Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s “heart is heavy” over a viral video of his “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” co-star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro appearing to nod off while promoting the show last week.
“I want to be clear that I am not responsible for the actions of any other cast member,” Sorrentino, who has been sober for more than a decade, began a lengthy Instagram Story statement Friday.
After calling attention to “what Ron, a grown adult, chose to present during press,” the 43-year-old noted that the “situation is still developing.”
He added, “While I do not know the full extent of what he may be going through, I do know it is separate from my path. I will help where I can, including through my organization, the Archangel Centers.”
Sorrentino told his followers he has “reached out” to “check on” Ortiz-Magro, 40, who has yet to speak out regarding his behavior during the April 21 SiriusXM interview.
“I am still waiting to hear back,” Sorrentino wrote. “If he is willing, I will be there for him. My heart is with anyone who is struggling.”
He concluded, “I have worked hard to protect my sobriety for nearly 11 years, and I honor that every day while continuing to show up with compassion for others.”
In last month’s interview, Oritz-Magro seemingly struggled to keep his eyes open and started to slouch as Deena Nicole Cortese spoke.
“While MTV is our home and we are so grateful to them, now it’s time to move on. We’re just kind of finding a place to park at this point,” the 39-year-old said.
Oritz-Magro continued to sway on his stool as Sorrentino added, “I think we’re all very grateful like Deena said. Maybe we’ll follow in the Kardashian footsteps as they went from cable to streaming.”
Angelina Pivarnick, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Vinny Gaudagnino were also present during the sitdown — and the cast members have yet to comment on the footage of Ortiz-Magro circulating on social media.
Ortiz-Magro, notably, stepped away from filming the “Jersey Shore” reboot in 2021 after his domestic violence arrest.
The MTV personality, who was ordered to take parenting classes and placed under a three-year protective order from his ex, announced in 2022 that he was one year sober.
“Ronnie was concentrating on his mental health,” Sorrentino said in a 2023 interview. “My specialty is dealing with addiction, dealing with mental health, dealing with making mistakes in your life and trying to mount a comeback.
“So I definitely tried to take the lead during that particular moment for everyone, just to make sure that we’re all in a good spot,” he continued.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
