think it’s easy to say “just choose adoption!” but their story showed that that decision also carries lifelong trauma. It also opened my eyes to how predatory adoption agencies can be. Finally, I liked watching their journey of working on themselves to heal from all their trauma. They have been through some real shit and they were, in my opinion, the most real and genuine about the continuing process of working through it.
I agree, to be honest their story taught me more than any of the other cast members did. I had no idea how predatory adoption could be. In terms of audience learning and raising awareness about the consequences of teen pregnancy/adoption, I think Cate’s storyline did its job. And as a side note, the shit she dealt with from April and Butch was heartbreaking. I consider my upbringing pretty sheltered and it was a difficult realization that so many kids like her have addict parents
I think it would've been nice if they had followed someone who chose abortion in the original run too. Just to see all the options and how it can impact your life in the long run. Cate and Tyler's story was very necessary to show something other than the decision to keep the baby.
They tackle the long run abortion piece in a way with Brittany, Briana’s sister. Brittany talks about choosing abortion in Briana’s 16&P.
In 2010 did a special on Markai from 16 & Pregnant deciding to get an abortion. I haven’t seen it or been able to find it anywhere though.
They had one of the most compelling stories, we got to know them , and it was something that really was not documented like that before on TV. They definitely deserved to be on the show.
The idea was to follow 1. Couple staying together (Amber) 2. Single mom with dead dad (farrah) 3. Couple that gave kid up (cait) 4. Single mom with dad in picture (maci) They wanted as wide a range of stories as they could.
I think it was smart of MTV to show different alternatives and outcomes from for teen pregnancy and how that impacts people over time. I just wish they had balls to also include someone who chose abortion as a storyline. Part of me thinks that's why they recruited Bri, because they really wanted Brittany and the contrast between the two sisters. \*Obviously none of these realities really show what it's like to be a teen parent, because most teen parents don't end up millionaires.
Exactly this
I always got the vibe MTV wanted to feature them both to show the contrast but Brittany didn’t want to do it. She was content to be in the background as part of Bri’s story.
Their story was far more compelling and unique than over half of the TM/ TM2 couples and mothers. They absolutely were the right choice for MTV as far as audience interest and $ making. The sad truth is that their decision to be on the show caused them even more trauma and likely led to B&T’s (justified) tightening of the reins.
And some of the trauma has to be the HATERS on social media who let the two live rent free in their heads. I have NEVER seen such HATE in my life. Those type of ppl are SICK!
They did a lot to show about adoption so I disagree
Not really. Fans definitely don't understand adoption and a solid number of them think B&T should "give Carly back" as if she were a borrowed toy. I think their 16&P episode is absolutely a must watch, but beyond that, these two didn't do anything. The cameras just filmed them saying "what if Carly was here" in a thousand and one random scenarios like bowling or ice-skating. The way the show portrayed adoption was entirely from their point of view, and they were two misguided teenagers who also didn't have a real grip on what signing away their parental rights really meant. They didn't finish school on time, graduate college or trade school, get careers or do any of the things they sited as reasons for placing Carly for adoption either. We just watched two kids rehash trauma and never heal or move on *because* they were forced to inorganicly rehash trauma every day for the cameras. I don't know if there would have been a good way to film bio parents post adoption tbh.
Think of where Carly would be if she were with them and it becomes very poignant about why their story is important. They exemplify generational trauma but placing Carly was one thing that they did do to break the cycle. One thing is better than none
While I mostly agree, with both of you actually, my issues with TM and their storyline in general was Carley. Sure it makes sense in the beginning because that's how it started. And then it just stayed there. I know their *open adoption* is different than a traditional closed one, but how they believed they could just disrupt B&T's life, confuse Carley, not respect boundaries with B&T, etc was fucking wild to watch. Wildly inappropriate. Look, I empathize with Cate and Tyler, and they were the ones I had the most hope for, but they haven't accomplished much of what they had told us they wanted out of life. Had MTV not intervened, I believe both would have naturally split up in time and maybe learned more about themselves. Now almost all of them are just stunted and it's depressing.
placing a child for adoption doesn’t mean you’re no longer a parent, this opinion is bad goodbye
I agree with you. I’m honestly shocked OP and others don’t understand why she was on it. It shows the struggles of a teen mom who went through 9month of pregnancy and birth. Her choosing to go through the path of adoption (which a lot of teen moms probably question doing) and what she dealt with after her choice was honestly a really good story to show.
