So something funny happened after the season finale of Teen Mom OG aired this week …
Believe it or not, against all odds, Catelynn Lowell became the most hated cast member on the whole entire show.
Or, OK, maybe not the most hated, but if you follow online conversations about Teen Mom, you’ll see that Cate has been getting a whole, whole lot of backlash for what happened during this week’s show.
Does she deserve the criticism for returning to rehab shortly after checking out?
Let’s investigate!
Treatment
As we saw this season, Catelynn checked into rehab back in November after she began feeling suicidal. She had a miscarriage and it was very hard for her to handle, so she flew out to Arizona for approximately six weeks of treatment.
Doing Well?
We didn’t see any actual treatment, but we did see Tyler and Nova visit her, along with other family members. As time went on, she seemed happier and happier, and everyone had high hopes that she was doing well there.
Not So Fast
But then she came home during the season finale. And we quickly saw that she wasn’t doing as well as it seemed.
Sad, Sad, Sad
She appeared to be disinterested in everything, which, you know, depression. But this time around, fans of the show weren’t as forgiving with her behavior.
Poor Everyone
We saw her snap at Nova as she was putting her down for a nap, and we saw Tyler bite his tongue about it — he obviously wasn’t comfortable with what was happening.
Exhausted
Then when they went to go check out the renovations on the house they’d bought, she sat in the corner while Tyler did business. He bit his tongue again when she explained that she was exhausted, because he watched her sleep all night as he continued to deal with insomnia.
Going Back
Finally, Catelynn told Tyler that she’d been having some anxiety again, and that she’d been having to force herself to get up in the mornings and shower and do her makeup. He began talking about how maybe she could start some therapy, but she shut him down, saying she was going back for “at least” another six weeks at her treatment center in Arizona.
Not Happy
Tyler was obviously not feeling so great about her choice this time around, and that became clear later when he was having a conversation with his sister. He told her that Catelynn’s repeated trips to rehab was beginning to remind him of how his own father was in and out of his life growing up, which is pretty sad.
“She’ll Manage”
He told his sister that he’d told Catelynn that going back to inpatient treatment might be best for her, but that giving outpatient treatment a try and staying home would be best for their daughter — and that Catelynn replied that their daughter would “manage” without her.
Yikes
That remark was clearly too much for Tyler to handle, and it’s what angered a lot of fans too, because as he said, Nova is only three years old, she can’t “manage” anything. He was so upset by everything that he began wondering if he and Cate are even right for each other anymore.
Back to Rehab
But still, Catelynn decided to return to the treatment center for six weeks. And instead of telling Nova that, she told her that her dad would be picking her up from daycare. Nova had a meltdown, and many fans inferred that she was crying because she was scared that her mom was leaving again.
Cue the Hate
After that episode, many, many viewers became convinced that Catelynn is selfish, that she prefers the cushy treatment center in Arizona to family life, and that she has no real attachment to Nova and no real love for Tyler.
Here We Go
And they were not shy about expressing those feelings.
Get Better
Is that what she’s doing, running away from her problems?
Life is Good
A lot of people don’t understand how depression works, huh?
Tired
Seriously, is this fair?
An Excuse
Oh yeah, this is another thing — in the episode, she didn’t tell Nova goodbye but she teared up while leaving her dogs, and a lot of people thought she was more upset about leaving them. So … that’s not great.
Trauma
A big issue is that Cate doesn’t seem to be able to put her daughter’s needs above her own struggle.
Well …
Holding off on having another baby until she gets her mental health sorted would be smart for sure.
No Responsibilities
Oh, come on.
Wife and Mother
Is there any truth to this? Lots of viewers really seem to think so.
Some Tyler Appreciation
One thing we can all agree on is that Tyler definitely needs to take some time for himself after taking care of everyone else.
Ouch
Yet another sad moment from the show: when Catelynn got home, Nova told her “thank you for coming back,” and instead of comforting her, she just said “you’re welcome.”
The Cycle Continues
This is essentially what Tyler was getting at in the conversation with his sister — and it’s still the saddest thing ever.
So. Much. Hate.
Does Catelynn deserve all this backlash, or does she deserve some compassion? Is she suffering this badly from depression, or is she making selfish decisions at the expense of her family?