MTV Fires Taylor Selfridge, Pulls ‘Teen Mom’ Special Over Past Racially Insensitive Tweets
Published on June 10, 2020.Cory Wharton/Instagram
MTV has decided to cut its ties with Taylor Selfridge.
The networked confirmed to PEOPLE that Selfridge’s special with boyfriend Cory Wharton, Teen Mom OG At Home: Cory & Taylor’s Baby Special, was pulled off the air. MTV also ended its working relationship with Selfridge after she faced backlash for past racially insensitive tweets.
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“MTV pulled Teen Mom OG At Home: Cory & Taylor’s Baby Special from its Tuesday schedule and is ending our relationship with Taylor Selfridge in light of her past racist statements on social media,” an MTV spokesperson told PEOPLE. “MTV strongly condemns systemic racism and stands with those raising their voices against injustice.”
The former reality star addressed her departure in an Instagram post, writing that she would like to “move on and continue to be the best version of myself.”
“As you guys know already our special didn’t air tonight. I made the decision last week to not film the next season of Teen Mom OG with Cory for the benefit of myself and my daughter,” she wrote. “I don’t believe the reality tv lifestyle benefits me any further at this point in my life. With current events being what they are and reality tv being selective in who they apply rules to or what is considered acceptable behavior, I do not have any further respect.”
Selfridge continued: “Once again, I apologize for anyone I have hurt or offended in the past. I have addressed my mistakes many times on the network and I would like to move on and continue to be the best version of myself. My past does not define who I am today and I hope you guys can see the change. Please respect my decision to provide a normal, healthy life for my family.”
Instead of airing the special, MTV aired an episode of Catfish to replace it.
Earlier this week, Selfridge came under fire after racially insensitive tweets from 2012 resurfaced online.
During season 8 of Teen Mom OG, the reality star apologized for her past comments while having a conversation with Wharton’s ex, Cheyenne Floyd.
“At the time, because I was younger, I wasn’t thinking it was anything negative. I thought ‘Oh, this is funny’ or something like that, but it’s not,” Selfridge said. “This happened a long time ago.”
“That’s my biggest mistake,” she added. “I just had to grow up, honestly. I had to experience other places.”
Hours before the special was set to premiere, Wharton expressed his excitement for the episode, saying he was excited to bring viewers into “one of the happiest days of my life.”
“I know that there’s a lot going on in this country right now, but you guys know me I always try to stay positive,” he wrote. “In order for things to get better they have to get worse first and I feel like we’re on the right track. But tonight I had the pleasure of shooting a one hour special about the birth of my youngest daughter Mila Mae Wharton … I had one of the happiest days of my life and now I get to share it with you guys. You’ll see ALL the struggles it wasn’t always smiles and rainbows. Love you guys thank you for all the support throughout the years.”
The Teen Mom OG special was created entirely with self-recorded footage and was set to take fans inside the final weeks of the reality star’s pregnancy.
The couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Mila Mae, on April 22.