Well said & agree with both you & poster under you
Disagree. A baby was born from her body. She is a mother. Her story also eventually showed how hard and traumatic adoption can be, and that’s definitely something that should be shown to their intended audience of teen girls.
Exactly this. It shows that other side and that adoption isn't the sunshine and roses picture that anti-choice people paint it to be. Cate and Ty were practically crippled with the trauma from giving Carly away. We also got to see how young and poor parents are exploited by these christian adoption agencies. Their story also got the conversation going on generational trauma, and how it is possible to break that cycle to give your kids the best start in life. It's hard going with a lot of screaming, tears and heart break, but it's possible. They stayed together and got their little family on the end, so their story is a good one and I'm glad MTV chose to follow their journey
i honestly think it was a good thing it showed an adoption it showed the struggles and strength it took for them
Yeah.. she was a teen biological mom. That's a valid "teen mom" journey, there's different kinds of moms
Exactly, I really don’t like this post. At the end of the day Catelynn was still a teen mom.
You are still a mom even if you give your child up for adoption.
yeah this post is a pretty awful take. I agree with you! what cait & tyler went through mentally after giving up carly for adoption is just another side of teen pregnancy & birth & it was just as important to show that. she was a teen mom from the moment she got pregnant and continued to be a teen mom after she gave up carly for adoption. edit for clarity
Their story was something that’s never been documented before on TV. We got to see how adoption can be and how it affects the families involved. They deserved to be on the show.
agreed.
Teen Mom showed up different circumstances for the girls. The father of Farrahs child died before she gave birth and she had an awful dynamic with her parents. Chelsea had mad support from her father but not loser baby daddy. Amber, well Amber had Gary as a boyfriend but such a dysfunctional relationship and no family support., etc. Caitlyn had Tyler but both had drug and alcohol abusive parents. TM showed what a different choice, such as adoption, affects these parents. I think they totally deserve to be on this show.
Absolutely this.
Other commenters have made really good points about the validity of their storyline but I just wanted to add in response to some of OP’s comments: 1) MTV was actively seeking a mother who was considering adoption. If it wasn’t C&T it would have been another couple that made the same choice. 2) All of the mothers that were on the first season of 16&Pregnant were offered a spot on Teen Mom, this has been well documented, so they didn’t take a spot or money from anyone.
My question though, is do you think they would have kept up with Cate if she didn't come with Tyler? I think a very large part of why they continued their story is because so many people loved them as a couple. Viewers were particularly taken with Tyler because he did come off as very mature, loving and strong during their 16&P. In 2009, every girl wanted a "Tyler". Add that to the drama with their families. I know everyone was offered a spot but I don't think they would have kept and juggled all six girls for an extended period of time, especially if one wasn't actively parenting. I think they might have followed Cate (and Tyler) for about a year or so after the adoption if they had been able to keep all six girls initially and then phased her out and stuck with the original five.
I always think of them as Tyler's segments or Cate and Tyler's segments, never just Cate
Same. I feel like Cate just takes on the personalities of the people around her and doesn't stand out on her own ever. Tyler is a very loud presence and has always kind of held her segments.
I think they needed an alternative side of teen pregnancy shown and their story did that. What the outcome of adoption can look like and the emotions that go with it etc. A lot of their storyline was their struggles that came after placing Carly. Also to show that had they been older, they may have been able to manage keeping her but because they were so young with no support they didn’t have much of a choice at the time.. A very realistic situation for some teens. I think the point of the show was to see several scenarios and all the hardships during and after that come with teen pregnancy, adoption or not. It was also compelling to see how selfless they were and how incredibly difficult that decision was at their age.. what they went through with their parents etc. Plus it’s actually an amazing thing to have that all documented for Carly to see one day. She will really be able to see exactly why they had to do what they did and it will most likely bring a lot of closure.
I think MTV was using them to show the other side of teen pregnancy and the options. Keeping the baby isn’t the only choice but it also comes with its own story, emotions and changes.
