The Real Jersey Shore Hates MTV Show

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Dec 29th 2009 07:25AM

The New Jersey beach town that's home to MTV's 'Jersey Shore' is trying to distance itself from the controversy surrounding the reality show. In a statement Monday, the Borough of Seaside Heights says it "did not solicit, promote or participate in the filming" of the show. It did issue a permit allowing the production company to film, but says those permits are issued routinely. And this isn't the first time the show has gotten criticism.

A few weeks ago, MTV received 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 reality show focuses on the escapades of eight 20-somethings thrown together at a summer shore house. The stars are mostly Italian-Americans. Italian-American civic groups and New Jersey lawmakers are outraged, claiming the show perpetuates negative stereotypes. The town insists the show doesn't reflect the majority of its visitors.

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.

PopEater Photo Intern Gino DePinto Weighs In

Tags: jersey shore, JerseyShore, mtv

Comments

(32)

Tuesday 29 December

By tychoaonghus

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I've heard both sides of the argument here. I happen to think the premise of this show is stupid, offensive and juvenile. MTV wouldn't DARE do a "Ghetto Crowd" show depicting twenty-something hip-hoppers from the projects. Why? Because it would be racist and offensive! So why is this okay? It's NOT how Italian-Americans live, not how a majority of visitors behave at the Jersey Shore (yes, there is an abundance of idiots like these, but they're not only Italian) and this not only makes Italian-Americans look bad, it makes the Jersey Shore look bad. To whom? To anyone that doesn't know any better!! Like people in the Midwest who've never been to the Jersey Shore! Like people from Idaho (for example) who don't know what a real New Jersey second-generation Italian-American family is all about. If this program remains on MTV, I'll expect to see the "Ghetto Crowd" show to be airing immediately after.

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Oh, and for the record, I DO live at the Jersey Shore, and I AM an Italian-American and DAMNED PROUD OF IT!!

By Cee

Why does the "ghetto crowd" have to be Hip Hoppers from the projects? Just askin...

By mel

I agree with you. I am also Italian American, and I find that show gross, considering, I read an article that these idiots are not even 100% Italian Americans, and onlt one hails from jersey....

By joey

It's so funny how you want them to stop the show because its racist and all but did you stop to think that the stupid faux show "Ghetto Crowd" could also give people the wrog idea about the "Hiphoppers" as you called it. In both situations someone will be offended. You forgot that it has nothing to do with whats real it's about what makes good t.v.

By NICK

THEY WONT DO ONE IN THE GHETTO BECAUSE THEY'LL PROBABLY KILL EACH OTHER

By Barbie

I think Seaside Heights has alot of nerve distancing themselves from this show. This show is a true representation of what goes on during the summer in Seaside, face it, live with it. You willingly took the money for the permits needed, so stop crying wolf now ! If you keep it up Mr. Mayor you might just find your town empty next year.....

By JOE

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT GOES ON AT THE JERSEY SHORE!!! Everybody from Central and North Jersey go to Seaside for prom weekend, and also all summer...drinking, partying and having sex with random people. I'm 30 now, but when I was in high school and college I was at the shore doing the same thing. The only difference is that even though I"m Italian, I'm not a "guido".

By Soupguy

I have to agree with Barbie. Head up or down the Shore in the summer and all you will find are the 20 something guidos acting exactly as these fools do on the television show, especially at Seaside.

I have absolutely no problem sterotyping the Jersey Shore due to the immature Italian Americans I have seen hanging out there over the past twenty years.

By Ed

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The SHOW is not offensive to italian Americans. The CHARACTERS are! These self-absorbed vapid youth create their own stereotypes, referering to themselves as Guidos and Guidettes, acting like morons and debasing themselves on international television. Their parents should be ashamed of the lack of valuse they have imparted on their children.
The Jersey Shore cast makes me delighted to have a daughter who contributes to society in a positive way.

By Hannah

My MIL was Italian-American from New York. She used to tell me there were rednecks in every state, you just had to know where to find them. At least I know where they are in NJ and I will steer clear. I watched about 10 minutes of this idiotic show and now I know she was RIGHT. These obnoxious, uneducated kids aren't Italian anything...they are just REDNECKS with a reality show.

By dave

This show is most entertaining and simply shows a bunch of hard up young men and women looking for a summer of drinking and screwing with whomever meets their fancy at the moment.

By Mr. Meatball

The most offensive thing on the Jersey Shore show... that meathead in the opening segment that sits down to dinner with his italian family and LETS HIS MOMMA CUT HIS MEAT. WTF? A grown man can't cut his own meat. So offensive. Momma ought to cut the strings.

By gabardsmg58

What cracks me up is that these people are not real Jersey Guys or Girls. They're BENNY's. People from NJ hate BENNY's. Thats why people from NJ don't go to Seaside (or as we call it Sleezeside) because its nothing but dumb BENNY chicks and their overly orange tanned, waxed, steriod boyfriend BENNY's. They think that being called a Guido is cool but they never refer themselves to what we call them. BENNY's!!!

By Jessie

Not only do we call them Benny's, we also call them Shoebees. I just don't understand why they couldn't use Real Jersey Shore people! My life on the shore was entertaining enough, and I am a real Jersey Shore Girl!

By Peanutz

OMG, look at the guidos pose in the photo. Who are they kidding? Hands on hip nonsense, and bad boy gel heads? The "no-tie" spread collar look is HILARIOUS! At least the woman in blue smiled for the photo. The guys look like they're practicing for a mug shot.

By Swing it

What does "BENNY" mean???

Its a nickname that people from NJ call the Italians from North NJ and NY. (Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York= BENNY) Hair gel'n,wife beater wearing, eyebrow waxin, orange, IROC driving (IROC is Italian Retards Out Crusing)steriod taking idiots.

By Joe

BENNY is old railroad slang from pre WWII days on the old New York and Long Branch Railroad. As today at airports your luggage is tagged as per your place of departure( Newark = NWK, Kennedy = JFK) so did the railroad back then. The main hub was Newark Penn Station, and passengers destined for shore point had their luggage tagged BENNY, for Bergen, Essex, Newark, New York

By Beth

If you don't like the show....don't watch it. There will always be something absurb, abnoxious, rude, or offensive on TV.

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