Jersey Shore Loses Their Flag

A mural of the Italian flag, which covered part of the front of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” beach house at Seaside Heights and was used to symbolize the show which it UNICO says stereotyped Italian Americans, has been removed.

The mural of the Italian flag was painted over the garage door of the shore house, with a centered overlay of an outline of the State of New Jersey. The removal occurs after talks between Italian American leaders allied with UNICO and MTV about derogatory Italian American references and imagery used in “Jersey Shore.”

The offending mural

Removal of the Italian flag mural is being celebrated throughout UNICO. “We are pleased MTV has stopped this desecration of the Italian flag and the image of New Jersey,” said UNICO National President Andre’ DiMino. “For the Italian flag and the image of New Jersey to be associated with the poor behavior of the cast, including the first season’s stereotypical portrayals and violence against women and others, was a denigration of both images and an affront to Italy, Italian Americans, New Jerseyans, and anyone with good sense.”

Snooki did try to class it up a bit with Inside Edition's money

I don’t know that I would go so far as to say that MTV and the producers of Jersey Shore were desecrating the Italian flag and New Jersey.  Its not as if “rescuing” those symbols from being shown on screen will prevent viewers from associating the cast members with the state of New Jersey– maybe a title change would do that.   The Italian thing is a toss up, unless Snooki mentions it.    With the sound off, the only way to tell the difference between this show and fifteen years of MTV’s  The Real World is the horrible spray on Oompa-Loompa tans.

And why is UNICO stopping with MTV.  They need to make visits to Style Network’s Jerseylicious and Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey if they’re so intent on preserving the image of New Jersey and its Italian American citizenry.