Friday, December 31, 2010

Markai Durham, 16 and Pregnant Star, Under Fire Over Abortion Special

MTV somehow managed to upstage the antics of Teen Mom firebrand Amber Portwood this week with a controversial episode of 16 and Pregnant.
The special, entitled "No Easy Decision," chronicled the decision of Markai Durham, 19, to terminate her second pregnancy. Yes. She had an abortion.
Durham already has a daughter with her teenage boyfriend, and the couple concluded, sadly, that they simply couldn't afford to raise another child.
Markai Durham Picture
16 19 AND PREGNANT: Markai Durham made the decision to end her second pregnancy. Reactions to this vary widely depending on one's view of abortion.
While Entertainment Weekly called the MTV reality show a "vivid, unsparing look" at a "harrowing decision," Fox News described the special as "controversial."
The N.Y. Post reports that anti-abortion critics railed against the "one-sided portrayal" of the issue, saying "the pro-life issue will simply get tackled."
For her part, Markai Durham is standing by her decision saying, "I get sad from time to time thinking about it, but then everything happens for a reason."
A post on Durham's Facebook fan page sought to quell negativity as well:
"Let me say this again: If you DONT like Markai or her decision. UNLIKE the page, its simple. Markai feels enough pain for making her choice, she DOESNT need to be ridiculed for it. Shes been honest with you when she could have hid it."
"Have some respect or leave! Seriously there are plenty of pages "talking (expletive)" so go there. Dont waste your time, Im just going to ban you."
If nothing else, you have to credit Markai for courageously subjecting herself to the criticism she knew she'd face when this special episode aired.
Was their decision not to have a child they couldn't afford actually responsible? Why not practice safe sex? Is it all unethical? So many questions.
No matter where you stand on the pro-life issue, abortions do happen. What do you think? Did MTV tackle the subject fairly? Share your comments.

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