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UNICO demands cable channel pull the plug on new series
Calling the show a "direct, deliberate and disgraceful attack" that slurs Italian Americans, UNICO National President Andre' DiMino is demanding that MTV pull the plug on and withdraw its "Jersey Shore" reality show that is planned to debut in December.
UNICO is the nation's largest Italian American service organization.
MTV has already released two promotional pieces — a 30-second promo and a two-minute trailer which highlight the exploits of eight young adults in a New Jersey shore home — featuring blatant Italian American stereotyping, violence, cursing and a number of derogatory references to Italians as "Guidos."
In the 30-second promotional piece, released on November 12th, an announcer begins the segment by noting that "MTV is taking you inside a shore house like you've never seen...full of the hottest, tannest craziest Guidos...they keep their hair high, their muscles juiced, and their fists pumping all summer long..."The two-minute trailer features more violence, cursing, Italian American stereotyping, and several more references to "Guidos."
"MTV is resorting to trash television that panders for ratings at the expense of the Italian American community," DiMino said in a letter to MTV Network's Chair and CEO Judy McGrath. "This type of programming represents a direct affront and attack by MTV on the character of Italian Americans, the fourth-largest ethnic group in America. Neither this attack, nor any similar attack on any other ethnic group, should ever be tolerated."
DiMino further added the program "sends the wrong message" to all as a whole by promoting and glamorizing poor behavior, the use of ethnic stereotypes, racial and ethnic slurs.
"In the name of decency and fairness to millions of Italian Americans whose hard work helped build this Country, and provide a steady source of sponsorship, revenues, and support for your network, I am writing to your office to demand that you immediately pull this series before it airs," DiMino noted. "It is also hypocritical and shameful that MTV openly advocates against this type of discrimination and racism, (and offers a community program at http://think.mtv.com/Issues/discrimination) yet does the direct opposite in its programming toward Italian Americans.
Why are we the exception?"
DiMino further called upon VIACOM, the American media conglomerate that owns MTV to pull-the-plug on this series.
"If you are Italian American or a person of any race or ethnicity who does not stand for bigotry, please call, write, and email MTV and its parent company, VIACOM, and express your disgust and lack of support for negative stereotypes by demanding they pull "Jersey Shore" before it can air," DiMino stated.
UNICO National is the nation's largest Italian American service organization with local chapters throughout the United States. It was founded in Waterbury, Conn. in 1922. Its' volunteer members work to support charitable, educational, and service projects while promoting Italian heritage and combating negative stereotyping. Those individuals that would like information on UNICO National and membership should call 973-808-0035, or visit the organization's website at www.unico.org
I applaud the Italian organization for protesting against such an offensive show. I think it is disrespectful to anyone, who considers himself as part of the human race. Coming from Cuban origin, I find it totally in poor taste for MTV to air such a show. I have known many Italian people in my life and the stereotypes depicted on the MTV show is far from being close to what Italians are really like. To me, it is unacceptable for a network to get away with this type of exploitation on young Italian Americans. It's amazing what viewers find entertaining today at the expense of someone else's heritage and culture. Please, let anyone who has some respect for your fellowman rebel against such programs. We should be seeking more positive things to focus on rather than negative poisonous propaganda.