TLC’s sMothered centers around mother/daughter pairings that are extremely close. Here are the reality show’s 10 cringiest reveals.
TLC is known for its quirky reality programs, like 90 Day Fiance, that delve into the lives of unique families and romances. sMothered premiered its first season in 2019, and it has been shocking reveal after shocking reveal. The show centers around mother and daughter relationships that may be considered…well, just a little bit “too close for comfort.”
There’s nothing wrong with parents and their children having a close bond, but these women take the idea of “being best friends with mom” to the next level. Let’s take a look at 10 of the cringiest mother/daughter moments featured in the first two seasons.
10. The Shared Bath Water
Out of all of the mother/daughter duos in the series, one of the most stifling pairs is that of 50-year-old Sunhe and her 30-year-old daughter, Angelica. Despite Angelica being involved in a long term relationship – that Sunhe vehemently opposes – she still lives with her mother and they sleep in the same bed.
That’s a little weird, but what really provoked a reaction from fans is a certain bathing habit. “If the water is still hot, we will share the bathwater.” Sunhe agrees that there is nothing wrong with it, and says that sharing bathwater is an act of “trust” between them.
9. The Awkward “Good Morning” Routine
68-year old Marcia and her 21-year-old daughter Alena are the best of friends in season 2 of sMothered. Marcia is a self-proclaimed over the top “doting mother,” all the way down to a peculiar morning routine.
Every day, she wakes up Alena by playfully licking her face like a puppy. Her daughter enjoys the odd show of affection, saying that “It kinda makes me feel closer to her because we’re doing something funny and out of the ordinary.” Marcia explains that it started during Alena’s childhood. Marcia could not get her a dog, so she “became the puppy” herself.
8. The Strip Club
They may have more than a 20-year age gap between them, but Sandra and Mariah act more like sisters than mother and daughter. Sandra is eager to keep up with Mariah and her more youthful lifestyle. The two party together and even go on a double-date with two men in their 20’s.
One of the more shocking moments happened at Mariah’s 21st Las Vegas birthday. Sandra takes her daughter to a risque strip show and secretly arranges to have the oiled up performers take the birthday girl up on stage and give her a personal show.
7. The Shared Showers
Mary and Brittani take Sunhe and Angelica’s routine of sharing bathwater one step further. The mother and daughter have been showering together since Brittani was only 5-years-old. “When my mom does simple things like washing my hair or washing my body it makes me feel comforted.”
The 19-year-old says that she shares a spiritual connection with her mother, and attributes their closeness to being bullied as a child. She also teases that their bond isn’t a one-sided need, joking that if she ever moved away, her mother would “probably die from separation anxiety.”
6. The Matching “Implants”
Kathy and Cristina do everything together, whether it’s crashing Cristina’s sister’s dates, discussing their sex lives, or planning over the top parties like their neighborhood-wide Easter egg hunt with 1200 eggs.
Cristina thinks there is still one way that they could be closer. She constantly pressures her mother into getting a boob job, but not just any boob job. She wants their “size” to match exactly so that they can wear each other’s clothes. She even tries to bring her husband, Carlo, into the conversation and outright asks him to give his opinion on her mother’s breasts.
5. The Topless Photoshoot
Mariah’s 21st birthday at the Vegas strip show ended with Mariah upset and embarrassed because her mother ignored her wishes, but the best friends swiftly made amends. In no time, they move on the next scandalous mother/daughter activity – a topless photoshoot.
Concerned that her mother isn’t confident enough in her body, Mariah arranges a sexy, professional photoshoot for the two of them. “Showing my body off makes me feel good, makes me feel confident, and I want her to feel the same.” Sandra is hesitant at first, but eventually, the tops come off.
4. The “Proposal”
Sunhe doesn’t hide how much she disapproves of Angelica’s boyfriend, Jason. Trouble arises when he asks her to move in with him. Sunhe is extremely offended that she isn’t included in the invitation, and she pressures her daughter to leave him.
Angelica is nearly convinced to end the relationship when Jason plans a romantic night and “proposes” with a promise ring. The surprises don’t end there. He offers Sunhe a box with a key in it and asks her to move in with them as well. Though let’s be real, it’s probably just so she’ll stop trying to sabotage their relationship.
3. The Colonic
Brittani’s struggle with self-esteem has been an ongoing problem throughout her life. She was always bigger than her classmates and had weight loss surgery as a teenager. She has been successful at losing the weight but admits that mentally, she still struggles.
Eager to help her daughter to feel more confident, Mary suggests that they get mother/daughter colonics to lose a few extra pounds. The two hold hands during their appointment, and Mary even assists her daughter with inserting the colonic tube, to the confusion of the technician.
2. The Game Of Tag
The puppy-like face licking is not where the morning routine ends for Marcia and Alena. Once Alena gets out of bed, the mother and daughter quite literally chase each other around their living room like children playing tag. “It’s a thing we do every day. Every single day.”
There is a reasonable explanation for this. Alena didn’t have much stamina and muscle mass as a young child, so Marcia would instigate chasing each other as a fun and healthy way to help her get stronger. It’s a cute story, but odd now that Alena is 21-years-old.
1. The Mommy-Daughter-Boyfriend Divorce
Sunhe’s feud with Jason continues into season two. She is openly jealous of the time that Angelica spends with him and firmly believes that he is absolutely unworthy of her daughter. Though Jason has been separated from his wife for years, their divorce is not finalized.
Sunhe insists that she and Angelica attend the signing of the divorce papers to make sure that it actually happens. Sunhe not only attends, but she actively participates, looking over the paperwork and grilling his ex-wife with personal questions, even going so far as to ask if she is still in love with him.