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'The Busch Family Brewed': From bullying a woman on TV to tabooing sex, here's how the show does it all wrong

The show just completed three weeks on air, we have seen the family collectively bash Billy Jr's girlfriend Marissa over her intentions to date him
PUBLISHED MAR 23, 2020
Christi Busch and Billy Sr Busch (MTV)
Christi Busch and Billy Sr Busch (MTV)

Americans love reality television. Well, to be honest, everyone around the globe, right from South Asia to Australia and everything in between has embraced reality TV and it's not a bad thing. However, bullying, character assassination and full-blown fights continue to be the main elements making up the premise of TV shows and in an era where people are actively promoting anti-bullying and empowerment, we have TV shows that do the exact opposite, just like MTV reality show 'The Busch Family Brewed'. 

The show has been problematic from the get-go when it started three weeks ago. A little background for 'TBFB' newbies: The show is about Billy Sr Busch and Christi Busch and their seven children and the fact that how close they are as a family is being constantly shoved down the viewer's throats. Well, that's still insufferable, but what's concerning is the fact that the family, especially matriarch Christi Busch and her daughters Maddie and Grace, talks about Billy Jr (Billy Sr and Christi's firstborn) and his girlfriend, Marissa Morgan.

Marissa was introduced in Episode 2 and for the one hour that the show is on TV, it would be safe to say that more than half of the time it was Christi concerned about how she wouldn't be easily trusting of people who come into her kids' lives as there are high chances they only want in because of their money and fame.

Joining in on the bully train was Gussie Busch, a beer-guzzling, fake-tanned 'ladies man'. In the episode, he was seen talking to his sister about how he and Billy Jr had met Marissa at their favorite bar on the same night and she had texted him the morning after. He goes on to say that he immediately knew what this was about, implying the fact that she wanted to pursue a relationship with him and he somehow "saw" through her intentions and left that conversation right there. He also claims to be shocked when one morning his elder brother calls him to tell him that he spent the night at Marissa's house and they are now dating.

The two of them further go on to question her integrity by saying that Marissa texted both the brothers at the same time and she just desperately wanted a Busch boyfriend and it didn't matter which one. Apart from being painted immoral on the show, Marissa also experienced hatred online. Comments like "A girl who dms both brothers doesn’t belong... awkward! #goldie #digger #buschfamilybrewed" started trickling in and she defended herself clarifying that it is the other way around and the girl came with receipts. She posted a screenshot of a conversation between her and Gussie proving that it was him that dm' ed her first and not how it's portrayed on the show. 

On Week 3, the name-calling was taken a notch higher. Billy Jr and Marissa were celebrating their first anniversary together and decided to change things up and put an end to the long-distance relationship with the latter suggesting that they move in together to Dallas where she's based. Now, Billy Jr went a little back and forth with this thought, given the 'close-knit' nature of their family. But in the end, he agrees that he needs to move in with his girlfriend. He goes on to discuss this prospect with his family who obviously don't take it well and Christi calls in a family meeting to discuss this matter and everyone, barring Haley (who seems a little sensible), rips out Marissa with the texting-two-brothers-at-the-same-time talk. Christi also says she feels Marissa is only taking from Billy Jr and she is really concerned about her intentions at this point. 

Billy Jr, however, sticks to his decision and flies to Dallas to hunt for apartments with his girlfriend. Funny that he brought in his brother, Gussie, and his friend, Jake, to accompany him on this trip. After zeroing in on the apartment, Billy drops the 'split the rent 50-50' talk with Marissa building in on the 'only take, no give' narrative. He doesn't mean to offend his girlfriend of one year, but is only putting this on the table in order for his family to not perceive her as a free rider and for himself to be perceived as someone who could be taken advantage of. The conversation upsets Marissa who tells Billy that she ain't a gold digger and that boyfriends buy things for their girlfriends but no one ever makes a big deal out of it as his family does. The conversation is brought to an abrupt halt with the realtor walking in but it comes to a climax when both of them meet Gussie and Jake over dinner to celebrate their apartment hunt coming to an end.

Gussie and Jake decide to address the elephant in the room and confront Marissa about how she had texted both the brothers and how she would post solo pictures from a vacation that Billy Jr and her took together, questioning her intentions, this time to her face. Marissa did take it in her stride and defended herself, saying she has a proper job and she pays for everything as the Busch family is way too touchy about these matters and Billy Jr confirms this. Atta girl!

After the episode aired, Marissa again took to Twitter to clarify about her texting both brothers thing, "This whole DM two brothers thing is a complete lie. Both guys DMed me & @BillyBuschJr and I did not start dating for MONTHS later #buschfamilybrewed". Grace Busch, who shaded Marissa aplenty on the show, decided to continue the same on social media, tweeting, "You know it’s a problem when everyone in the family sees red flags #buschfamilybrewed".

She should've stopped at that but didn't. She, later on, went to post a GIF, which said I like sugar daddies and tagged Marissa on it. That was really below the belt and totally not required, but Marissa responded to this accusation without stooping down to Grace's level. "What sugar daddy lives at home? I work for my own money, thank you," she tweeted.

The real question here is how is this allowed, in the first place? Aren't there any rules in place for how far one can push it with the bullying? At a time where people are striving for empowerment of the fairer sex, this show is utterly regressive and toxic. Not only does it promote bullying, but it also tabooed sex when Christi Busch sat her daughter Maddie down for a conversation right before prom. "If you have sex, you'll die" were her exact words and this can easily be counted as one of the most irresponsible TV moments in history. 

What happens in the next episodes is something we have to wait and watch. But what we have seen in the past three weeks doesn't give a lot of hope. What do you think about the show? Let us know in the comments below.

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