After Working 8 Years in Radio, Angela Yee Explains Her Real Motivation For Doing ‘The Gossip Game’

Chances are, if you’re an avid east coast radio listener, you’ve heard buzz about either New York’s Hot 97 or Power 105. And if you’re a fan or critic of either station, you’re well aware that two of the show’s leading ladies (on the morning slots), Angela Yee and K.Foxx, have ventured into reality TV (‘The Gossip Game’), for the first time–ever. After episode 1 aired this week, Angela wrote a personal post explaining why, after eight years in the industry, she decided to her hand a reality TV.

Check out her personal blog post below.

Why would you agree to do a reality show? That’s the first question I get in almost every interview. It seems that everyone and their mama has a show now, or is working on a pilot for a show, or has an idea for a show that could work. There’s a stigma about reality shows and the people who star in them. Reality shows mean your career will end, your marriage will be cursed, you have to fight and/or throw a drink, or you’re going to end up broke and a has-been when the series ends. Only a slim percentage of people will go on to profit and reap the benefits.

When I interviewed Marlon Wayans, he pulled me to the side after and warned me not to get into a fight or act crazy on TV. Of course, that was never my intention. I’ve seen people “turn up” for the camera, thinking that this is the best way to maximize their platform and get more camera time. This formula works, but it’s shortsighted. When the season ends, where do you go?

The Gossip Game is supposed to defy this formula. There are 7 women who have their careers and reputations on the line. After working over 8 years in radio to build my brand, I would never want to misrepresent myself. I’ve had to deal with racism, sexism, rumors, malice, a little bit of everything. I’m used to being around men at work all the time, and dealing with a cast of women is a completely different arena. The first episode centers around the Power 105/Hot 97 beef. Kay Foxx refers to Power as “the other station” repeatedly, and Flex gives one of his ageing rants about how he has the crown, blah blah blah. I never looked at our situation as “beef.” I always viewed it as they don’t like us and feel superior.

After watching the first episode, I knew I made the right decision coming to work at Power. We go hard, respect each other, and love coming to work every day. I did the show because I want young people to know that you can have a profitable career doing what you love. But you can’t get distracted by the people around you who want to see you fail. The one thing that matters to me the most is what is on the air every single morning. I don’t care who hates me on twitter, who thinks they could do my job better than I can, who thinks I’m unattractive or can’t dress… I care about who supports me and what I bring to the table. I see the humor in life every day, and I laughed a lot last night!

With only one episode in, do you think reality TV will hurt or hinder Angela Yee’s career? Click here to read the full interview.