Kayla Jackson to appear on 'Pregnant' finale

Just a heads up that the season finale "reunion" show of "16 and Pregnant" is 9 p.m. Tuesday (6-28) on MTV.

The preview has included tape of Kayla Jackson in tears and it sounded like they were prompted by questions about her relationship with her former boyfriend. The always dashing Dr. Drew will host.

Jackson of Winthrop was a Mankato West student when she got pregnant and was filmed, mostly in Mankato, for the show. Her episode aired a few weeks ago on MTV and has been rerunning recently leading up to the finale.

Readers abuzz about Mankato girl on '16 & Pregnant'

Kayla Jackson, an 18-year-old former West High School student, went and got herself moderately famous Tuesday night, but feedback is certainly mixed as to whether that’s a good or bad thing.

Jackson of Winthrop was on an episode of MTV’s “16 and Pregnant,” which was taped mostly in the Mankato area last summer through part of the winter. She gave birth to her son, Preston, Nov. 4 in Mankato.

Each episode of the show focuses on a different girl and her unique struggle with teen pregnancy. Jackson’s episode focused primarily on recurring symptoms of anorexia, even going a day eating almost nothing while pregnant, resulting in a brief hospital stay. But mostly viewers are reacting to how her mother was portrayed on the show.

During the 90-minute episode, Jackson’s mother (who was also a teen mom) allows Jackson at 17 to live with her then boyfriend, Mike, in Jackson’s home while she spends most of her time with her own boyfriend an hour away. Her mother then starts charging Mike $300 rent, which he doesn’t earn as a teenager, so Jackson has to help pay it. That leaves them $60 to buy food and baby supplies.

When Jackson repeatedly complains about her mom’s lack of help with her pregnancy and later her baby, she’s met with little sympathy. Even the night Jackson’s water broke, her mom wouldn’t get out of bed, but rather told her she was probably still wet from being in the shower. Jackson and Mike drove to the hospital, and almost a full day later, she delivered by C-section.

Perhaps worst of all, after the baby was born, her mother asks her anorexic daughter if she would go on a diet with her.

Jackson now lives in Winthrop with her dad, whom at the start of the episode she said she hardly knew.

Jackson’s official fan Facebook page has been filled with comments denouncing her mother’s behavior on the episode. But many comments are positive.

Mandi Matz wrote, “Loved your episode!! I live in Mankato, too. If you ever need a babysitter, I have a profile on sittercity.com!!! :) Lol!! ... .”

Feedback on The Free Press Facebook page also has been mixed. Doug Mulville wrote, “Why would you promote this trash? This show basically rewards irresponsible decision making by teens. What a terrible joke journalism and entertainment have become.”

From Shelly Neville Berger: “I felt bad for how her mom acted last night. Her mom needs to grow up! But (I’m) also glad that she is with her dad and happy! Living in a small town is the best (way to go). Kayla, welcome to Winthrop.”

Mankato folks have been buzzing about the show for more than a year, calling and emailing The Free Press about where they saw the MTV camera crew when they were here. The Coffee Hag, Mayo Health Systems, Dino’s Pizzeria and Target were a few locations featured in the show.

Jackson herself has been mum to interview requests. Her mother e-mailed last summer to say her daughter wasn’t at liberty to discuss the show. That may have changed now that the episode has aired.

Here’s what I can glean from the fan page: Jackson plans to finish high school and graduate in June. She has plans to live on her own this summer and attend college in the fall or next spring. She and Preston’s dad are no longer together, but he is involved in Preston’s life. So far, Jackson appears to be OK with the attention. Ashley Brown posted the question: Do you think you will regret doing “16 & Pregnant” after seeing the negativity all the other girls have gotten? “No” was Jackson’s response.

Here’s when you can catch repeats of the episode: 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. today/Wednesday; 2:30 p.m. Thursday; 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday; 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday; and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mankato on MTV tonight

Folks -- especially those who have called and emailed me the last year with tips and secrets about where they spotted the MTV camera crew while they were here -- tonight's episode of "16 and Pregnant" is the one you've all been waiting for! It's Kayla Jackson's episode, the former Mankato West High School student who now lives in Winthrop with her dad and her son, Preston, born Nov. 4.

Plenty of Mankato area places and people will be on TV! How fun. Be sure to tune in at 9 p.m. on MTV. Otherwise, the episode repeats a billion times this week.

Here's some background if this is all news to you:

For almost a year I have been hearing buzz about MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” reality TV series. Kayla Jackson, 18, who gave birth to her son, Preston, when she was 17, is on the third season of the hit series, which kicked off weeks ago.

