Tashma and Arthur

18 year old Tashma said her 16 year old boyfriend, Arthur controls and abuses her. She dreams of being a poet but he won’t let her write anything. He once dragged her into the bathroom and choked her. Tashma says she doesn’t look at herself in the mirror because she doesn’t like what she sees. Arthur’s own mother, Veronica called the show for help. Arthur wouldn’t allow Tashma to talk to a Maury producer on the phone and urged Tashma to lie to the producer. Maury said that Arthur is scared and insecure. If Tashma wakes up before him, he forces her back in bed.

Arthur says he may only be 16 years old but he’s a grown ass man. He chokes Tashma, slams her in the dirt and locks her in her room if she disobeys him. He says all women, even those in the audience, are below him.

Maury told Arthur that his mother is “absolutely ashamed” of him. She says every time Arthur beats Tashma, it feels like he’s doing it to her. “Enough is enough, I’m tired of this, Arthur, it’s going to end today.” She came out from backstage to confront him but he continued to maintain that “this is my relationship, this is my bitch.” Veronica said she has no idea where Arthur learned this behavior and said he doesn’t treat his sisters the same way. Arthur said his mom, sisters and grandmother are “fine by my books”.

Later in the episode, a woman named Jackie appeared on the show to urge Tashma and the other abused teenage girls leave their abusive partners. Jackie was in an abusive relationship with her husband Jimmy. During an argument, Jimmy shot her, paralyzing her. Raphael B Johnson also appeared to confront Arthur and the other men and warned them that their behavior could land them in prison. Johnson gave Tashma a journal he wrote while in prison but Arthur attempted to take it. He and the other abusive men were taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in New Jersey to experience prison life.

"My 16 Year Old Boyfriend Abuses Me!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4WuGi7Mp1M