MTV NEWS & DOCS PRESENTS “I WON’T LOVE YOU TO DEATH: THE STORY OF MARIO AND HIS MOM”
AN INTIMATE LOOK INTO THE R&B SINGER’S LIFE STRUGGLE WITH HIS MOTHER’S HEROIN ADDICTION
PREMIERING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21ST AT 10PM ET/PT
think.mtv.com to offer an Exclusive Discussion with Mario After the Show, Provide Viewers with Resources and Information on Substance Abuse & More
New York, NY – October x, 2007 – MTV’s News & Docs’ “I Won’t Love You To Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom” presents an intimate look into the life of Grammy-nominated R&B singer Mario as he courageously opens up about his personal battle with his mother’s heroin addiction. This documentary will present the extremes that are so much a part of Mario’s everyday life – from the highs of fame to the lows of drug addiction — and provide an intimate portrait of a tortured son trying to save his mother while still continuing to pursue the dreams he’s longed for since childhood. Viewers will go along on this difficult and emotional journey with Mario in hopes that in the end his mother Shawn will be free to experience life without drugs. “I Won’t Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom” is set to air on MTV on Sunday, October 21st at 10pm (ET/PT).
Mario is known for selling millions of hit records in addition to his starring movie roles but with all his successes, few might guess that a dark family secret has tormented him since childhood. In this hour long special, MTV’s cameras captured Mario’s personal battle with his mother’s addiction through his point-of-view. Coming close to death from multiple drug overdoses, Shawn was incapable of raising Mario for most of his young life. Growing up, Mario has struggled with trying to find a way to cope with and change his mother’s troubled life. At the age of 20, Mario found himself acting as a parent to his own mother by providing a home for her and paying her expenses. Constantly questioning where the money is going, Mario is at a crossroads to determine whether he’s really the doing the best thing for her. With the help of an interventionist, Shawn’s boyfriend and a close family friend; Mario prepares for one of the toughest days of his life as he finally confronts his mom on camera and offers her the gift of rehab.
Think.MTV.com — a new online community where young people, their friends and some of the biggest names in pop culture are uniting to effect positive social change — will host an exclusive discussion with Mario right after the show ends, multimedia features on substance abuse and an in-depth Mario profile. By providing content and resources about substance abuse and rehabilitation, the Think Community will help viewers cope with issues featured on the series, educate them about drug abuse and connect them to the necessary help.
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, actor Mario is best known for his hit singles “Just a Friend (2002)” and “Let Me Love You,” which won him two Billboard awards, as well as for appearing in the films Step Up and Freedom Writers. His latest album, Go will be released on November 27, 2007 on J Records and includes collaborations with Akon, The Neptunes, Ne-Yo, Scott Storch, Timbaland, Nelly, Stargate, Mr. Collipark, Polow Da Don and many more. The Baltimore native has described his new album as “more personal… more passionate,” which can be heard and felt on his current single “Crying Out For Me,” which is climbing up the charts. Another standout track from the album which will be featured on the MTV documentary special is the sincere “Do Right” where Mario speaks about his mom and her drug addiction.
Think.MTV.com is a dynamic, multimedia-driven and enables youth to easily learn more about the issues that matter to them most, share their opinions – via uploaded online videos, podcasts and blogs – and connect with others to make a difference. The site is one of the only to reward members for positive actions taken online or off, serving up chances to hang out with socially conscious celebs, access to exclusive MTV events, exposure on MTV and other national media outlets, as well as grants, scholarships and more. Think.MTV.com was built with the help of financial support and expertise from founding partners the Case Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Goldhirsh Foundation and MCJ Amelior Foundation. For more information or to build a profile and become involved, visit Think.MTV.com.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 137 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services – MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 260 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Tune in Sunday, October 21st at 10pm EST on MTV.
22 replies on “MTV NEWS & DOCS PRESENTS I WON’T LOVE YOU TO DEATH: THE STORY OF MARIO AND HIS MOM”
I hope you and your mother is in good hands and I will pray for you and your mother, Your careers to be in god hands and keep your head up god bless Mario.
I wish you and your mom the very best KEEP GOD IN YOUR PRAYERS HE DO ANSWER THEM good luck on what ever you and your set out to accomplish WITH LOVE SAN
I APOLIGIZE I DID NOT PUT GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR MOM LUV SAN
HOW IS SHAWN DOING? WELL I HOPE PLEASE REPLY
Dear Mario and Shawn, I too am a mother who has struggled with a cocaine addiction. I have a 21 year old son,Reilly,and an 18 year old daughter, Kesi,they both had to grow up watching their mother struggle between wantung to be a great mom to them and a drug addict. I have been in recovery for a year, my kids have started to trust me and my decisions. I love my life now, whereas before recovery, especially the last month I could’nt take anymore and wanted to end it all, for me, for my children. Shawn, I wish you all the best in your recovery and if you ever need to talk. please contact me. Sincerely, Patti C.
I hope you and your mother is in good hands with god I’m praying for you both I wish you the best god bless you both.