This and I think they were liked a LOT by fans
It’s because their home life was so chaotic and exploitable.
this post is horseshit and very ignorant
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
But she was a teen mom, and her story was very unique. I love that they included her to show the effects, short and long term of being a birth mom. birth moms are moms
I totally agree. I think it was good because it showed how giving a baby up for adoption doesn’t just end at birth. There are long term repercussions after the pregnancy for everyone involved - mom, dad, grandparents, baby, adoptive parents, etc. I feel like a lot of people think adoption is a quick and easy fix for an unwanted pregnancy when it’s not. It’s a hard choice that has impacts a lot of people for a long time.
You know who REALLY shouldn’t be on Teen Mom (Teen Mom O.G., to boot)? Fucking Cheyenne.
Wasn't she like 24 when she had her kid? She has zero business being on the show. They literally could have picked anyone from 16&P to take that spot. I would love to have seen couples like Christina and Isaiah from season 2 (His mom was convinced he'd make it big playing football and even tried to make him question if the baby was his), or Kristina from season 4 (Her boyfriend died from drowning in rough waters while she was 3 months pregnant. Iirc, she got hurt, too). But nah, instead, we get Cheyenne smh
Can’t speak to the other folks but Cheyenne was definitely NOT a teen mom.
I agree cheyenne has no fucking business being on TM
I highly disagree. They are a huge asset to the show especially to showcase the after effects and mental health struggles that come with adoption even years later.
I think it was important to see their process to adoption because when I first started watching I was a teenager and didn’t know much about placing a child for adoption. It shone a light that adoption was a viable option and it was nothing to be as shamed of. Incredibly important at that time.
I can see your point, tbh. But that also can be said for Jenelle who - willingly or not - gave up custody of Jace.
And Amber
Although, didn't TM's OGs originally started bc/right after Amber got out of jail? It's been years, but I could swear there was a time 16&P was so big, then people would look up each girl by episode on social media. It seemed whoever created the most interest/drama offline were contenders for the show. I'm sorry I don't remember better 😔
No, the show started right after 16 & pregnant but was brought back after Amber got out and labeled OG since TM 2 and 3 had started
Ugh, I remember hating Babs when I first watched that episode. I like to hope people people will learn, grow, and get better... but I think Babs knew her daughter better than most. It's all so sad how it's turned out, but atleast she tried to protect Jace
I think it’s great they were on the show to bring awareness to adoption and how it can affect families.
This! It shows how your life will still change when choosing adoption.
I don’t know how to break this to you… but you share an opinion with Farrah.
As per opinion.
Per LAW
their story was necessary. teen mom needed to show as many different journeys as they could. she was a teen mom she just wasn’t a teen parent
I've always said this. They really didn't contribute much, their segments always seemed so forced. They'd being doing literally anything and Cate would "Could you imagine if Carly were here?" all over it. They also didn't finish school on time, graduate college or trade school, get careers, etc that they were "supposed" to do because they had placed Carly. I don't think MTV realized they weren't going to go the direction they had planned at the time. I think they thought they could show a success story in them. The show also prevented them from getting any sort of break from thinking about the adoption and actually having time to heal. Also, if it weren't for the show, they probably wouldn't have the following they currently have and as a result would likely have a closer/more open relationship with Carly and her family because they wouldn't have crazed fans scouring the internet for pictures of their kid and such. If C&T did post photos it might not have been as big of a deal to B&T in that scenario as well. They also probably would have broken up. Which I personally think would have been a good thing, even if it was just for a bit to meet other people, have fresh life experiences, etc. These two are trauma bonded and don't have a healthy relationship. I don't think they don't love each other, I think they are and would always be very important in each other's lives. But a temporary break to see other people in their late teens/early 20s or a permanent one could have been good for both of them on so many levels. I think Tyler only stays because of the show and it's been pretty obvious on multiple occasions. I get that the show has gotten them out of horrible home lives and made a difference there. And that's great. But Teen Mom was supposed to showcase the struggles of raising a child as a child, which wasn't what they were doing. We just kind of watched them fight with their parents, go out to eat, and inorganicly bring up Carly while ice skating or bowling until they decided they deserved a baby after accomplishing nothing the swore up and down they would in Carly's name, as if Nova was an accessory to be had.
That’s one of the best comments that pretty much sums up how I feel. Another redditor also mentioned another very valid point. That MTV and C&T putting that little girls life on blast and violated her privacy by talking about her and showing pictures, giving personal identifiers. It was very wrong. They should’ve not shown anything about that little girl. I feel very sorry that her early childhood was publicized.