Already -- or, perhaps more accurately, still, after all these months -- people are talking about it. Dining at Dino’s in North Mankato one day, I overheard several people talking about how they might see the restaurant on the show because Jackson was filmed dining there last summer. In a class at Minnesota State University, I overheard three students talking about how they knew someone who might be seen in some of the footage. A woman even e-mailed me at one point saying Jackson’s pregnancy was part of a student pregnancy pact (untrue).

MTV, you clearly have our attention. Jackson herself, who moved to Winthrop to live with her dad, has been mum, perhaps due to a confidentiality agreement. Jackson’s mother e-mailed me last summer to say her daughter wasn’t at liberty to discuss the show. That may have changed, as she has a Kayla Jackson Official Fanpage on Facebook, which she and her sister and friend administer, where she interacts with people’s posts and has photos and biography information displayed. But so far, she hasn’t responded to interview requests.

Here’s what I can glean from the fanpage: Jackson is finishing high school and plans to graduate in June 2011. She has plans to live on her own this summer and attend college in the fall or next spring. She and Preston’s dad, who isn’t named, are not together, but he is involved in Preston’s life.

According to a couple of sneak peek videos and trailers, which can be viewed on the fan page or MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” web page, one angle the episode explores is Jackson’s battle with an eating disorder for which she was hospitalized at age 13. In one clip she’s lamenting to a friend about how she feels fat, to which her friend responds: “You’re not fat. You’re pregnant.”

So far, about 1,600 people have “liked” Jackson’s fan page, with more to come when her episode airs, I’m sure. She posted that she created the page because more than 50 people per day were trying to friend her on her private Facebook page.

But so far she appears to be OK with the attention. Ashley Brown posted the question: Do you think you will regret doing “16 & Pregnant” after seeing the negativity all the other girls have gotten? “No” was Jackson’s response.

Regarding your hateful anonymous letter ...

It's not uncommon to receive anonymous letters in this line of work. We put an opinion or a story out there, and sometimes they don't always sit well with readers.

I respect and appreciate the opinions of readers that are not hateful, but rather passionate and supported by facts or personal beliefs. I also respect and appreciate readers who sign their names to such letters.

Often -- and in the case of a letter I received Monday in regard to MTV's "16 and Pregnant" teen being filmed in Mankato -- the anonymous letter-writer states that he or she did not sign his or her name because they're too ashamed of the situation that they're writing out. That's bull. They're afraid.

They know full well that when one attacks with hatred, they will often receive it in return. So they use the old anonymous letter as a way to vent frustration. To what end? I have no idea. I wonder if this particular letter-writer thought I would say to myself, "Ah ha! I knew I was missing something. Why in the world was I thinking it would be a good idea to report on an MTV camera crew being in town, filming all over the city and causing commotion and making people wonder what is going on? After all, she's just a 'loser knocked-up teenager,'" to borrow her words.

Well, Anonymous Writer, today your words will be published right here on this blog to give people the opportunity to weigh in on your thoughts. We don't have your name, of course. But whoever responds, I will gladly correspond with you if you provide yours.

Here is the letter (the bolded sections were bolded by the writer, presumably for added emphasis.) ... Please note her presumption, by the way, that this teenager doesn't have a decent family to help care and pay for the child (I know this to be incorrect, by the way) and that the state will be paying for everything from birth to college. Also note that as a decent "married woman" and "responsible person," as she calls herself, who has never met this young girl, she has made the all-knowing judgment that the girl should either abort her baby or give it up for adoption:

To: Amanda Dyslin, Free Press Features Editor

RE: "MTV is among us, probably for a while" (should be awhile?) anyway ------

Your story today was very sobering. Our community will be supporting yet another bastard child born to a loser knocked-up teenager.

I would suggest more stories on this subject to include:

1. This girl is being exploited while MTV is raking in huge dollars and they don't give a crap about what happens to the lives involved.

2. The only happy ending would be adoption.

3. Another happy ending would be abortion?

4. The bill to taxpayers??? $15,000+ labor, delivery, physician visits (If it is uncomplicated), ADC, numerous government programs for counseling, housing, work supplements, breakfast and lunch when in school, a free education, etc. etc. Outrageous, pathetic.

5. Extol the fine work of Planned Parenthood.

As a MARRIED mother, college graduate, and responsible person, I cannot give my name because I am embarrassed for our community and this situation makes me sick and angry.

MTV was (is?) in Mankato ... but where are they now?

So, my Facebook pal Diane Winegar is the co-owner of Sweet Peas on Riverfront. It's a store for baby goods. She said an MTV crew came in today (Friday) with a girl for their show "16 and Pregnant." It's a reality show about teens who are pregnant and how their lives are changing as a result. Each episode features a new teen. I'm wondering if this means the girl lives in Mankato and has a TV crew following her pretty much 24/7 right now. I'd love to get to the bottom of this for a story. If anyone has the skinny, shoot me an e-mail at adyslin@mankatofreepress.com. Thanks!