Seaside Heights, "Jersey Shore" Town, Distances Itself From MTV Show

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. — 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.

The 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.

Comments

[KillaKate]

04:24 PM on 12/30/2009

DONT BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU.

As a Jersey Native I went to seaside heights all my life. Kids like those on the Jersey Shore are the ones pumping TONS of money into their community and supporting their businesses EVERY SINGLE SUMMER.

[NoDubya]

10:35 PM on 12/29/2009

Discrimination against Italians Americans is a joke. Try being a REAL minority like black, Hispanic or Asian and you will feel REAL discrimination.

[rzzza]

10:43 PM on 12/29/2009

asians are discriminated against? still? even after Bruce Lee kicked so much ass in the 70's?

[KillaKate]

04:20 PM on 12/30/2009

Asians are NOT a minority.

[Randy Treibel]

09:22 PM on 12/29/2009

These shows exist so trashy people feel like they are better than someone.

[RedDonnaAnn]

08:57 PM on 12/29/2009

Why do people watch garbage? I have never nor will I ever watch reality tv. It's not reality and it's not entertainment. It's crap.

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

09:47 PM on 12/29/2009

It's the master plan started by Saint Ronnie of Simi Valley in 1981, the dum*bing down of America. The dum*ber you keep a population, the easier they're controlled.

[Forester]

08:40 PM on 12/29/2009

The east coast is a sh--hole I left in 1980.

[Georgiapundit]

09:49 PM on 12/29/2009

Yea, and the west coast is bankrupt...so, what's your point?

[mainemichael]

11:39 PM on 12/29/2009

So, everything between Eastport Maine and Key West Florida is a sh*thole? Kind of overreaching there aren't you Sparky? Seems that the major sh*thole here is the one under your nose.

[jukesgrrl]

07:38 PM on 12/29/2009

I've been to Seaside Heights and would go back. The idiocy of the this program in no way reflects on the town it happens to be filmed in and I suspect most people feel that way. The only thing the town has to worry about is the dopes who actually LIKE that program thinking they can go there to meet their own kind. If they do, they're bound to be disappointed.

[studlyguy]

05:22 PM on 12/29/2009

http://www.italianrap.com/italam/italam_race.html

[studlyguy]

05:20 PM on 12/29/2009

Here all who question my statement,http://www.italianrap.com/italam/italam_race.html

[rzzza]

05:16 PM on 12/29/2009

comparing this show to the sopranos is a bit insulting. the sopranos actually has artistic/cinematic merit.

[ABCD]

05:13 PM on 12/29/2009

Some Italians are idiots. Guess what and don't tell anyone I told you this because I don't wanna lose my privileges but ....(remember, you didn't hear this from me) some black people are idiots too! (shhhh) now if anyone asks me if I said this I will deny it!!! I'm just saying!

Stop taking this show so darn serious - No one else does!

[RationalDubSteppa]

05:42 PM on 12/29/2009

LOL! Indeed!

[113]

04:45 PM on 12/29/2009

this is why for New Yorkers hate going to the light at the end of the tunnel, because it's usually new jersey

[ManWithBrain]

05:42 PM on 12/29/2009

Great, then stay in New York. You guys overrun our beaches all summer, so we'd be thrilled if you just stayed home.
Oh, and many of the people in the show aren't from New Jersey...just sayin'. They come here and ruin it for those of us who actually live here.

[NJmikeV]

06:28 PM on 12/29/2009

Most of the "cast " are from New York. Only one is from the Garden State. Therefore, your comment is invalid. Good luck on your GED exam.

http://www.mtv.com/shows/jersey_shore/cast.jhtml

[dtmfman]

04:14 PM on 12/29/2009

Yo...ba da bing!.... fagetaboutit!

[seattleblue]

03:24 PM on 12/29/2009

I could see making a fuss if this was a fictional show with made up characters. But these are real people and I can find 8 kids just like them right in my own neighborhood (minus the tan). What does Snooki and "The Situation" have to do with NJ, Italian-Americans, or Seaside Heights? Nothing.

[ChestRockwell]

03:08 PM on 12/29/2009

I remember Italian American civic groups howling about the stereotypes represented in The Sopranos as well. Sorry, but the Mafia and Cosa Nostra ARE Italian led organizations...you can't run and hide from something that's part of your history and present no more then Southern White people can try and pretend that the KKK didn't/doesn't exist.

Does it really need to be said that all Italians aren't Mafia and all southern whites aren't racists?

Jersey Shore will eventually fade as people will grow tired of watching the train wrecks of humanity mugging for the cameras. Now if only the civic groups and lawmakers will stop drawing attention to it and just let it happen.

[seattleblue]

03:26 PM on 12/29/2009

I had no idea the show even existed until Huffpost put up a clip from the Jimmy Kimmel show about the Christmas Story and I started watching.

All of this commotion is advertising.

[dtmfman]

04:17 PM on 12/29/2009

"fanned"
you hit the nail right on the head....ba da bing!

[medic628]

03:02 PM on 12/29/2009

It is interesting hearing and seeing someone other than a so called "person of color" complaining about discrimination.