Dumb Blonde Podcast — TBT: Erica Mena
Host: Bunnie XO
Guest: Erica Mena
Date: September 4, 2025
Main Theme & Purpose
This powerful, unfiltered episode of Dumb Blonde dives deep into the life, struggles, and reinvention of Erica Mena. With genuine vulnerability and raw honesty, Erica addresses her tumultuous relationships, childhood trauma, motherhood, her reality TV journey, and her ongoing pursuit of self-love and healing. The conversation is especially focused on setting the record straight regarding her public divorce from Safaree, the manipulation behind public narratives, and her journey of growth and sobriety.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Erica’s Relationship with the Media and Reality TV
- Interview Hesitance: Erica shares she rarely does interviews due to prior negative experiences where her narrative was manipulated, especially by male interviewers.
“I don't do interviews. But this one, I felt like I had to...” [04:27]
- Reality TV Editing: Both reflect on how reality TV exaggerates conflict for ratings, often encouraging bad behavior and casting Erica as a “villain.”
"When I got into reality tv, I swore it was like wrestling...I realized, okay, they're setting me up to kind of do certain things for what they need." [08:21]
- The Crafting of a Villain: Erica explains her awareness of being typecast and her efforts over time to change the narrative to show her authentic self.
2. Erica’s Early Life and Childhood Trauma
- Born in the Bronx: Erica recounts her mother’s incarceration during pregnancy, her own time in foster care, and being reunited with her mom around age 5-6.
“My mom, wrong place, wrong time, got caught up... I was in the foster care system for some time.” [13:26]
- Surviving Abuse: She courageously opens up about experiencing molestation in foster care, its lasting effects on her relationships and sexuality, and her drive to protect her “inner child.”
“Being molested so young, not having control over what I was feeling... that's why to this day, for me to be sexual with anybody, it has to be a connection.” [14:44]
3. Family Dynamics and Resilience
- Resilience Through Upheaval: Erica’s mother was also a survivor of institutionalization and was raised in a group home by nuns; they share generational trauma but found renewed connection as adults.
- Blended Family: Erica describes her relationships with her siblings, the effects of parental absence and stepfather’s positive impact, while also acknowledging ongoing family tensions and unresolved anger.
4. Path to Stardom: Video Vixen to Reality TV
- Early Ambition: Music, dance, and TV captivated Erica early on. She started attending video castings as a young teen (sometimes skipping school) and quickly moved up from extra to lead roles.
- Self-Protection in Industry: Past trauma made Erica vigilant, helping her avoid classic industry exploitation traps that many young video models faced.
“I'm really blessed though that even though I was so young, I wasn't dumb... my traumatic experience saved me a lot.” [36:18]
- Breakthroughs: From uncredited backup roles to starring in major hip hop videos (e.g., 50 Cent's "Candy Shop," Chris Brown) and appearing in Double XL and other big outlets.
5. Motherhood & Relationship History
- Pregnancy and Motherhood: Never expecting to be a mother, Erica hid her first pregnancy and faced initial depression, but fiercely committed to giving her son, King, the best life.
“I never wanted kids. I think seeing my sisters struggle to provide... just wasn’t my thing.” [51:36]
- Co-Parenting with Raul: Despite toxicity and eventual separation, Raul always supported their son and helped Erica get opportunities in reality TV and entertainment.
- Guilt and Sacrifice: Erica discusses the guilt and judgment she's faced for working to provide for her son, missing some milestones, and the complexity of balancing ambition with motherhood.
“Since when do we start shaming moms for having to work?” — Bunnie [72:44]
6. The Safaree Chapter: Love, Narcissism & Public Battles
- Courtship & Marriage: Safaree pursued Erica for years; despite initial reluctance, she fell for his persistence and romantic gestures.
- Downward Spiral: Erica reveals layers of pain: infidelity, emotional manipulation, public humiliation, financial games, and a pattern of Safaree "love-bombing" her after every betrayal.
- Setting the Record Straight:
- She takes accountability for returning to a toxic cycle but details the ways Safaree used her public reputation to gaslight, provoke, and manipulate her, including the infamous “breaking into his house” video and attempts to control the public narrative.
- Notable Moment: Erica publicly apologizes to Nicki Minaj for believing Safaree's stories about her, acknowledging that history has repeated itself:
“I owe [Nicki Minaj] the biggest apology ever. ...Everything she has ever said about him is true, everything she went through, I'm now going through worse.” [102:21]
- Children & Co-Parenting: Safaree’s absence as a father, failure to provide, and weaponizing of court and social media are discussed in detail, with Erica emphasizing her commitment to her children in spite of personal loss and public criticism.