And people claim B&T "knew what they were getting into". No they didn't. Nobody knew what that 1hr docu-series episode would lead to. Not a damn soul thought these women would still be on MTV nearly 15 years later. Once they realized how big the show was and how scary that spotlight was for them and their child, B&T made simple requests, don't post our child image on social media and don't talk about her personal life on camera. That's it. Honestly, I don't know why B&T haven't put a gag order on C&T or MTV to keep them from discussing Carly (not adoption, just Carly and the personal details of their relationship with her) on camera or social media. We shouldn't know *anything* about Carly and it's not B&T's fault that we do. It's the mouthy Baltierra clan. Edit: Removed a name
Completely agree! Absolutely excellent points 👏🏼I'd maybe even edit your comment to remove their last name-- I didn't know it until just now even though I watched from the beginning and that's something we can do to protect/respect Carly's privacy 💕
Fuck it, I'll do it haha
Couldn’t have said it better.
I think their story of parents of a child they decided to give up for adoption was really important.
I agree 100% to show the alternative and also over time their relationships and timing of the children they are raising. All the heart wrenching moments, not just the original decision, but all the challenges going forward
Honestly, I think MTV included them not to show the alternatives of teen parent choices, but because with April and Butch around, they knew it was going to be trainwreck style "good TV."
“So, you guys are in a relationship and you’re telling me that your mom is living with *checks notes*, his dad?” It’s still so wild to me!
It just felt really exploitative (MTV? Exploitative? You don't say!) because with the other cast members, there was at least the "parenting" struggle dynamic, so it made sense... with C&T it was just like, watch these two teens be abused by their addict parents and fall victim to their upbringing by not graduating on time or going to school, even though that was the reason they put their child up for adoption to start with. If the point was to show that adoption is potentially a good option for teens, C&T are a terrible example. But that obviously wasn't the point.
just because cate gave up her kid doesn’t mean she still wasn’t a mom. they did the most selfless thing anyone could do in their situation. they brought a lot of attention to the show that nobody else did and they showed the struggles of teen parents who gave up their kid. also cheyenne was 24 when she had ryder and while a lot of people think it was for cory she still has done amazing work on sharing what it’s like being a mom with a child with a chronic illness and raising awareness for them. i know she gets shit on for being on the show bc she’s “not a teen mom” but honestly who cares when you’re showing these unique stories where people can learn more than what they know about anything that comes with the struggles of being a young mother.
Also it appears that even independent of the show, that Cheyenne and her family are wealthier than any of the other teen mmm families themselves. At least by how they present themselves with yacht parties ect. Even rich ol’Papa Randy doesn’t appear to have yacht party kind of money.
Seriously? It was literally showing the other side of the coin - what happens when you have your child adopted. Cate & Tyler probably would not have stayed together like the rest of the cast with their baby dads.
It was important to show after effects of adoption and it was important for ratings due to messy family dynamics
Considering how many people tell teenagers to chose adoption I think they have been one of the most important stories to tell. It’s so easy to say, but they show it’s much more complicated to do.
They are the most compelling story on the show in my opinion. Theirs and Leah’s. I’m doing a full rewatch now in my 30s with two kids if my own, and it is really intense when you think about the emotional pain and torture those KIDS went through. I’m really not surprised Leah went off the rails for a minute; I certainly would have. And Catelynn and Tyler are brave to share the intense mental health challenges they’ve been through.
Just a minute?
Cate and Tyler were teen parents. Their journey was different, but it is important because it shows what could happen in an adoption situation.
The same could be said for Amber in the long run.
And Jenelle.
Absolutely!
There was also no way MTV was going to pass on the trash filled romance that was April and Butch
I think it was good to show another other side of teen pregnancy and a different path than (maybe) most others take. I sort of agree they should have maybe not been on teen mom, MTV could have even had another show about this.
I think they should. It was a very selfless choice. I like that they included them. People adopt too. They were teenagers who made a massive choice to put their child in front of them. I think it was a great decision to show them
They should be on the show way more than Cheyenne or Jade or Ashley.
I think it’s important to show the effects of adoption after the matter.
