“Jersey Shore” fans don’t appear moved by a recent video showing veteran cast member Ronnie Ortiz nodding off. On social media, viewers are slamming the 40-year-old after his co-star, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, offered his perspective on the matter. But that’s not all. Other watchers are also chiming in, citing Ortiz’s past personal struggles as the reason for their apathy.
In a recent interview, Ortiz, who first appeared on MTV’s “Jersey Shore” in 2009, was surrounded by his co-stars, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, Deena Nicole Cortese, Vinny Gaudagnino, Sammi Giancola, Angelina Pivarnick, and Sorrentino, while promoting the final season of the long-running television program.
The interview sparked concern among viewers and social media users, however, because during it, Ortiz appeared to struggle to stay present, nodding off and dozing in and out while his co-stars promoted the upcoming season, which is airing on May 7.
Ortiz’s behavior garnered much attention, so much so that his co-star, Sorrentino, released a statement about the moment, saying that he is “not responsible for the actions of any other cast member.”
Sorrentino, who’s faced trouble of his own over the years, continued, “At the same time, my heart is heavy seeing what Ron, a grown adult, chose to present during press. This situation is still developing, and while I do not know the full extent of what he may be going through, I do know it is separate from my path.”
Viewers were unfazed by Sorrentino’s message and appeared uninterested in giving Ortiz any grace. One user on Reddit wrote, “Sad for whom? He’s an opiate addict just like a ton of other (less famous) Americans that are a lot more admirable than he ever was.”
Another user wrote, “I don’t feel bad for him,” while a third posted, “Quit giving idiots money.”
Ortiz Returned To The Show After Taking A Season Off
The commentary surrounding Ortiz comes several years after the father of one returned to the MTV series after taking a year off.
“After talking to the team at MTV, we have mutually agreed that I will step away from the show while I seek medical treatment for mental health issues that I’ve ignored for too long,” Ortiz said about his departure in 2021, according to PEOPLE. “My number one goal now is facing my struggles head on.”
Fast-forward to 2023, Ortiz filmed the first scene of his return with Sorrentino, during which he spoke candidly about his addiction struggles.
“It’s been a long year,” he said. “It’s been a lot of just doing the right thing, being a full-time dad, and being sober. I’m living the best life I can, one day at a time.”
Elsewhere during the episode, Ortiz admitted to battling “some sh-t.” He went on to say that although he knew he’d face setbacks, the most important part of his journey was to get through it.
Sorrentino Celebrated 10 Years Of Sobriety
Sorrentino is on a journey similar to his co-star’s, having recently reached his own milestone of 10 years of sobriety. According to The Blast, the outspoken television personality opened up about the exciting moment on his Instagram, thanking his support system for believing in him.
For those who may be unfamiliar, Sorrentino battled substance abuse for years and even admitted to spending more than six figures on his addiction.
Additionally, the reality star spent eight months in federal prison in 2019 for tax evasion after pleading guilty to concealing income and filing false tax returns.
‘Jersey Shore’ Is Taking Its Final Bow
The upcoming season of “Jersey Shore” will be its last. After more than 15 years on the air, the group of Italian Stallions will take their final bow.
According to The Blast, MTV is pulling the plug on the series as the network continues to rebrand itself.
The series is being called the “last hurrah for a cultural icon” and teases a jam-packed batch of episodes full of dramatic highs and devastating lows.
But until the new season airs, “Jersey Shore” loyalists can stream previous seasons of the OG series and the spin-off on Paramount+.
