Over the last month, I have watched the drama and secrets of the D’Amelio family through the lens of the two-season reality show: The D’Amelio Show. Upon reflection, I believe that no one with an ounce of self-respect should spend their time watching this show, no matter how controversial it may be. 

If you’re unaware, the D’Amelios’ fame grew seemingly overnight, when their youngest daughter, Charli, started posting short videos in June 2019 on a social media platform called TikTok. As a result, her family’s success skyrocketed and she currently has over 100 million followers. Now the D’Amelio family takes to the television screen. Their show, which can be watched on the streaming service Hulu, details the life and journey of their rise to fame. 

Though the show targets those 14 and up, it delivers a simple, straightforward format, making it family-friendly. Every episode seems to have a map and often can seem scripted. 

The life of the D’Amelio family is full of ups and downs, dramatic highs and lows. In the first episode of the show, the mother of Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Heidi, says, “they’re normal kids, and that doesn’t change with a following.” But this is simply not true. Every single situation that the family has is magnified by the millions of fans. This show stresses the lack of privacy the family has and addresses how hard it is to be a teen girl, especially one under a microscope.

Often, reality television shows leave one astonished, thinking: how is it possible that one family could be so full of drama? Unhealthy relationships between families are what these shows thrive on, but, uniquely, the D’Amelios are portrayed as a strong family unit.

The idea of a teenage girl rising to as much fame and popularity as Charli D’Amelio has is slightly disturbing, especially when considering her age, She is only 18 and barely on the verge of adulthood. This show, while not especially good, does bring up some significant topics, such as the pressure of being a young, female, influencer. 

Although saying someone as privileged as Charli D’Amelio has it difficult is misconstrued, being flaunted on the internet for millions of people to see comes with its challenges. Female teenage influencers tend to face three broad types of challenges: eating disorders, sexualization, and public relationship drama. 

In February 2021, The Owl published a piece titled “Dear Influencers: Do Better.” In this article, Akasha Brahmbhatt writes about how influencers need to understand that they influence young people. Brahmbhatt details how influencers were not wearing masks and being irresponsible during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She notes, “[t]hese influencers need to apologize for their actions and realize their impact on children.”

Young people can be very easily influenced by what they see on the internet and their television. No matter your opinion of Charli D’Amelio, she has power; having more than 100 million followers is a big responsibility and it is key that people with that much power act like role models. 

This show was a wild ride and is by no means a cinematic masterpiece. However, if you are looking for a family-friendly version of Keeping up with the Kardashians, look no further than The D’Amelio Show.