MTV Apologizes For Slur On Jersey Shore Reunion
Nov. 2 2010, Published 2:50 p.m. ET
MTV has apologized for airing a portion of the Jersey Shore Reunion Special during which cast members and the show’s host made insensitive comments about a possibly transgender individual.
The segment began with a clip of Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino hitting on a clubgoer that his fellow castmates taunted was “a tra**y.” They added, “If you have to think about it, it’s a tra**y. Stay away.”
Then there were shots shown of Ronnie Ortiz-Magro wearing a dress and a large man in a bikini and a Halloween mask. The show’s host Julissa Bermudez then chimed in asking Mike, “Who was that tra**y? What was up with that?”
When contacted by GLAAD, MTV apologized in a statement: “We appreciate GLAAD voicing concern about the Jersey Shore reunion special. The segment in question was certainly not meant to be insensitive, but in retrospect we realize that it was offensive to some viewers. We sincerely apologize.”
In future airings, the portions will be cut and the network invited GLAAD representatives to meet and help educate the staff on gender issues.