‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’: Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi Elaborates on Her Exit From the Show and What Pulled Her Back

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation fans were sad to see Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi step away from the show. But now, she’s back and ready to party. Recently, the reality TV star gave more insight about her exit from Jersey Shore: Family Vacation and the things that motivated her to come back.

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi leaves ‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation after season 3, but returns in season 4 

After the explosive conclusion to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Season 3, Polizzi revealed she was leaving the show on her podcast It’s Happening with Snooki and Joey. “I am retiring from Jersey Shore,” she said in December 2019. 

“The main reason is really I just can’t do it anymore. Literally, leaving my kids to film [the show] is really hard on me.” At the time, Polizzi also cited having to “party three days in a row” as another reason for bowing out of the show. “It’s just not my life anymore.” 

After more than a year, Polizzi shared big news with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation fans. “I’M BACK, B******!!” she tweeted on May 11, 2021. “I’m bringing the party back when #JSFamilyVacation returns Jerzday, June 3 on #MTV.” 

‘Snooki’ says the ‘drama with Angelina’ Larangeira hurt her soul

During a conversation with the Betches Moms podcast, Polizzi describes the main reason she left the show. “I needed a mental health break,” she says in the “Being a Messy Mawma” episode. 

“… The whole drama with Angelina … it really, really hurt my soul,” the reality star continues. “I was like, ‘I need a mental health break from all this drama, I’m too old for this s***.'” 

Polizzi took time away from Jersey Shore: Family Vacation to be home with her kids and work on passion projects. She is the owner and operator of The Snooki Shop, a boutique store with two locations and an online shop. 

“I didn’t want to shoot a show; I just needed a literal break,” she adds. But while she was away from her roommates, Polizzi was filming another MTV show, Messyness. “Snooki” has always expressed an interest in hosting, and stepping away from Jersey Shore: Family Vacation gave her the time to host the Ridiculousness spinoff. 

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino’s sober-versary helped bring ‘Snooki’ back to ‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ 

Polizzi appeared sporadically in the second half of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Season 4 for family events like Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s five-year sober-versary and, later, Jenni “JWoww” Farley’s birthday celebration in the Poconos. “Once I got [a mental health break] and I felt good again, producers called me and were like, ‘Hey, we’re doing parties for Mike’… I didn’t wanna not show up just because I didn’t want to film,” she tells Betches.

By appearing a few times in the second half of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Season 4, Polizzi says she was able to assess how she felt emotionally. “I just feel like I needed a recharge.” 

‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ Season 5 will feature Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi 

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation is actively filming season 5 and Polizzi is part of it. According to her social media, Polizzi was in Florida in early November filming at the Isla Bella Resort with the rest of her roommates. 

At this point, it’s unclear what Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Season 5 will bring, aside from a trip to Florida. But as Polizzi hinted at on the Betches podcast, fans will get to see “Snooki” come out and play. 

“I realized I’m the only one that drinks,” she says. “I’m the only one that blacks out.” 

Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for updates on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Season 5.