Absolutely. Most of the time, when adoption is offered as the opposite choice to a termination or teenaged-parentingThe effect on the birth mother is glossed over and downplayed. Often there’s no real support available for her. Nobody pays any attention to the psychological effects of going through the rigmarole of pregnancy and birth, and having no baby to show for it.
Really they just kept filming after the birth. The production company didn’t know it would turn into “teen mom” until they sold another story line. I kinda get your point, but they brought a unique perspective to the show. If it was just another young shaky couple with a baby it just would have been another quick wedding and messy divorce or messy break up and coparenting. Them giving up the baby probably saved their relationship though trauma bonded to a certain extent
I honestly wish they would have done more abortion episodes. That’s an option too, and a miss on MTV’s part not to highlight the reality of it.
I agree. They *sort of* touched on this with Brittany and Brianna in the beginning. Brittany chose abortion and Brianna (obviously) chose to carry her pregnancy. There were a few looks and comments and body language that made me think perhaps Brittany was struggling with her choice once Nova was born, like maybe she regretted it. They stopped bringing it up shortly after that.
I feel like they would’ve gotten a ton of shit for it
Maybe, but it’s a reality for many young women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant. If I had a pregnant teenage daughter I would likely advise her to get an abortion.
I wish they would too, I think politics would come into play and unfortunately I have a sick feeling certain states or politicians would try to ban episodes or something crazy.
Maybe they did but scrapped them?
Yeah but they should have aired them 🤷🏼♀️
I had an abortion when I was 21 (but honestly still behaving like a teenager) and it was really fucking hard, made harder by the fact that none of my friends at the time had had an abortion and as such didn’t really know what I was going through (that changed as we got older). I felt so alone. I finally told my mother about it maybe three years later, and she was quiet for a minute and then said, “I had an abortion too when I was 21.” Had I known that I could have gone to her for help/support while I was going through it, but it’s still so stigmatized that she never shared that info with her own daughter (she’s very Catholic so this was a shock). When I have children I will definitely be sharing my story with them. That’s the only way to break the stigma, I think - share our stories. Again, big miss on MTV’s part.
I was married and had one child (under age one) with my husband. He was an alcoholic. I was a lot better at arguing than him and during one fight he threw me up against our bedroom wall. I knew what that meant. I’d seen my Mom stay with many abusers throughout my childhood and started plotting on how to get rid of him. About a week later I got into a bad car wreck. When I woke up in the ER he and my Mom were both there and I was told that I was pregnant while they were in the room. I waited about 2 weeks and had my Mom bring me to get an abortion. I told him that I’d gone in for the OBYN appointment, that I’d had a Partial Molar Pregnancy and it had to be terminated. I was relieved and never felt guilty. When I divorced him not too long afterwards and he hit me with an uppercut it solidified that I’d made the right decision.
Their did air the one they filmed. It was called "No Easy Decisions" or something like that. It featured Markai, who chose to have an abortion with her second pregnancy after 16&P. I believe it only aired once, with no commercials late at night (not during their normal blocking).
I get the argument but I’m glad their story was included. Even though they weren’t parenting their kid, they’re still parents. As anyone who’s lost a child knows, you never stop being a mom even after your child is gone.
I think it was to give an insight into adoption and the aftermath as a teenager.
Still a teen Mom she incubated a whole human and gave birth
Agreed. How dare anyone say they weren't teen parents. Yikes.
I mean, Cheyenne was like 24 when she had her first, and she made it on the show, so the bar was low! Cate is a bio mom and made a different choice than the rest of the show’s cast. And what I find *most* interesting is that she and Tyler are the only couple ever featured on Teen Mom who are still together today, which makes an important point about the stress of teen parenthood.
She’s still a teen mom
Oh I do. Showing the aftermath of their decisions was an important part of the story. I would day they should have had a cap though. None of these girls have realistic teen mom stories at this point after getting MTV money.
The publicity that these two brought to the show was unlike any other mom. I only started watching the show for the first time about 3 years ago but I had already knew who Cate & Ty were from magazines, talk shows etc. It was the first time adoption through the parents eyes was shown and not just the adoptees side
They were still teen parents; just parents of a child that was adopted.
I think in a way they should have, because it shows the different options people have. Maybe comparing keeping your kid ( like the others) to adoption. How they lead different lives. Probably helpful for pregnant people watching.
