The Jersey Shore: while no one would consider it a cultural gem in television’s history, most would say that—besides the upsurge in fake tans and the loss of a few brain cells—it was a relatively harmless program. Though the guido/guidette lifestyle of hard partying and carnal pursuit may not be for everyone, Snooki and the gang weren’t out to upset anyone – their main purpose was to entertain, not to offend.
Princesses: Long Island, one of the many copycat reality programs The Jersey Shore has launched, may not be able to say the same. The show profiles a group of coddled Jewish women in their late 20’s who, like The Jersey Shore cast members, just can’t seem to grow up out of adolescence. The women of Princesses: Long Island do more than shock, however – their antics, especially those of cast member Amanda Bertoncini, have become more offensive than amusing.
In a recent episode, where Bertoncini was directing a photo shoot for her business venture of colorful beer covers, Bertoncini encouraged her friend to pour beer seductively into the mouth of a statue. However, that statue happened to be that of Jonathan Ielpi, a 29-year-old firefighter who lost his life on 9/11.
In an interview with New York Daily News, Ielpi’s father Lee said, “It was a slap to the people of Great Neck. It was a slap to the fire department of Great Neck and it was a slap to all of the people that were lost of 9/11.” Bravo has since pulled the clip and won’t be airing the segment. Bertoncini also issued an apology, saying she didn’t realize the “sentimental value” of the statue.
What we didn’t realize: that perpetuating stereotypes to the point of making an offensive caricature out of an entire group of individuals was acceptable, as long as it had entertainment value.
Photo source:
http://www.realitytea.com/2013/04/25/photos-bios-meet-the-cast-of-princesses-long-island/