Ep 18. I Have a Family That Hates My Boyfriend

True Life is an MTV series that follows the lives of young individuals facing various challenges in their lives. In season 14 episode 18 titled "I Have a Family That Hates My Boyfriend," the show delves into the experiences of three individuals whose families do not approve of their romantic partners.

The first person we meet is Emily, a 23-year-old who has been dating her boyfriend John for over 6 months. Emily's parents disapprove of John because of his race. Emily comes from a conservative family and her parents believe that Emily should date someone from their own race. John, who comes from a different ethnicity, is met with subtle racism from Emily's parents who make it clear that they do not approve of him. Emily is caught in the middle and is struggling to maintain her relationship with John while keeping her relationship with her parents intact.

Next, we meet 19-year-old Lewis, who has been dating his girlfriend, Rachel, for three years. Lewis's family does not like Rachel because of her past arrests. Rachel has a history of shoplifting and has even been caught stealing from Lewis's parents' home. Lewis's parents think that Rachel is a bad influence on their son and do not want him to end up in a bad situation because of her. Lewis believes that Rachel has changed and is trying to move on from her past mistakes, but his parents can't seem to see past her actions.

Lastly, we meet 26-year-old Jazmine, whose family does not approve of her boyfriend, David. Jazmine's parents think that David does not have the same professional goals as Jazmine and is not good enough for her. Jazmine's sister also has issues with David and has accused him of being controlling. Jazmine, on the other hand, loves David and thinks that he is supportive of her goals. She is struggling to reconcile her love for David with her family's disapproval.

Over the course of the episode, we see each individual dealing with the complex emotions that come with having your family disapprove of your relationship. Emily struggles with the guilt of disappointing her parents and the fear that they will never accept John. Lewis struggles with his loyalty to Rachel and the frustration that his parents don't trust his judgment. Jazmine struggles with the fear that she may have to choose between her family and her relationship.

The show does an excellent job of showing the nuances of each situation and highlights how each family's disapproval is rooted in their own beliefs and biases. The struggles of these individuals are relatable and show the difficulties that come with wanting to maintain a relationship while navigating the disapproval of loved ones. True Life continues to tell important stories and this episode is no exception.