'Jersey Shore' Prompts Drama, Death Threats

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 8th 2009 02:28PM

'Jersey Shore' is causing some trouble for the network that originally defined reality television with 'The Real World' in 1992. MTV has tweaked its groundbreaking formula for a new generation of reality fans - and some people are unhappy with the results. Really unhappy. FOXNews reports that MTV has received irate emails, phone calls and death threats over the 'Jersey Shore' premiere. The show features a group of young Italian-Americans living together in a summer home; amidst the expected drama, the men and women refer to each other as "guidos" and "guidettes," a bit of cultural insensitivity that has enraged many, including a national Italian-American service organization based in New Jersey.

PopEater Photo Intern Gino DePinto Weighs In

The stars of the show use "ethnic slurs, violence and poor behavior to marginalize and stereotype Italian-Americans," says UNICO president Andre Dimino. He told the NY Times, "Their behavior is reprehensible and demeaning in all respects. I don't see any redeeming value in the show. They are an embarrassment to themselves and to their families."

"Trash television sells, and they'd be more interested in making money than how they're offending a great group of people," Dimino told the Newark Star-Ledger.

Jersey Shore - MTV Shows

UNICO's response has been more restrained than others. "The MTV building in Times Square was getting crazy threats and they are in the process of hiring more security in bodyguards," a source told FOXNews.

Despite the public outcry and loss of advertisers like Domino's Pizza, MTV is holding steady with its new ratings-grabber. In a statement, a network rep confirmed: "We understand that this show is not intended for every audience and depicts just one aspect of youth culture. Our intention was never to stereotype, discriminate or offend."

As for the Domino's pullout, the rep added that the series "may not be for every sponsor or advertiser and we understand that."

Tags: jersey shore, JerseyShore, mtv, the real world, TheRealWorld

Comments

(73)

Tuesday 08 December

By mjr15

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stupid show...I watched it for less than 5 minutes. Unattractive people with snotty, selfish attitudes. I remember when MTV actually had something to so with music. Time to pull the plug on the whole network

By lisad

yeah, they were a skeevy looking bunch now weren't they. the guys stereotypical and the girls not really pretty faces.

By Bruce

I agree, its a shame because its original creator had such a good idea. Too bad it has turned into trash TV Maybe they should call it TTV instead of MTV

By Simzee

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Just the name of it sounds no good

By jo

Isn't basically every "realilty" show using the same formula: take equal parts of ridiculous, fame-hungry, devoid of talent, then add in a little sterotyping and voila, reality show. I have been saying for years that we need to stop glorifying idiots on t.v., because too many people are looking at that and saying,"Yeah, that's what I want to do." And now we all have to see their stupid faces in the grocery check-out and on the news. Also, if you don't want to look stupid, don't act stupid, and there will be no issue.

By Mike

These kids wouldn't know "Italian" if they tripped over it. What are they, 3rd-4th generation Italian-Americans? And they act like they just got off the boat at Ellis Island. My old school Italian mother(first in her family born in the USA) would laugh her ass off at these phonies.

By Chris F.

Just as well that Domino's pulled out - wops and Guidos eat real pizza, not that delivery garbage.

By Meesh

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Ha ha ha, so true! As a proud New Jersey "guidette", I never eat that Domino's trash! I only eat real pizza from places with names like "Sansone's" and "Luca's"!

Wednesday 09 December

By Gary

From the one's that I've encountered in my life, the stereotypes are pretty accurate.

All I can say is WHAT A MESS! this is NOT what the New Jersey Shore is all about, take it from someone who has LIVED in Long Beach Island and has been going down there and almost every seashore along the NJ coast, these people do NOT represent any one of us, its actually an insult to see them portray or represent people who go to the gorgeous beaches along the new jersey coast line. WHAT AN INSULT!

By vinny

I agree,i live near where they filmed this stupid show.We do not talk or act like that.They represent the white trash that invades our beaches during the summer.

By Mackenzie Walsh

I totally agree. This show is a absolute disgrace. And it's not like any of these people are actually FROM NJ.

By AM

This show is so stupid. Those of us who live in NJ know it's a sad stereotype. But maybe it will deter people from visitng in the summer and causing all the traffic at the beach! :)

By Sal

Never saw the show, just the promos'....I have been to NYC and NJ....most realistic portrayal of area residents I have ever seen.

By xootah

Except the people in NJ that you saw are not from NJ, but Staten Island.

By Mike Hunt

Youth culture? These trashy dagos are in their late 20's. They are laughable. I'm almost embarrassed for them.

By shakira

The show has great ratings because the show truly does depict young italian americans. Young italians are rude with their gel hair, filthy mouths, always want to start a fight at the bar or a club. The girls have no class but think they fake class because they carry a fake gucci. The guys with their italian stalion t shirts and italian. They disgrace real italians. I have been to italy , people are classy and they look down upon italian americans that don't even speak italian but want to say they are real italians give me a break

By toni

shakira? what kind of name is that? Shall I stereotype as well?

By MIKE

What a joke. These wops are rude, stupid and will all end up eating Obama food stsmps. The only future hope they have is for other aids patients to laugh at them in the hospital. Just shows you how stpid the Italian people are. They can not speak english and think that a hard body will get you places. The saddest bunch of humans I have ever seen. I hope they all die today a slow horrible death so I can laugh so hard.

By Dlg

If you are going to call someone stupid maybe you should learn how to spell the word first!! The biggest joke is your deplorable grammar!

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