'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 Orange

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Yeah Mike you friggin wannabee hillbilly. You also had some other misspelled words:

aids - A.I.D.S. (it's an abbreviation, not a word)
stsmps - stamps
english - English

You stated that you want them to die today of a slow, horrible death. Wouldn't a slow, horrible death take longer than one day? You asswipe.

By mikew

Damn Bennies gotta ruin TV just like they ruin everything else

By badabing

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Well this defintly is not a show for the uptight internet crowd. But if you want something real then this is it. Hate to break it to most of the midwest folk on here but this is how ALOT of jersey shore teens act. I grew up in jersey and what you see is what you get on this show, dont belive me take a trip to seaside or north east jersey.

Wednesday 09 December

By Lauren C

actually, I grew up in the area where this show was filmed, and the people here act NOTHING like that. We call those people BENNYS- and we hate them. You're probably a BENNY yourself- go back to NY and stay off our beaches. ok? thanks :)

By Lily

This so is garbage. I don't think I have seen a worse reality show. . . and I watch pretty junky t.v. sometimes. I am just waiting for one of these girls to say that she also had an affair with Tiger Woods, because the women from The Shore do definately not want to be outdown from the women that infest tool academy.

By nherent

Bennie= Bayonne/ElizabethNewark/New York.
Bennies should be outlawed from being anywhere near the Jersey shore.

By Layla

I believe this is more geographical rather than ethneticity related. Most young people from Jersey have this self entitlement attitude. They're all basic looking mostly unattractive overly loud obnoxious drunken party mongers. There are some very classy and nice people from Jersey but those are found in the suburbs like Mongomery. This is how Jersey prefers to live, if you've ever seen the Real Housewives of NJ, you'll notice it doesn't change with age. They're just mostly moronic.

By Hannah

Actually, this is somewhat true. I live in New Jersey, I guess in one of the "classy areas." However, I do occasionally go down to some of Ocean County (besides parts of North Jersey, this is the trashy portion, where Seaside Heights is)and there, this is generally how the people act. However, living in Monmouth County, which is close to Ocean County, I hate how sometimes people carry over the stereotype to Monmouth, but it is a different WORLD in Ocean County. However, what you said about general New Jersey youth attitudes, keep it geographically specific. Because the state as a whole is NOT like this!!!!

By c

Why do people have to be attractive on a show for people to watch?!! That is why our kids are killing themselves these days because they don't look like the person on TV. You people..........

By Mandeline28

Uh Im an Italian American and Im not offended by it. I watch it for their immaturity and the drama. I love this show~ Gotta run...grabbin some more hair gel.

By Kieran

bottom line here, these guidos , are douchebags and do NOT represent the Jersey Shore one bit! MTV are morons and need to change the name to Staten Island ...

get it right. the jersey shore only allows those losers down here so we can take their money in the summer, then send them back to their hair gel and bottle tan.

By Joey

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This is totally rediculous. As an Italian I see no offense for the use of the word guido. They are Italians referring to themselves as guido, this is the same as if black people referred to themselves as the n-word or a fat person referring to themself as fatboy.

By Bleu

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Well, let's see if you really feel the way you claim to. Listen, you cheap Dago Wop, you can't spell and you're stupid - there is no such word as 'themself.' Go to school you friggin schmeel.

Hey WDF - In addition to being a homophobe, you are also a classless, asswipe hillbilly.

By NeNe

Actually, they look like so many other young people you find nowadays, not just Italians. Self-absorbed, narcissistic, conceited, entitled. I live in a small town of about 9,000 and some of the young people out here act the same way. Like their s**t doesn't stink. And barely two brain cells to rub together. I shudder to think that these young people will be responsible when we get old.

Think of 'Housewives of New Jersey." A bunch of loud, rude, unintelligent wipes - the casts of these two shows is a perfect depiction of those lowlifes from Jersey. Bite me.

By Marc L

How about this for an idea. Instead of all of these groups yelling that the show is offensive and demanding MTV remove it, let MTV run the episodes, and when they see that no one is interested in this garbage, then they will can it. If people are interested in it, well, then you really can't blame MTV for it. Blame your sons and daughters who obviously weren't taught about what it means to have some dignity and self respect.

By marianne dell

Seaside Heights residents are never like this - these young people are from staten island , brooklyn, parts of north jersey. I am 49 and they are the sons and daughters of the Bklyn italians americans that i grew up with - the next generation - same voices, same hair, same machismo. gross. Monmouth and Ocean county people are not New York people.

By pppsfan

Anytime you idiots from NJ don't want to claim your own you say their from Staten Island, claasless is the Jersey Shore for sure....

By alicia

I actually did watch this show last week, and I thought it was awful. I'm black, so for me it didn't have anything to do with race, but just the fact that these young adults (same age range as myself) were acting so selfish, stuck up, spoiled, and just plain ol' WACK was pretty appalling. I was embarassed my damn self!

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