Was Tamar’s Neck-Rolling Too Real for The Real? Nah. But Her Eye-Rolling and Unpleasantness May Have Been 

Bless her heart: It’s been mighty rough for Tamar Braxton within the last year.

Not only was she forced to leave Dancing With the Stars due to a life-threatening health crisis, but her very good album, Calling All Lovers, caught the fade from consumers. Now, one of the biggest breaks in her post-Braxton Family Values career, a slot on the hit daytime talk show The Real, has come to an abrupt end. While the official announcement claims it was a mutual decision, the first outlet to report the news notes that Braxton was fired—something Braxton’s own fiery Instagram post suggests as it claims “backstabbing.” Braxton didn’t name names, but she did unfollow everyone on the show sans her now-former-co-host-closest-to-the-ideals-of-Jesus, Tamera Mowry-Housley.

Quoting what it describes as a “very reliable source” (Wendy Williams suggested that it was Loni Love on Monday’s edition of The Wendy Williams Show), Love B. Scott reported: “Tamar Braxton just got fired from The Real. She wasn’t reading too well with the audience and sales people didn’t find her to be a good fit with advertisers. Also, production found her too difficult to deal with.”

Of course, when one reads phrasing like “didn’t find her to be a good fit with advertisers,” certain sensitivities are triggered. One of those includes the notion that maybe, just maybe, Tamar was too loud, and her rolling neck too active, to shill, oh, I don’t know, diet products, kale chips, Cheetos, or whatever else daytime TV typically advertises. My people, my people. I feel you, but not in this instance.

Let’s be clear about The Real: Everyone on this show is loud minus Tamera, so while Tamar may be the real-life version of BET’s old cartoon character Cita, Loni Love has a volume set just as high (Jesus’ alarm clock).

As a longtime fan of Tamar Braxton (I listen to the first album she pretends never happened regularly), I think this is a teachable moment because I can totally see why Tamar might’ve gotten the boot. For one, she wasn’t always the most pleasant person on the panel. Her eyes rolled as hard as my body does after my sixth tequila drink (save the judgment) and the DJ turns on Beyoncé’s “Sorry.” She tended to talk over her fellow panelists. She could be dismissive here and there of their feelings, too.

In sum, she treated her co-workers the way Towanda Braxton claims she treats her sisters. The problem, though, is that there is no Mama Braxton to come and save her from their criticism. Moreover, these are co-workers, not kinfolk; production doesn’t have to put up with you, especially once they realize they don’t need you to survive. So as special as Tamar Braxton is and as magnetic a personality many find her, we’re all dispensable.

Shout out to Star Jones and Rosie Perez.

I’m not Iyanla Vanzant, but I have a few suggestions for the littlest Braxton.

For one, stop taking to social media to discuss your messy work breakups. I can only imagine the betrayal and subsequent rage Tamar must be feeling, but if you’re being accused of being a diva or combative, reading the girls on Instagram does little to negate that argument.

Also, while losing a gig certainly sucks, it does create an opportunity for Tamar Braxton, singer, to return to top priority. Tamar’s second album was so well done, but between TV shows one, two and three, it seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle. Tamar’s voice is a gift, and I want more people to realize how good it is.

That would lead to more touring, more albums, and just more from Tamar the artiste.

Can she keep doing reality TV? Sure, get your money and use it to sell your music. But whew, if you can’t get your morning face together for a daytime talk show, don’t sign that contract.

I would add more suggestions, but the reality is, talking too much and doing the most appear to be her biggest issues. Good luck, girl. I’m rooting for you even if Loni, Adrienne, Jeannie and your producers can’t be bothered.