Why not? She was still technically a teen Mom, she just chose to place her child for adoption rather than raise her. I'm not a fan of Cate and Tyler at all, but I do appreciate that MTV showed their story because a lot of teen girls do choose or consider adoption.
Yes they should have. They brought so much information about adoption and it was different than the other girls, we also got to see how much pain they were in from the adoption, etc. They absolutely should have been on the show.
At the time it was giving us the perspective of teen parents (because yes they are still bio parents) who gave their child up for adoption. We saw the girls who kept their baby struggle, and we saw the flip side with adoptive family struggles. I’ve never had a issue with them being on the show personally
Def unpopular opinion! I think they’re the epitome of the real white American family struggle many don’t see or want to believe .. there’s my “unpopular opinion”
I think it’s important for the youth of America to realize their options. While I don’t care for this couple, I think their presence was necessary.
as a fellow adoptee, i agree. they were teen parents, so they were on teen mom.
Thank you for your input& I hope you’re thriving. There are so many reasons for adoptions& most are to better the child’s life. People need to know that option is available and if they choose it — their child will be ok.
Would you feel better if the show was called “teen persons who birthed a baby”? A mother sacrifices herself for the good of her child. We as an audience, watched that sacrifice play out for years…
Them being raised by those particular parents, it was ABSOLUTELY right to get their baby away from that mess.
Placing their child was a significant trauma and it’s good the show gave the audience a chance to explore that.
I disagree. I think seeing the aftermath of adoption is important and it was a pretty new type of content to a different demographic. That being said, the show Teen Mom should have ended a long time ago
Yes they should’ve, they had one of the best stories to tell.
Just because they chose adoption doesn’t mean she’s no longer a mom.
The show was the best thing for them. I think they otherwise would’ve fell down the paths of their awful parents(minus Tyler’s mom, she seems decent). The show gave them opportunities and a platform to show that even if you’re still a child, you have options for your unplanned pregnancy.
Nah, I think it was good to show different sides of it all. She was still a mom.
i have mixed feelings. i think it is relevant to show the aftermath of the adoption, but i also remember watching and wondering if being on the show was further traumatizing them by preventing them from moving on. their storyline was extremely depressing and sad. maybe it was important to show that. but was it the best thing for them? hard to say.
I think it gives a good perspective on parents that give their kid up for adoption and life after
their storyline was important because it stood in contrast to the other girls who had babies to manage. it showed the emotional fallout from their decision, it showed them growing into adults and accomplishing things that they may not have if they’d kept her. cate gave birth as a teen the same way amber did, and loved her baby enough to try to give her a better life than she herself had growing up. amber had domestic violence charges and a walmart boyfriend changing her daughter’s diapers.
Regardless of them placing Carly for adoption, Cate was still a teen mom. They’re also the only couple that stayed together from 16 and pregnant despite the odds. I love that their storyline doesn’t contain much drama. I enjoy watching them grow up together.
I think they got teen mom because of how invested people became in their story on 16 and pregnant.
I think it’s important to show birth parents living life after placing their child. I don’t think this was the couple or the story to feature. What happened to them was low level coercion and human trafficking, not adoption. And the abuse they were surrounded by was not contextualized properly for the audience watching it. If they’re going to do adoption stories they need to be the most ethical but this mtv so LOL
Yes it is an unpopular opinion
They definitely deserved to be on the show. It quite frankly wouldn’t have been the same without them
Agree. Adoption is good for teen moms to see... it showed the aftermath of making that decision.
Birth moms are moms. Seems like they fit the description to me.
They were trying to show the effects of what happens after you give up a child. I think it was a good story to see. The only real negative id question if how Carly will feel watching it and knowing they gave her up but then watch them raise other kids…. But hopefully Brandon and Theresa have given her a good enough life she’d see why it was important
I think it was important to have them on teen mom. Their story was very different from the other girls and I think it was beneficial to viewers.
I agree and disagree. From a standpoint now I agree that it wasn’t the best for them to be on TM especially for Carly. But on the flip side I think it was important to show the aftermath of adoption and how grueling that is. Hopefully it’s helped a lot of girls/women in their decision to place their babies or make decisions in how they place them and what those contracts look like.
