I Love Money 2: Buddha Clears The Air

February 26, 2009 by Chris
Filed under I Love Money 2, Reality TV

If you have been watching I Love Money 2 this season then you are well aware that Buddha was public enemy #1 this season. It wasn’t because he couldn’t be trusted, or because of his personality(at least not initially), it all started because he was bigger than everyone. So in typical Realty TV competition fashion the majority of the “weaker” players decided to go with the “cut off your nose to spite your face strategy,” which failed miserably causing the green team to dwindle while Buddha avoided elimination time and time again. This past week production blew up the teams and had everyone re-pick their teams, leaving Buddha eventually without a team to go back to and subsequently eliminated from the game. Below is what Ezra “Buddha” Masters had to say in his Myspace blog about the show, the people, and what happened behind the scenes.

The truth is that contrary to Production editing (e.g. voice over cutting and pasting), I didn’t pick 20 Pack because I knew he’d pick me. In fact it was quite the opposite. We all knew So-hairy was going to get picked as the female captain so I picked 20 Pack, and convinced others to do the same, because of 2 reasons;

1.) I knew he’d send me home
2.) I felt he’d be the best leader out of those males remaining

“Yes!” I wanted to go however I wouldn’t quit because I didn’t want my team to suffer with the stupid ass “1 quits another 1 leaves” rule.

A person’s life is dictated by the decisions he/she makes. Deciding when to fight and when to walk away is often times the most challenging of decisions. In this case I wanted to walk away. I was exhausted with the blatant disrespect from the other contestants and outright disregard of personal space, but most of all I was exhausted with production encouraging (by not discouraging, minimally regulating and hardly mediating the situations) serious altercations.

I’d reached the point of KNOWING that if I was disrespected or immaturely & unjustifiably confronted again by another one of the delinquents in the house (regardless of gender) I was bound to react in the worst fashion, far outside that of the positive individual I prefer to be and have worked so hard to become. It became painfully obvious to me that the people attacking me and the producers standing by letting it happen to such extremes (most of which was not aired) had NEVER encountered a person that is capable of committing extremes to that of my extent. I’d realized that all of those attacking me were so accustom to “faking” and being around “fake people” they didn’t recognize a “REAL” serious situation when it was staring them in their faces. Moreover, the Producers of 51 Minds too had no idea how real shit could get because they too were too used to people “faking and pretending” to be “real” during camera time. The Producers had never actually encountered a real individual that was really down to do some deviously real shit when backed in to a corner. Even the nicest of animals strike hard and violently when pushed to do so.

Knowing the stupidity and immaturity of those around me and how incredibly not understood I was by production I needed to leave or suffer the consequences of my reactions based off of my decision to interact with those of far lesser intellect, morals, respect, restraint and overall caliber than my own.

In other words, knowing what I knew at the time had I stayed there’s no doubt that I would of ended up seriously damaging several people physically along with my freedom & career as a result. And had that happened I would of only blamed myself as accountable for not leaving a bad situation when I had the chance to before it had gotten worse.

One has to know one’s strengths and weaknesses in order to sustain a successful life. You play to your strengths and supress your weaknesses. My greatest weaknesses is my limited ability to tolerant blatant disrespect. I give much respect and therefore expect it in return.

Being surrounded by such stupidity and ignorance is certainly not conducive to any man’s positive peaceful mental state or the physical well being of the immature individuals surrounding him… and such was the case with me.

As childish as the challenges were, dealing with the “competitors” was the most elementary element of all. I felt in the end that the money wasn’t worth tolerating the childish antics knowing that there was nothing I could do to correct, control or counter-balance the situation (well… nothing I could do legally, peacefully or within the confinements of the rules).

It came to a point where I felt like I was the only adult forced to play in a sandbox full of juvenile delinquents. I make more than enough money to sustain my lifestyle and in the end once I left the show I simply went back to my well earned good life, whereas others went back to his basement, their hole in the wall strip clubs, their street corners, and in two low class “best girlfriends forever” cases… The Penitentiary.

I’m sure you all know by now that things are getting better for me everyday and I thank God for all the blessings bestowed on me. There’s no doubt that you’ll see much more of me in several other tv shows and series to come so thanks for your support and stay tuned

Best Regards,
Ezra “Buddha” Masters

p.s. I wish all the best the “bgff’s in crime.” Given all the warrants, prostitution, bounced checks and forgery I’m incredibly surprised that you two made it to Mexico to do the show, amazed you tow were dumb enough to try and re-enter the country but impressed at the Mexican authorities for extending the mercy to allow you two to re-enter the states to serve time in California instead of some Mexican hell hole. Ebony & Ivory… I wish you both Good Luck and many lessons learned.

Lesson 4: Realness

Take the lessons from the greatest losers in this show…

1. Laziness sends you no where, Stupidity gets you no where and hate keeps you no where (e.g. jail, homeless or 42yrs old living in your parent’s basement).

2. Be true to yourself and don’t pretending to be someone you’re not. If
you don’t have a lot of things just work with what little things you do have and aspire for better (e.g. don’t bounce
checks and forge documents in hopes of pretending to have money if you really don’t have money even if people expect you to have money).