- Healing & Moving On: Erica explains her breaking point—realizing Safaree’s predatory pursuit of much-younger women, and her resolution to end the cycle and focus on her own healing and her children’s wellbeing.
7. Sobriety, Healing & Growth
- Journey to Sobriety: Having used alcohol to numb pain and manage stress, Erica made a conscious decision last August to get sober, giving her newfound resilience and clarity:
“Now since I've done it [quit drinking], I look back at all the sh*t I was tolerating, the lies... Had I been sober, none of this would have slid that well.” [205:47]
- Mental & Physical Health: Erica has embraced a rigorous personal development routine—prayer, journaling, fitness, and ice plunges—to keep herself mentally strong and prepared to face new challenges.
- Owning Her Narrative: Erica is determined to tell her truth moving forward, not letting others manipulate how she is perceived:
“There's a method to the madness... Every action, for every action, there's a reaction.” [220:25]
8. Career Rebirth: TV, Film, and Dating Show
- Two Ways with Erica: Erica is set to headline her own dating show on Zeus Network, highlighting her bisexuality, playful spirit, and moving beyond the “reality TV villain” label.
“I got 9 guys, 9 girls... all in one big house, competing for my love. It’s very loud, very me!” [196:32]
- Acting Ambitions: Erica is starring in an upcoming film, "Run," and continuing a trilogy with "Stepmother."
- Vision for the Future: She wants to stay focused, present, and manifest a thriving career and healthy life for herself and her children.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Childhood Trauma & Resilience
- “I feel like I owe that little girl the protection...I consistently, on a day to day basis, try to give myself.” — Erica, [17:41]
- “You don't realize the power you have until someone tries to chip away at it, take it from you.” — Erica, [215:10]
On Public Narrative and Media Manipulation
- “Based off of my... reputation...it doesn't matter what real life sh*t happens. People want to believe that." — Erica, [93:48]
- “He's using my reputation to now paint a picture on why he chooses to be a deadbeat.” — Erica, [179:45]
On Motherhood & Sacrifice
- “People make it sound like you just were out partying...but parents every day make sacrifices.” — Bunnie, [74:53]
- “He can do this, but yet doesn’t tell the world that...those kids love him even more than the last time he saw them seven months ago.” — Erica, [209:10]
On Infidelity & Manipulation
- “When I found out [he was cheating]...I called the mother and...she made this load of excuses for him.” — Erica, [111:12]
- “The sex—our sexual chemistry was so bomb it was hard for me to let go. But...you guys also have a trauma bond.” — Bunnie, [192:16]
On Setting Boundaries & Moving Forward
- “My prayer for you guys...is that you can come to some sort of friendship...and those babies were made with love.” — Bunnie, [209:10]
- “This set me free. Because now I can tell the truth on all this sh*t.” — Erica, [188:07]
- “If I wasn’t allowing this man to see his kids, why is it that he’s taking me to court for everything but to see his kids?” — Erica, [181:46]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Erica’s Interview Philosophy & Media Experience [04:27–07:38]
- Childhood Trauma & Foster Care [13:10–17:41]
- Family Dynamics & Stepdad’s Role [21:24–25:54]
- Breaking into Industry: Early Video Vixen Days [30:21–37:50]
- Relationship with Raul, Motherhood Begins [45:35–57:45]
- Co-Parenting, Career Sacrifice, and Public Shaming [72:29–77:00]
- The Safaree Saga: Marriage, Abuse & Divorce [81:42–155:06]
- Reactive Abuse, Public Narrative & Setting the Record Straight [142:31–188:07]
- Sobriety & Healing [201:54–204:42]
- Career Rebirth: Two Ways with Erica, Movies, Future [194:52–218:08]
- Final Reflection & Gratitude [218:12–end]
Conclusion
This episode is an unvarnished, cathartic account of Erica Mena’s journey from childhood turbulence and public heartbreak to self-acceptance, sobriety, and career renaissance. Bunnie provides a warm, judgment-free space for Erica to reclaim her story, express regret for past actions, and model survival, courage, and growth. The podcast leaves listeners with a sense of hope: that breaking old cycles is possible, and that self-respect and healing are always within reach.
Find Erica Mena:
- Instagram: @ericamena
- YouTube: OnlyOneEricaMena
- TikTok: OnlyOneEricaMena
New Show: "Two Ways with Erica" coming soon on Zeus Network!
Upcoming film: "Run" (Theater release 2025)
Trilogy: "Stepmother," streaming on Tubi