"Jersey Shore" Muscle Man Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Barred from Italy?
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) MTV announced on Tuesday that the "Jersey Shore" cast is headed to Italy for its fourth season, but there are already reports that at least one "guido" may not be allowed into the country.
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According to gossip site Radar Online, "Jersey Shore" muscle man Ronnie Ortiz-Magro may have some problems entering the country due to his lengthy arrest record.
"Persons who are currently in the criminal process cannot be issued a Visa," a spokesperson for the Italian embassy told RadarOnline. "Any person applying for a Visa to Italy must have their case fully adjudicated."
The sun-tanned cast member was indicted in December on an assault charge for an incident prosecutors say happened off camera while taping the first season, according to the celebrity gossip site TMZ.The indictment handed up in Ocean County, N.J., says Ronnie caused "significant bodily injury to Stephen Izzo...causing him to lose consciousness," the website reported.
While the alleged punch was not shown on the show, the buff 25-year-old was reportedly seen bragging about the incident, which occurred Sept. 4, 2009 when the show was being filmed in Seaside Heights.
The popular MTV reality TV series stars a group of hard-partying Italian-Americans. The first and third season are set in Seaside Heights, N.J., and the second season sent the fist-pumping pals to Miami.
"While the stateside 'Jersey Shore' locales have become iconic for our audience, it's really the constantly evolving dynamic amongst the cast that keeps them coming back each season," MTV programming vice president Chris Linn said. "Europe is a fresh spin on a show that continues to reach new heights for us."
The third season, filmed last summer, features the ongoing feud between Jenni "J-Woww" Farley and Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola, as well as the introduction of new cast member Deena Nicole Cortese, the wild "partner in crime" of Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.
The fourth season is set to premiere later this year.
To quote from the MTV web site about the series: "Ronnie might find himself in a brawl or two, but he is a lover who just wants to have a good time."
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