She also shares her tips for navigating social media as a teenager and why it's okay to miss filming with Jenelle Evans.

Maci Bookout shares her life with MTV ever since 2011 when she was featured on "16 and Pregnant". Her son Bentley is now a grown-up in front of the entire world.

Maci has been a star on MTV's "Teen Mom OG" as well as MTV's "Teen Mom: The Next Chapter". But can Maci, now in his teen years, be comfortable on camera?

TooFab asked her a few questions about her reality show. She also spoke out about how she navigated her son's desire to join social media. And her thoughts on Jenelle Evans' brief return to the show earlier in the season.

What is Next Chapter's unique approach to filming?

Filming is very similar. One of the most important changes that I have appreciated about filming is the fact that it shows more of the girls, our relationships, and how we actually get along on camera.

Instead of seeing just a girls trip, we actually show how we communicate regularly and share information together like friends. It's almost like long-distance friendships. The cast is larger so there are more than just four girls. This means that we have a lot of fun and that the group chat is crazy. This is a significant difference.

Continue the group chat?

Yes, it was necessary to muffle the sound while I was doing interviews. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with everyone talking at once.

What percentage of the content on the show surprise you? Cheyenne's shooting incident shocked viewers. But is it something you all remember or something that you are learning?

It's clear that I am learning a lot about new cast members, particularly those who aren't part of a regular season. Amber, Catelynn, and Cheyenne know a lot about each other, sometimes even before filming. When it comes to their stories or experiences, I am usually not surprised.

Maci Bookout reveals where she stands with Ryan Edwards (Exclusive).

What does Bentley think about being on Teen Mom? How has his relationship changed with the series over the years?

It will be said that I believe it never changes, in the sense that he was born and raised on television. It will continue to be his normal life. However, I do think that he is becoming more aware of the TV platform. I believe that he has become more grateful for the hard work it takes to create a show. He's also shared many things on the show.

As I said, it's possible that a year later I'll be saying, "Yep, I was wrong." But of all the things we discuss and things I notice, I believe he is beginning to appreciate it as much. He still finds it annoying sometimes but he understands that he doesn’t have to film and don’t need a microphone if that’s not his preference. Production has always done a great job of letting kids know that they can’t film if they don’t want to.

You have concerns about his social media presence, as shown by the trailer. Is it difficult for you to navigate this, when you know he is a public figure just by being on the show?

It is extremely difficult. I don't know what I'm doing. Taylor is the same. When I started the show, there wasn't an Instagram or TikTok. YouTube was only accessible to people with a strong internet connection. Smartphones were only becoming popular. MySpace was the only social media platform I had access to while growing up.

There is no "My parents did that" or "My parents did that." It's difficult because there's no reference. But, as long as we have a conversation and keep it open, I don’t feel any negative feelings. No promises.

Jenelle returned briefly but only Jade and Briana saw her. Would you have liked to see her?

Although I don't mean to be rude, I am okay with not being part of it. However, this is not because of any particular reason. We have only met Jenelle and me a few times.

We were both on different casts throughout the time so it's not as if we were close friends. It's not like I have ever had a dog of that breed. That's okay with me. It doesn't matter to me [laughs]. It doesn't affect my life in any way.

The Next Chapter: Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs Tuesdays on MTV.

-----------------------------------

Title: Maci Bookout Reveals How Son Bentley, Now 13, Feels About Being on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter (Exclusive)
Sourced From: toofab.com/2022/09/20/maci-bookout-teen-mom-next-chapter/
Published Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:21:17 +0000

Read More