If you watched Monday night’s episode of Teen Mom 2, you likely noticed that several things were a bit … off.
For one, we saw Kailyn Lowry smiling and enjoying herself, a rare sight as the show focuses increasingly on feuds and dramatic fireworks.
Even more unusual, however, was the fact that Jenelle Evans was nowhere to be seen in this week’s episode.
Obviously, the absence of the Carolina Hurricane left fans with a lot of questions:
Is Jenelle being punished? Is this the beginning of the end? Will she still be paid as much as the other girls?
Fortunately, The Ashley’s Reality Roundup was able to answer these and other questions.
Here’s what we know so far:
Sitting This One Out
This is the first time in nine seasons that Jenelle was not featured in an episode of the show that made her famous.
Unprecedented Move
In fact, this is the first time that ANY full-time cast member was not featured in a regular season episode.
What Gives?
The situation left fans wondering why producers might have made such a decision — and what it might mean for the future of Jenelle’s career.
A History of Problems
It’s no secret that Jenelle made life hell for the crew members who worked with her this season.
The David Factor
Much of the problem, of course, was that Jenelle’s husband, David Eason, had been fired from the show, making it difficult to film on the couple’s property.
Babs Is Back
This also left producers at a loss for what to do with Evans, and they’ve been forced to awkwardly pair her up with her estranged mother in order to give her someone to talk to on camera.
Absence Explained?
So was Jenelle missing from Monday’s show simply because producers were at a loss for what to do with her? Well, it seems there may be to the story than that …
A Pleasure to Work With
According to The Ashley, Jenelle often made it literally impossible for the crew to get usable footage of her, as she frequently canceled shoots or simply “refused to work.”
Doing What They Have to Do
Many fans expressed hopes that Jenelle was being punished or that she was soon to be fired. But an insider says the Evans-less episode was simply a matter of necessity.
No Other Option
“The editors and producers of the show knew this day was coming,†one behind-the-scenes source told The Ashley.
Every Trick In the Book
“They stretched what little footage they had of Jenelle literally as far as they could, and used every trick they could to keep Jenelle included, but there was no more footage to work with,” the insider says.
Still Employed!
As for the rumors that this episode was a “test” to see how viewers would react if the show were to continue without Jenelle, one source said that’s simply not the case.
Disappointment Abounds
“It had nothing to do with that, honestly,†the insider revealed.
Hanging In There
“It happened because there was no other choice,” the source added. “It was not to teach [Jenelle] a lesson or anything like that. Trust me, if they had the footage, they would have used it. They want her on the show desperately.â€Â
More to Come
But hey, in good news for those who enjoyed their respite from Ms. Evans this week, the informant says there are more Jenelle-free episodes to come.
Keeping Her In the Mix
“They have some footage of Nathan [Griffith] and some footage of Barb [Evans] that they can filter in, but nothing with Jenelle until that phone call that they filmed without her knowing [in February], and the one-day visit to see Briana [DeJesus],†the source said.
No Shortage of Conflict
Yes, due to a lack of options, the rest of the season’s Jenelle storylines will feature her clashes with producers and her brief visit to Briana’s house in Orlando.
The Good News
Clearly, Jenelle’s bosses will go to great lengths to keep her on the show, but that doesn’t mean her latest shenanigans are going totally unpunished.
Hitting Her In the Pocket Book
The Ashley’s source confirms that Jenelle will not be paid for this week’s episode, and due to the fact that it’s just one of many installments in which Jenelle will not be featured, her salary for this season will likely be considerably lower than it should be.
Cliffhanger
As is the case with several other cast members, there are doubts as to whether or not Jenelle will attend the taping of this year’s reunion special. From the way things are shaping up, Ms. Evans may not have much of a choice — she’ll likely need the money!