Earlier this month, the breakout star of MTV’s “Buckwild” — 21-year-old Shain Gandee — died in an off-road car accident. Almost immediately following Gandee’s death, MTV announced the show’s cancellation. This is not just a familiar story, it’s the way pop cultural business is done— 15 minutes of supernova, and all that remains is stellar waste.

“Buckwild” had attracted controversy prior to its cancellation — Internet comments wished for it to go off air due to offensive content. People lamented the show’s disagreeable “Jackass” antics and its portrayal of local West Virginia. In fact, Senator Joe Manchin has even openly criticized the series for perpetuating stereotypes of his home state.

However, it seems that telling a person he shouldn’t be on television because he is “acting like a stereotype” is intolerance masking as political correctness.

This sort of controversy extends beyond recent MTV fare — TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” sparked similar conversations, as did “Buckwild’s” aforementioned muse series, “Jersey Shore.”

Some people have expressed similar vitriol for “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’s” Thompson-Shannon clan. Compared to the average New Yorker, the Thompson-Shannons have very different standards for polite conversation or what constitutes a healthy diet. But beyond such cultural differences, there is not much wrong with the people of “Honey Boo Boo.” Mama June is a far cry from the domineering pageant mom archetype — instead, she treats her daughters with warmth and good humor. The laughs on “Honey Boo Boo” never come out of derision or scorn.

Shows like “Honey Boo Boo” are attempting to achieve entertainment — not sympathy. Like any form of entertainment, the value of reality television lies in storytelling. Critics often wonder whether the presence of a camera changes the way people behave.

But “Buckwild” didn’t make Gandee decide to partake in risky off-road driving — he died off-camera on an outing with his uncle.

Gandee’s death seems to underscore the point that, for many reality stars, the actions performed on television may not be such a far cry from those of the stars’ daily lives. Would Gandee lead the same life if there weren’t a camera pointed at him? To some degree, the answer is yes. “Buckwild” may not be grade-A entertainment, but censoring content just because it’s unpalatable to some is wrong.

What is most troublesome about Gandee’s death is MTV’s reaction to it. Wild redneck antics be damned, the crudest thing we saw with regard to “Buckwild” is MTV’s listless endorsement of the disposable celebrity.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 23 print edition. Jake Folsom is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].