‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’: Ronnie Ortiz-Magro’s Alleged Return Has Fans Saying ‘MTV Needs to Do Better’
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro left Jersey Shore: Family Vacation to focus on his mental health in May 2021. Now, sources close to the MTV reality star say he will return in the second half of season 5, which is currently filming. Here’s everything we know about Ronnie’s alleged return to the show, plus why many Jersey Shore fans aren’t pleased about him coming back.
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro’s April 2021 arrest led to him stepping down from ‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’
Ronnie’s fiancé Saffire Matos called the police in April 2021. She did not press charges, but authorities arrested Ronnie for domestic violence. He announced he was stepping away from Jersey Shore: Family Vacation to focus on his mental health the following month.
“After talking to the team at MTV, we have mutually agreed that I will step away from the show while I seek medical treatment for mental health issues that I’ve ignored for too long,” he said in his Instagram Stories. “My number one goal now is facing my struggles head-on.”
Later, in August 2021, Ronnie told TMZ he was ready to return to the series. “I feel great,” he told the outlet, citing conversations with producers. “Hopefully [by] the end of season 5 [I’ll be back]. All the fans love me and I love them too, so I’ll give them what they want.” Now, it looks like that’s the case.
‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ star has been ‘quietly filming’ season 5B
The Sun alleges a source close to the Jersey Shore cast said Ronnie will appear in the second half of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Season 5. Per the outlet, Ronnie has “quietly been filming since late January or early February of this year. The cast members initially weren’t sure he would be returning at all for this season.” At publication, it’s unclear how much of the season Ronnie will appear in.
‘Jersey Shore’ fans say MTV is ‘supporting a domestic abuser’ by having Ronnie film
Many fans of the MTV series aren’t pleased about Ronnie coming back to film. “I really hope he doesn’t come back,” said one Reddit user. “MTV needs to do better. They are supporting a domestic abuser.”
Another Redditor added: “This is a mistake on MTV’s part. There is literally no way he will keep his s*** together long-term. And I feel like the cast is going to be different around him. They saw him with Sam [‘Sweetheart Giancola] but were younger … and probably didn’t realize the gravity of what those two were doing to each other.”
Like many fans who are outraged about Ronnie’s return to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, The Sun reports some cast members are “less than thrilled” about him coming back. Still, there are some fans who want the show to capitalize on that “drama.”
“This would be GREAT drama,” another Reddit user said of Ronnie’s return. “[It] has the potential to be fantastic television; Ron should be upset about the cast abandoning him. The cast should feel uncomfortable around him, he should be like Mike [‘The Situation’ Sorrentino] was in the OG Season 4 and 5.”
Stay tuned for updates regarding Ronnie’s involvement in season 5 of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. Catch up on previous seasons at MTV.com.
