Ahead of a new episode of Tough Love Atlanta airing on CleoTV, actresses Leslie Sheri and Anissa Lashay are talking about their complex characters and their equally complicated circumstances.
Source: Tough Love: Atlanta / CleoTV
As previously reported the show stars Anissa LaShay, Julian Horton, Kadeem Isaiah, Alisha S. Ward, and Ashanti Harris. The Daytime Emmy Award-nominated series was created by the visionary husband and wife creative team of Roni and Caleb Davis. In the second season of Tough Love, Atlanta the repercussions of former fellowship advisor Jason’s actions continue to haunt the lives of Jackie, Iesha, Lisa, Drew, and Kenny. After Jason’s imprisonment for PPP loan fraud, the looming debt he also incurred from an angry criminal becomes a serious threat. The criminal not only demands repayment but also blackmails the group with dark secrets he’s discovered about each of them, forcing them to engage in illegal activities to settle the debt. As their friendships are tested and their moral compasses are challenged, all five find themselves on a dangerous journey, as they simultaneously try to regain control of their toxic love lives.
In the conversation-sparking show, Anissa’s character Jackie is entangled in a love triangle while pregnant. She’s also facing abuse while trying to navigate matters of the heart.
“Jackie has gotten a lot of support,” Anissa told BOSSIP’s Managing Editor Dani Canada about Jackie’s journey. “She’s gotten some hate too, but I feel like the support has definitely outweighed the hate.”
Source: Tough Love: Atlanta / CleoTV
As for Leslie Sheri who portrays Princess, she’s glad that viewers can see a bit of their own complexities in the Tough Love Atlanta characters.
“I think the response has been received very well because everyone can kind of get with all the situations going on,” she told BOSSIP. “Like everything that Jackie’s doing [or] Princess is doing, everyone in this set is doing—we’ve been there before. We know somebody who’s been there before. The responses are very realistic to these types of situations that happen in real life.”
Source: Tough Love: Atlanta / CleoTV
Speaking of relatability, one of the most talked-about moments from the show is a viral scene from a couples counseling session that garnered over 5.5 million views on social media.
Leslie and Anissa both felt the authenticity of the moment resonated with viewers, as it dealt with the struggles of being disrespected by a partner’s family—a scenario that many can relate to.
“I’m not saying I would put my hands on somebody’s mom, but I’m also not saying that I wouldn’t,” joked Leslie. “A lot of people are able to relate to that situation, being in a relationship where you’re constantly disrespected by your partner’s mom.”
Anissa added that she previously faced something similar in her personal life.
“It was very relatable to me because it got to the point where I was just like, ‘Do you want to be with your son?’ Because you’re acting real weird… you’re staying over here all day, and I can’t enjoy my man because you’re here all the time!”
The drama doesn’t stop there on Tough Love, though. In a recent episode, viewers saw things reach a fever pitch between Jackie and Princess during a showdown at Princess’s event.
“It was fun, I feel real toxic because I’ve been in situations like that before,” Leslie told BOSSIP. “It’s just real life.”
Leslie and Anissa also noted that although their characters have tension on-screen, off-screen, they share a great friendship.
“In real life, like that’s my girl,” Leslie laughed. “But in the show, we have to act like we hate each other.”
As the season progresses, the drama between Jackie, Princess, and the men in their lives only intensifies. Anissa teased that in recent episodes, fans learned more about the paternity of Jackie’s baby, which adds another layer of complexity to her relationship. According to Anissa, Jackie is being forced to reflect on what she had and what she’s lost in her relationships.
The drama with that situation will continue tonight when Tough Love Atlanta airs another new episode.
Will YOU be watching???
Check out our interview with Leslie Shari and Anissa Lashay of Tough Love Atlanta!