MTV deletes "Jersey Shore" punch scene

MTV is deleting a controversial scene from an upcoming "Jersey Shore" episode in which a female contestant gets punched in the face.

The network had teased the moment repeatedly, and the clip circulating online has caused a sensation. In the clip, New York gym teacher Dan Ferro punches Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi. Ferro was arrested, pleaded guilty and was given probation. MTV will show the aftermath of the event but not the punch itself.


"What happened to Snooki was a crime and obviously extremely disturbing," MTV said. "After hearing from our viewers, further consulting with experts on the issue of violence and seeing how the video footage has been taken out of context to not show the severity of this act or the resulting consequences, MTV has decided not to air Snooki being physically punched in next week's episode."
The move comes after MTV programing president Tony DiSanto pledged a "hands off" approach to the docuseries and said that online controversy wasn't going to change the show's content. With two sponsors having pulled out of the program, however, the series has caused headaches at the network despite the show's ratings climbing for its second episode last week.