Former cast members of MTV’s “The Real World IX: New Orleans” discussed their past memories from being on the show and their stand on various issues in society during a question and answer session with students at Fairfield University’s Quick Center on Friday, April 12.
Danny is a homosexual male and Melissa is a multi-racial female. They could discuss many diverse topics based on their previous experiences. These two former Real Worlders tackled issues from racism to homosexuality, and how their lives have been affected from being on “The Real World.” After giving brief background information about themselves, then they opened the floor to the audience for questions.
Questions ranged from if they liked having their lives taped, to if they wanted to go to a party at the beach later that night.
Danny and Melissa said they did not like living in New Orleans. They felt there was a class issue in the city, and much poverty that has been overlooked there.
When questioned about how their families felt about them being on “The Real World,” Danny said he did not want to bring his family into the show or air his personal family relationships to the public.
Both Danny and Melissa have found it difficult to make friends since being on the show. They feel that people only want to meet them because they were on the show, and this annoys them. Danny feels he was portrayed as the “token gay guy,” and not as a gay activist or someone who fights for homosexual’s rights.
“I got criticized for not being an activist,” Danny said.
Melissa also felt pressured by people to represent her heritage. “I feel when you are the minority on the show, people think you should represent that minority,” Melissa said. “It is really hard because I just want to be myself.”
Danny and Melissa are not fans of the new season in Chicago. The new cast members appear to be fake and whatever they say seems scripted, according to Danny.
Melissa has recently moved to Los Angeles, and is pursuing an acting career. Danny now lives in Seattle and is working on his website.
Over 500 people attended the event, and the crowd diversified from Fairfield students, to community members, to students from other universities.
“I thought it was a really good occasion,” said Marissa Lanteri ’04. “They seemed truthful and honest with their answers.”
Aimee Ennis ’04 said, “They were very entertaining and they covered a broad view of different issues that are important in society.”
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