Reality TV fame is more lucrative than ever.
It used to be that the stars of popular series enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame and then returned to obscurity — which probably meant returning to a 9 to 5 gig.
These days, however, shows run longer than ever, and the most popular cast members amass millions of social media followers.
This opens up a whole new revenue stream, as sponsored content on Instagram can yield big bucks for certain stars.
No one has proven more adept at capitalizing on reality fame than Kailyn Lowry, and now, the longtime Teen Mom 2 staple is defending her turf against what she sees as a greedy newcomer.
Take a look:
Cash Queen
All of the stars of the Teen Mom franchise have capitalized on secondary income sources, but no one has done so as effectively as Kail.
Many Hats
In addition to being a mother of three and a reality star, Kail is a bestselling author, a beauty mogul, and a podcast host.
Going Off
On the latest episode of her popular Coffee Convos podcast, Kail went off on Lauren Comeau, the current girlfriend of her ex-husband, Javi Marroquin.
Change of Heart
Lauren initially indicated that she would not be appearing on Teen Mom 2, but she has since filmed scenes for several episodes.
Staying the Course
Like her TM2 predecessors, Lauren has amassed a huge following on Instagram, and she’s now cashing in on her popularity by posting sponsored content.
Taking Issue
Lauren’s side hustle probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to Kail, who’s been doing the same thing for years. But it seems Lowry believes there are some major differences between her situation on Comeau’s.
You’re Welcome
“I hope she loves the check from the platform we’ve given her,†Kail said of Lauren during the latest episode of Coffee Convos.
Doubling Down
“It’s really irritating to see. I’ve said it before, I don’t think she needs to be part of the show,” Lowry added.
Tag Team
Kail’s co-host, Lindsie Chrisley, agreed with her assessment of the situation and stated that she finds Lauren’s behavior hypocritical.
Hypocrisy Now
“I know it’s been said in the past that [Lauren] didn’t want any part of this and whatever but it’s like, really?†Lindsie said.
Insta-rich
“Is that really how you feel because if that’s the truth why are you pushing out ads on Instagram every day?†she asked.
Making the Best of It?
We see Lindsie’s point. However, it’s possibly Lauren was initially reluctant to join the show but has since decided she may as well cash in if she’s going to participate.
Crossing the Line?
Kail went on to say that she was infuriated to see her son Lincoln in one of Lauren’s ads, and she has since taken steps to ensure that will never happen again.
Taking a Stand
“I messaged her myself,†Kail explained. “I said, ‘Do not put my son in any of your ads!’â€Â
Big Difference
Kail acknowledged that she has used her children in past social media ads, but insists that her kids were paid for the time they put in.
Paid Partners
“If my sons are in any of my ads online, [my sons] are getting [paid] for that,†Kail said. “My kids get paid to be in my ads.”
How It Works
“So, [she’s] sure as sh-t not going to turn around and do a $200 post and use my kid for free,” Lowry continued. “That’s not the way this works.â€Â
Lindsie Sounds Off
“I would feel a type of way if I was in the situation you were in and another woman gets involved and is using my kid on advertisements,†Lindsie said, echoing Kail’s sentiment.
Burning Bridges
“Y’all already have such a not good relationship, so to do that I feel like it just fuels the fire more and it keeps things stirred up for no reason,” Chrisley added. “It could be completely avoided altogether.”
Making Her Case
“Don’t act like you don’t like the [‘Teen Mom’] platform, but then you’re using it,†Lindsie continued.
Blog Life
“It’s one or the other. You either like it or you don’t. If you don’t like it, that’s great, but stop trying to build yourself as a blogger on Instagram,” Kail’s co-host concluded.
Not a Fan
Kail generally doesn’t have much to say about Lauren, but as The Ashley’s Reality Roundup points out, she’s recently made it abundantly clear that she’s not looking to be friends with Comeau.
Mama Bear
“She is very minimally a part of my life, very minimally,†Kail said during a May episode of her podcast. “I have nothing to do with Lauren and [her son] Eli. I need to co-parent with Javi for Lincoln.
Tell Us What You REALLY Think!
“I don’t need to talk to her, I don’t need to be a part of her everyday life. We don’t need to do that,” Lowry added.
For the Best?
We’re sure everyone involved agrees it’s best if these two just keep their distance — which means Kail is probably just gonna have to get used to Lauren cashing in on the ‘Gram!