Director Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino said his “heavy heart” went viral last week after a video of “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” co-star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro appearing to nod off while promoting the show went viral.
Sorrentino, who has been sober for more than a decade, began a lengthy statement on his Instagram Story on Friday, saying, “I want to make it clear that I am not responsible for the actions of other cast members.”
The 43-year-old noted that “the situation is still developing” after paying attention to “what Ron, now an adult, chooses to announce in the press.”
She added: “I don’t know the full extent of what he’s going through, but I know it’s a different path than mine. I’m going to help in any way I can, including through my organization, the Archangel Center.”
Sorrentino told his followers that he had “reached out” to “check in” on Ortiz-Magro, 40, who has yet to speak out about his actions in an April 21 SiriusXM interview.
“I’m still waiting for a response,” Sorrentino wrote. “If he wants to, I’ll be there for him. My heart goes out to those who are suffering.”
He concluded, “I have worked hard to maintain my sobriety for nearly 11 years, and I honor that every day while remaining compassionate towards others.”
Representatives for Ortiz-Magro did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
In an interview last month, Oritz-Magro appeared to have trouble keeping his eyes open and began to lean forward while Deena Nicole Cortese spoke.
“MTV is our home and we are very grateful to them, but now it’s time to move on. At the moment we’re just finding a place to park,” the 39-year-old said.
Oritz-Magro continued to sway on his stool as Sorrentino added, “Like Deena said, I think we’re all very grateful. We might end up following in the footsteps of the Kardashians who went from cable to streaming.”
Angelina Pivarnick, Sammy “Sweetheart” Giancola, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Vinny Gaudagnino also attended the roundtable, but the actors have yet to comment on the footage of Ortiz-Magro that has been circulating on social media.
Ortiz-Magro, in particular, left filming the Jersey Shore reboot in 2021 after being arrested for domestic violence.
The MTV personality, who was ordered to take parenting classes and placed under a three-year protection order by his ex-girlfriend, announced in 2022 that he would be sober for a year.
He has since returned to the show, and Sorrentino opened up about the decision to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” co-hosts Evan Real and Danny Murphy.
“Ronnie was focused on mental health,” Sorrentino said in a 2023 interview. “My expertise is addiction, mental health, mistakes in life, and working towards recovery.
“So I definitely tried to lead for everyone in that moment, just to make sure everyone was in a good position,” he continued.
If you or a loved one is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
