“A normal mom”— Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star Deena chimes in feeling “judged” due to her “past on TV"

In the October 17, 2024 episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, the show’s moms opened up about the challenges they face being mothers on reality TV.

Deena Cortese, famous for her antics in the original series, expressed feeling judged for her "past on TV." She stated in the preview clip of episode 23, released by People,

"I definitely put myself out there because I want everybody to see, like, 'Yeah I am a normal mom.'" She added, “Here I am a drunken mess, but at home, I’m a grade-A mom."

This episode not only showcased the cast’s personal lives as parents but also touched on the emotional impact of "mom shaming" from viewers.

If the viewers missed the live broadcast on MTV, on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 8 pm ET, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation season 7, episode 23, "Sue Joey," can be streamed on services including Sling, Philo, FuboTV, and DirecTV Stream.

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Jersey Shore: Family Vacation moms talk about mom shaming

Discussions centred around the "mom shaming" that Deena, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, and Jenni "JWoww" Farley had endured from viewers over the years during the broadcast. Snooki remarked,

"Everyone thinks they know us because of the show."

Snooki, Deena, and JWoww expressed their frustrations over being judged, not only for their past behavior on the show but also for their parenting styles.

Deena spoke about the criticism that she faces as a mother, in a confessional:

“I try my best to not feel judged by other parents because of, you know, my past on TV.”

JWoww shared a personal story about her daughter, Meilani, who dealt with bullying at a young age.

“She didn’t wear shorts for a whole year because a boy called her a monkey. I had to Nair her legs. She was in second grade!”

JWoww highlighted the added difficulties of parenting in the public eye.

Snooki also opened up about her experiences with her daughter, Giovanna Marie, who had already come home "crying four times this year" because of issues at school. She said:

""Mom shaming" is like a huge thing in general, but the fact that I’m Snooki from Jersey Shore, everyone always has their opinions on how I parent."

She added in the confessional:

"People judge you more. It’s exhausting.”

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The cast’s reactions and reflections

While Deena, JWoww, and Snooki spoke about their personal experiences as moms on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Angelina Pivarnick also chimed in, despite not having children of her own. Angelina expressed concerns over how her potential future children would be affected by public scrutiny.

“Now, if I have a child, they’re going to go after my children as well, and the way I am, I will be in the slammer every other day,” she said in a confessional.

Despite the hardships of being a mom on reality TV, JWoww made it clear that she had no regrets.

“Every opportunity comes with its downfalls, and as long as my kids aren’t dragged through it, I still consider it a blessing", she said.

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About Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

On February 8, 2024, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation season 7 debuted, bringing the nine cast members back together for the first time. The cast's relationships and personal lives, particularly their duties as parents, are further highlighted in this season, which was shot in locations like Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Nashville, and Tucson.

Episode 23 has focused on the emotional difficulties that come with being a parent and a famous figure.

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Jersey Shore: Family Vacation airs on Thursdays at 8 PM ET on MTV.