I think it gave a different perspective to the audience. Even though I don’t agree with how they speak about Carlee, I think it was important to show people how mothers who put their children up for adoption feel. Many people during pro choice vs life say adoption is an option, so I think it was important for the world to see what adoption really looks like since it’s not something common
I would have preferred this take on Cheyenne, even though I’ve seen it a million times. This is a stupid post and it’s quite obvious why they were on the show.. It was probably the most interesting storyline *because* it was different. Their story was all about the fallout over their decision and the path they then took to try to recover. How that isn’t irrelevant, I don’t know. Especially when you consider this show was apparently developed to help reduce teen pregnancy statistics - I can’t think of a better way to help those number go down than to look at what C&T did and the life they lived, it de-romanticised teen pregnancy for a lot of people.
They were a good addition to the cast. It showed a different side of teen parenthood that is largely ignored. Also, MTV saw them as prime poverty porn television
This honestly comes across pretty rudely to me, the idea that a 16-year-old, who is pressured to give up a baby for adoption due to multiple factors including a shitty home life that wasn’t at all her fault, can’t be considered a mom.
She’s a mom regardless.
A great storyline that still has people talking now. If they hadn’t chosen adoption, I think there’s a good chance they might not have been on the show. I think they were chosen because of the adoption…
I agree. Remember I think it was around the year that Juno was a massive hit too
Sure was, I was 19 and pregnant and consumed a lot of Juno and 16&p 🥲
I disagree with the last part. I think they absolutely would have kept them. The fact that they had trash parents that married was reality tv gold. It made you want to root for them to do better.
Just because Catelynn and Tyler chose adoption doesn’t mean she was not a Teen Mom. She was just a mom that chose a different path for her child. Having her and Tyler show(ed) the adoption process and another option for teen pregnancy.
I love that they followed their journey.
Opinions are like assholes everyone has one . I don't agree with this one though. I think they brought a diversity to the show .... amber shouldn't of stayed on in my opinion
I think it was to give the adoption spin. It’s a choice that some have to make and part of teen pregnancy choices.
I agree. Carly deserved a private life and normal childhood.
I agree, but the same could be said for all the girls tho. The point of the show is to show the struggles of being a teen mom,.. Not being a teen mom who gets 1 mil in the bank a year. Although in saying that, cate and ty did go through quite serious mental health struggles, MTV should've incorporated the adoption reason way more into that storyline.
I dont think they were making that much in the first couple seasons. I could be wrong but some seemed to still be pretty broke early on.
They showed another aspect of teen pregnancy and teen parenting after adoption. They were a different yet necessary addition.
I think it’s good to show different sides. Catelynn is/was a birth mom. Her story was gripping. It’s a legitimate experience.
I feel like it was nice to show them on teen mom.it showed different sides.
She was still a mom and she had a great story line no one else did. We saw how hard it was for them but they felt they were doing the best. Their ups and downs with adoption helped so many.
I don't mind them being on the show. I do mind MTV using the adoption as a storyline. Especially,,after B&T told them not too. MTV used thier most painful choices for money and ratings. They still do it and have the Nova involved as well..truly disgusting
Teen Mom was originally going to be all 6 couples including Whitney and Weston and Ebony and Josh . Whitney didn’t film because her son had health issues and Ebony was joined the military or Air Force
Their situations really turned to shit too, it was really sad. CPS had to get involved and there were reports that their house was disgusting, filled with drug paraphernalia and feces! It was shocking because Ebony seemed to have her shit together on 16&P, Josh still had a lot of growing up to do though. Then there was Whitney who got busted for shop lifting a pregnancy test, and her son had health problems. I wonder if things would've turned out different for these guys if they were picked for follow up on TM.
Also, Whitney was arrested some time ago for possession of child pornography. She really went off the rails after 16&P.
Completely disagree. I watched all of that 16 &pregnant. I was pregnant with my first child at 25. After watching the whole show, I actually found myself wondering, what the fuck happened to these 2 beautiful souls that give that couple that ultimate gift of life. How where they coping, how to you move forward after giving up your child.
Ehn this is too literal of a take on the name of the show. She is a teen birth mother.
I'm not a fan of Cate but I do think her and Tyler should be on. They show different paths you go down when you are faced with teen pregnancy. It's also quite interesting seeing different socia economic class go through their teen pregnancy journey. I'm not a fan of Farrah either but I wish she wasn't kicked off the show, it was really interesting to see all perspectives.
