Although it has already promoted the video online and in promotional clips aired on the network, MTV has decided not to include footage of a male bar patron punching Jersey Shore housemate Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi in the face during Thursday night's broadcast of the reality show's third episode.
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"After hearing from our viewers, further consulting with experts on the issue of violence, and seeing how the video footage has been taken out of context to not show the severity of this act or the resulting consequences, MTV has decided not to air 'Snooki' being physically punched in next week's episode."
The incident occurred when 23-year-old Brad Ferro was drinking at the Beachcomber Bar and Grill in Seaside Heights on August 19. While he had previously been told by bouncers to stop drinking, he allegedly downed Polizzi's drink, had a verbal altercation with her and punched her in the face -- causing her to fall out of her seat.
"Get your f--king ugly ass out of our faces, you're not..." Polizzi told Ferro before being punched in the face during a clip of the incident that aired at the end of last week's Jersey Shore episode.
Ferro was subsequently arrested and charged with simple assault for punching the 21-year-old Jersey Shore cast member. He pled guilty and was given a six-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay a $500 fine and take anger management classes.
In addition, Ferro was fired from his position at the Queens high school after video footage from the incident appeared on the Internet -- however the clip has since been removed from YouTube.
While MTV pulled the footage from Thursday night's episode, it will still make sure viewers are aware of what took place and also intends to air a message at the end of the episode listing available resources for those in abusive relationships, according to Us.
Jersey Shore premiered earlier this month and follows a group of young people -- who proudly call themselves "Guidos" -- as they live and work on the Garden State's shoreline.
Even before The Real World-like reality series premiered, UNICO -- the country's largest Italian-American service organization -- claimed the show's content is offensive to Italian-Americans and added it should be pulled from the air.
MTV subsequently defended Jersey Shore, stating it "continues MTV's history of documenting various subcultures, rites of passage of young people, and the ways they self-identify."
In addition, Domino's Pizza decided against continuing to air its commercials during Jersey Shore following the debut.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
