In an exclusive interview with ET, Trina and Towanda spoke about the family’s struggle navigating Tamar’s suicide attempt on the show. Although they felt it was an opportunity to segue into an honest discussion about mental health, many didn’t appreciate the idea.

The family received pushback from fans after the release of season seven’s teaser which included a clip of their initial reaction to the news. Then, pressure mounted as Tamar vocalized her disgust regarding their decision to continue the show in her interview with Tamron Hall.

Referencing the fallout from their decision to cover the event, Trina says “You’re darned if you do, darned if you don’t.” Still, they insisted that their intentions behind the move were pure. She says, “As long as we can help somebody, there’s a reason to continue on to do the show”. Towanda agreed, noting the importance of educating viewers on how suicide affects loved ones, “A lot of doctors will tell you that, you know, it’s important for that victim to understand how the family reacted, or how your loved ones are feeling when you decided to make that decision.”

Ultimately, the network continued on with the show, covering the sensitive subject in a respectful and informative way, according to the family’s wishes. As for their reaction to Tamar’s emotional interview with Tamron Hall, Towanda says, “It was important for Tamar to speak her truth, and that’s Tamar’s truth.” She adds, “Tamar is able to tell her truth, and we have a right to speak ours as well.”

Braxton Family

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week