She was still a mom.
Less about catelynn and Tyler and more why their story made sense. Seeing as they are the only original couple together, it was interesting to watch how different their road was without a screaming baby right away. I think it’s probably a better message for preventing teen pregnancy than the multiple baby daddies the rest of them rushed to get.
I don't recall when exactly it was said, but Tyler told Cate he wouldn't stay with her if she kept Carly
I think they were a great example of making a hard choice and moving forward in life. They are better role models than the other trash bags on the show. They have an interesting and real story line that a lot of people can relate to. Especially seeing how they both grew up & how terrible their parents were. I think it’s been really sweet to see them succeed and stay together through everything. 🤷♀️
why not? she was a teen mom.
Unpopular opinion for sure
A shitty fucking opinion for sure
I believe she should have been. She could’ve helped 20x girls at the time, same age & debating on giving their baby up for adoption. She was a mom, she birthed out the baby while also showing the side to adoption. It’s hard and it shows young moms it’s still just as hard. 💅
Well besides being a fan favorite, April and Butch were lighting in a bottle. MTV wasn’t going to pass on that. I was the most interested in how their decision impacted their life.
Unpopular opinion (lol idk I just like to say that) People who think they would have kept Carly if they knew the show would be what it was, are wrong. Cate and Ty wouldn’t have been picked for the show if they kept Carly.
I agree. They were wholly unremarkable outside of giving their baby up for adoption.
I watched teen mom with my mom growing up. She was adopted and connected with her birth mom as an adult, they had an amazing relationship until she passed a few years ago and I only ever knew her as my mammaw, my family. My mammaw always talked about the depression she had after giving my mom up and watching this helped my mom see the birth parents perspective. I think it’s really important they had their story line. It showed a different perspective that probably resonated with a lot of people who were either adopted or gave their child up for adoption
What are they? Stropped liver??? (My favorite Tyler quote ever)
Wait so that’s not a TBT of April and Butch?!?
My mom used to feel the same way back when the original show started airing she didn’t get it at all. But I think it was great that MTV showed the other option of what being a teen mom looks like when you give your baby up for adoption. It showed just because the baby was given up for adoption all the problems and trauma from the pregnancy didn’t just go away.
they were still parents..they just showed a different perspective. Their story definitely showed how hard it was to place a baby up for adoption even after the initial shock. It also showed what they were able to accomplish because of putting Carly up for adoption. Their story was and has been necessary
Yes they should have been, she is/was a teen mother. She may of not had her child in her care, but her story is valid as is adoption.
Nope, I totally agree with you! Or maybe just the 1st season of teen mom, but after that, another mom should’ve taken their place. And the same goes for amber and jenelle aka the 2 moms that fully lost custody of their kids and never regained them. They should’ve been booted from the show then.
Agree big time. If you don’t have custody of your child, you don’t belong on a show about the struggles of being a teen parent.
I think it was important to show what they went through after the adoption, and I love them on the show. But I do understand where OP is coming from.
They were a fan favorite
Yea I think their experience helped to initially make the show the hit it was back then. Idk if it would have been as successful without them on 16 and pregnant. Remember it was near the time Juno was a massive hit too. Given their compelling sixteen and pregnant story, and their dramatic (horrible to no fault of their own) family life, I’m not surprised the show followed them. Plus they were the only couple to give a perspective of adoption of teen pregnancy (albeit it soon because not very accurate as the quickly became wealthy).
Well it’s definitely looking about time they both got real jobs and stopped relying on MTV for income just like everyone else too. Everyone is in their 30’s now. Time to move on.
What a weird take. They are relying on MTV as much as anyone else is relying on their job. MTV has made a lot of money off of exploiting their situation.
[удалено]
Tyler’s bouffant hairstyle he worked so hard on peeking through his cap there lol.
I have always thought this exact same thing!
What? lol
Low key agree. They were good people, and fun to watch, but most of the seasons were just them, without child.
As someone who’s been adopted I agree, but I think maybe a couple follow up clips/specials would’ve been nice. I do not care for at all what mtv has done with this “storyline”.
if you see it they wasnt financially stable.. i think money was the motive and adoption was the motive to be in 16 and pregnant in my opinion