“Jersey Shore” OG Ronnie Ortiz-Magro recently made a heartbreaking admission about his health status after sparking concern among social media users. In a new series of Instagram posts, Ortiz-Magro admitted to having “high-functioning depression,” indicating that his mental health struggles have stopped him from being 100% present in the moment.
In the set of posts, Ortiz-Magro, 40, made a vulnerable admission about his mental well-being, stating that dealing with depression is like “waking up each day with a face that works, but a heart that doesn’t.”
The veteran reality star, who first rose to fame as an OG cast member of the MTV series in 2009, went on to say that while he’s doing what he can to take care of himself, he feels nothing inside.
“And most days it’s like being trapped in your own life,” the post continued, “forced to keep moving even when every part of you wants to stop.”
In another post to his Instagram Stories, the father of one shared a graphic, advertising that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The post shared a statistic that “one in four people will suffer from some form of mental illness” in any given year.
“Break the silence, break the stigma,” the post read.
‘Jersey Shore’ Star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Sparks Concern After Being Spotted Dozing Off During Interview
Ortiz-Magro’s candid confession comes days after the MTV staple sparked concern after a video of him appearing to doze off during a press interview went viral.
The growing conversation garnered a public response from Ortiz-Magro’s co-star and longtime friend, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, who said that while his heart was heavy seeing his friend suffer, he couldn’t be held responsible for other cast members.
“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,” Sorrentino continued.
Ortiz-Magro and Sorrentino have both faced challenges over the years. Ortiz-Magro left the series in 2021 due to mental health concerns, according to The Blast, while Sorrentino has spoken openly about his substance abuse struggles and legal woes that landed him in prison in 2019.
Ortiz-Magro Said Sorrentino Helped Him In 2019
During that time, Ortiz-Magro and Sorrentino were thick as thieves. During a previous interview with Us Weekly, Ortiz-Magro confirmed that he and Sorrentino were relying on each other to help them stay on the straight and narrow.
According to Ortiz-Magro, Sorrentino was one of the first people he reached out to the first time he sought treatment for his mental health struggles. “Mike definitely pushed me to get healthy,” he said. “Just him being around was definitely an inspiration … When you’re the way I was – just depressed, always angry, resentful and just regretful was a big thing – you look at him and you’re like, ‘I want that. I want to be positive.’”
‘Jersey Shore’ Vet Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Involved In Alleged Domestic Dispute
A month before Ortiz-Magro’s interview began circulating, he was already under scrutiny after police were called to his Miami home.
According to TMZ, his ex-girlfriend, Kristen, called law enforcement as she was leaving their relationship and asked for help retrieving her things.
Miami police officers labeled the call a “domestic dispute” and stated that they responded to the reality star’s Florida property around 8:30 PM on a Sunday, March 29.
While Ortiz-Magro didn’t speak out about the reports, a rep for the TV personality did, saying he was the one who requested that police be on site.
“He was in the process of separating from his long term girlfriend … and because he’s been the recepient of falsehoods in the past, and is in a really good place and didn’t want there to be any unnecessary drama,” the statement read.
Say Goodbye To ‘Jersey Shore’ On MTV
The news surrounding the “Jersey Shore” cast comes just days before the network airs the final season of their spin-off series, “Family Vacation.”
A previous report from The Blast states that MTV is branding the upcoming batch of episodes as the “last hurrah for a cultural icon,” while the trailer teased epic highs and devastating lows.
Previous seasons of the series are streaming on Paramount+, and the new season begins Thursday, May 7, at 8 PM EST.