MARIO @MOM I THINK THIS SHOW IS A BIG STEP IN BOTH OF YALL LIVES.I SAT THERE AND WATCHED THE SHOW AND CRIED LIKE A BABY, B-CAUSE YOU GUYS REMIND ME OF MYSELF AND MY 4BOYS. NOT THE DRUGS PART ,BUT THE PART ABOUT HOW SONS CAN LUV SO HARD AND MOM HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE IN YOUR SONS LIFE PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO HIM HE NEEDS YOU AROUND, YOUR HIS BACK BONE. MOM STAY STRONG ,MARIO STAY SWEET,MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY.
Mario I wish you and your mom the best. I hope she knows that she has a good son in you. I will keep you all in my prayers. And to the Mom god bless you!
Love PamPam
The nite that i watch your story,it realy broke my hart.See thats why when you see stars on t.v. you think that they have such perfect lives.But they go threw problems an ups an downs in their lives as well.They suffer hartach just as we do.But may God bless you an send down one of his angeles to guide an pertect you. God Bless You.
I watched the documentary and was deeply touched by it. My 4 year old son is growing up with out his father who is in prision due to an addiction and it breaks my heart. I have watched drugs and alcohol destroy many lives and it sucks to have an addiction. I wish you and your mother the best of luck beating her addiction. I believe its about will power. Your music is amazing. Good Luck!
I enjoyed watching your documentary, and I think you made the right decision with your mom. And I know she will appreciate you for it even though I never been through what you have but the love you have for your mother to not give up on her is something SPECIAL is the best gift you can give. You are one of a kind. Ms. Shawn I wish you the best I know u can do it! Your son needs you in his life. Make him happy and enjoy his success with him. He’s THE BEST SON A MOTHER CAN HAVE!!!!!!!
Just wanted to let you know I respect you even more to have the courage to allow us into your world. I love what you are doing for your mother and I wish you and her the best!.
DEAR.MARIO HATS OFF TO YOU AND YOUR MOM THEY SAY THAT A MOTHER LOVE FOR HER CHILDERN IS THE STORNGEST THING THERE IS IN THE WORLD OTHER THAND GODS LOVE FOR US.SO JUST GIVE THANKS TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD .AND HE WILL SEE THAT YOUR MOTHER IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
I admire you and your Mom for doing this documentary. I wish both of you much success. Where can we find updates on how Shawn is doing?
Best to you Mario.
I worked in drug abuse for 18 years.I can see it breaks you heart and you love your Mom so much. Mom really needs tough love you need to be the person to give her intervention as you have done already.But remember it takes more than 30 days.I takes a life time.You have an amazing career please don’t let your Mom detour you from that.She’s very strong minded and she’s gonna have her way. Be careful and make sure you have back up and back bone because you will need it.Love her from a distance.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU MARIO FOR ALL OF THE CHALLANGES THAT YOU HAVE AHEAD, BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO NEED THEM. PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, DON’T BE AFRAID TO SEEK THE HELP OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. I KNOW YOU ARE A YOUNG MAN THAT BELIEVES YOU CAN CARRY YOUR MOTHERS BURDENS AS WELL AS YOUR OWN, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. BUT MARIO, TRUST ME, YOU CAN’T. MONEY CAN’T BUY EVERYTHING. YOUR MOM HAS TO WANT THIS AS MUCH AS YOU DO. TOUGH LOVE IS STILL LOVE, NO LESS. WHEN I SAW YOU GIVE YOUR MOM THAT $50, I KNEW THEN HOW HARD IT WAS TO SAY NO TO HER. PLEASE DON’T DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE THE DOCTORS CANT HELP IF YOU KEEP GIVING HER MONEY FOR THE DRUGS, PLEASE DONT.
I hope your mom get her life together and realiZe that she need to let go somethings in life specialy the bad things make her realize that she have a son to take her let her know even though she do that you still love her no matter what she does because many people have that same problem they just not brave like you let it out keep your head up and know that your mom will be okey when you are by her side I know you have deep love for you mom you showed that even though it hurts keep doing what you do and love your mom like anyone else will do hope she does better don’t let no one put you down
love you
I want to say to you brother Prayer changes things, I have been in your shoes and still have members of my immediate family going through the same struggle,I am only 24yrs old but I stronger believe that with God on your side any addiction can be overcome so keep loving your mom and keep your head up.. God Bless.
I pray that your mother recovers and fight real hard to stay clean. I understand what your going through my mother had a bad addiction as well so i know that she can and will get better. Stay sweet and continue to love your mother no matter what. Love you always!
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR MOM AND THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY. i just need to put that like that so you can really see it. let me start by saying i feel where you are coming from. and just know that everything will be alright just know that and beleave that put your trust in god he will keep you and your family strong and most of all he will keep you stronger for mom’s pray for your mother and ask god to deliver her from that posion and he will do so trust me i know so i send my love out to you and the family and tell you to hold on it will get better.tell mom’s that she can do it because she’s stronger then she gives her self credit for we sometimes don’t see it but other people do and that other person is you her son whom she love’s dearly i know i seen it i watch the doc the other night and it touched me very much so. so that’s why i felt the need to come on this site and post my comment to you and the family. so i will be praying for you’s every day and night to god bless you.
hi mario my is retha and i am a recovery addict i have been clean 7 years my son name is demario me and been though the same thing i think its great that you are helping your mom i pray that she keep up the work i love recovery it saved my life today me and my son have a wonderful relationship i even have a grandson i can enjoy dont give up love you guys
where can i buy I Won’t Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom in stores