MTV’s reality show ‘Teen Mom’ has been controversial since its initial airing in 2009. It proposes to send a cautionary message to young girls about the perils of teen pregnancy. However, when bypassing the entertainment value of the show, it is in fact that the opposite is true. Not only does it glorify the subject matter, but showcases both violent and irresponsible behavior with little to no consequence. These three factors combine to send an implied message endorsing teen pregnancy. The mere existence of ‘Teen Mom’ not only glorifies teen pregnancy, but gives the impression that is socially acceptable. Each of the four girls is highly identifiable to MTV’s targeted audience of adolescent girls, which according to Nielsen Ratings consists of 3.14 million viewers. This attention starved generation now finds new celebrity role models that they can emulate. Girls are encouraged to pursue celebrity status via negative actions, and assume the rational ‘If I get pregnant, I can be on MTV, too!’. Teen pregnancy is no longer considered shameful, or thought of as a mistake, but has been elevated to a social status. Teens are now proudly presenting their pregnant bellies, posting on face book about the fathers of their children not being present, expect the government to financially support them, and worst of all treat their babies like accessories. Plainly put, being a teen mom is ‘cool’. Throughout the first four seasons the audience sees Teen Mom Amber Portswood physically and verbally abuses her boyfriend Gary Shirley. Not a single episode goes by without verbal abuse and more often than not you see her physical eruption. We see her punch him in the face, throw things at him, try to push him down stairs, and in one memorable episode knock him to the floor and kick him in the ribs repeatedly – all within plain view of their daughter. Never once do camera men step into break up the violence and the producers’ choic