Garden State Italians Want 'Jersey Shore' Silenced

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Dec 24th 2009 08:17AM

MTV is getting more pressure to cancel its 'Jersey Shore' reality show. The latest criticism comes from the New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus, which says the show promotes derogatory ethnic stereotypes and is "wildly offensive."

In a letter sent Tuesday to the president of Viacom, MTV's parent company, caucus chairman Joseph Vitale asks that the show be immediately taken off the air.

The state lawmakers also have asked advertisers to boycott the show, which focuses on eight tanned 20-somethings and their escapades in Seaside Heights, a popular New Jersey beach town.

On Wednesday, a Viacom spokesman referred a request for comment to an MTV spokesperson, who did not immediately respond. MTV has said its intention is not to stereotype or offend.

Tags: jersey shore, JerseyShore

Comments

(121)

Thursday 24 December

By Erik

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I love the show! Get over yourselves and don't watch it if you don't like it. It's a reality show, no one is making them act that way!

By me

By Paul..I think what most people don't get is that this is reality. This isn't scripted or fake - this is as real as it gets. If it bothers people to see the true reality, just don't watch. This is the Jersey Shore, folks. And these are the people that hang out there.

Its is not real,this is lead to believe the people are from NJ when actually only ONE is..also it is lead to believe that this it how all Italians act and it is not...Let me tell you something that girl got punched in the face because REAL people of south Jersey want to knock the ho out not because she blended in with everyone!! No one from Jersey would hang out with them their prob always just with eachother and it should be called the douchbags that try to take over south jersey in the summer then it wouldnt be such a prob

By lbsurfbum2

How could this be offensive to italians if all the characters in the show are italians?

My mom was born in italy I am not offended. That is because I consider myself AMERICAN, not italian.

By JerzyGrl

I'm Italian and I live about 10 minutes from where this was taped and the show doesnt offend me at all. They are a bunch of 20 something year olds having fun.

By dan

Here's an idea you lazy clowns....don't like it? CHANGE THE CHANNEL. If its really that bad the advertisers will pull their ads the second its not being watched. ITS REALLY THAT SIMPLE STUPIDS.

By brian fox

I love the irony that the show is considered 'offensive" even though they are real people displaying actual behavior - so Italians are offended by their own behavior???? Every one should be far more offended by "My Sweet 16."

By crystal

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THAT'S ANOTHER STUPID SHOW SWEET 16 ,STUPID PARENT'S SPOILING THEY'RE KID'S THEY NEED TO LET THEY'RE CHILDREN GET A TRUE GRIP ON REALITY DAMN KID'S PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN COOK FOR THEMSELVES, DUMB SHOW ALL OVER SPOILED , UNGRATEFUL BRAT'S PRISSES.THROWING A TANTRUM IF THEY DON'T GET THE CAR THEY WANT OR THEY'RE GRAND ENTRANCE GET'S MESSED UP BOOOOHOOOO POOR BABIES.

Monday 28 December

By Ginger

everyone who has a problem with the show really needs to just deal with it and not be so offended!!
its not like they're making fun of italians!.
the people on the show are real people, and none of it is intended to offend.
they're all proud of being "guidos".
and the show is not necessarily depicting the life of all italian-americans.
just these specific eight and their summer in seaside heights.
seriously, everyone should just lay off.
its entertainment.
no one was offended with the sopranos or the godfather depicting life as a mobster,
but you get offended with 8 kids having a good summer.

By Chewbobka

Is that an oompa-loompa???

By Robert Wayne

They look more like mexicans or puerto ricans, not Italians. What did they do, put brown paste on them?

By JJ

Hey JerseyGurl....WHAT ??? Do you speak English? Or at least one of the many languages here on Earth ? or is that from another planet? Apparently you have the IQ of a glass of Kool-Aid.
Oh...and as far as the show goes....it is what it is....apparently there is an audience out there for it.....personally I think its trash.

By patrick

this makes me want to blow up every hair gel factory in america.... not to mention
anywhere that sells ed hardy

By Debbie

OMG Paul, this is not reality. There is NO SUCH THING as a "Reality" show. Don't you get there is a certain amount of script involved? Stop being so gullible.
Oh and I guess MTV better listen and cancel the fake show. Afterall, they may call the mafia on this one. P/S - Paul, that was a joke.

By Jennifer

It's just misrepresenting Jersey as a whole! Not everone here is Italian and guido (guidos aren't even from Jersey!). I'm a Jersey girl, but I'm not like these people. People are just going to think even less of us now.

By grcmp5

Don't worry Jennifer. I don't believe anyone actually takes anything on MTV seriously. Although I am in California, I can't think of anything that TV or the media could say that would make me believe there is something wrong with New Jersey.

By Tim

MTV needs to remove all their reality programs, and bring back what MTV is for, Music Videos, 24/7. I never watch MTV. It is more RTV than MTV. Why call it MTV? You listening, bring back Music Videos. Music Artists don't make videos for nothing, so start bringing it back, and put all your Reality Programs on a new channel, RTV.
Later

By dg

Hay Joe, der daygo, a towsand guidos inaro!
No Mo, dem iz loozers, dey gots no clazz, derall jus boozers.

By GrCmp5

Why does everyone get so worked up over a stupid TV show. If you don't like it don't watch it. Simple enough. By the way if this is the most tragic thing in your life, consider yourself lucky.

By Tony Muth

Who watches the show anyhow, a bunch of goomba's from" The Garden State".Who cares!

By mikey

THE SHOW IS JUST THEIR REAL BEHAVIOR..BUT,LIKE MEXICANS AND BLACKS THEY ARE TRYING TO FRONT LIKE ITS OFFENSIVE,,IF ITS OFFENSIVE THEN CHANGE YOUR LOW CLASS BEHAVIOR..ITALIANS ARE USUALLY JUST AS BACKWARD AND LOW CLASS AS MEXICANS..ITS A FACT! SO WHATS THE BIG DEAL>>>..

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