Since Jersey Shore became a huge success, it has been fascinating to look at how the hit reality show changed Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s life. On the bright side, Jersey Shore becoming one of MTV’s best reality shows made Snooki an iconic star from the 2000s. On the other hand, even though its cast became rich, many Jersey Shore stars have had troubles, including Snooki, who said the show’s producers almost ruined her future.
One person whose life was changed forever after Jersey Shore is the guy who punched Snooki, since he reportedly still can’t get a job. With that in mind, it is interesting to look at how Snooki’s life got better and worse after she famously was punched in the face.
How Jersey Shore’s Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s Life Improved Because She Got Punched
On December 3, 2009, the history of reality TV changed forever when Jersey Shore premiered on MTV. A show that gave viewers the chance to see a very different world than most viewers had experienced before, Jersey Shore became a sensation.
When MTV was promoting Jersey Shore, they had a lot of outrageous footage that they used to attract viewers. However, the commercials that revealed that Jersey Shore’s female cast member Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi got punched in the face by a man were what really shocked people.
While the focus on the punch was extremely disturbing, it can easily be argued that the event ultimately made Snooki’s life better. To be clear, that doesn’t mean that Snooki getting punched is any less revolting. Instead, it just means that there were some unforeseen consequences of the punch that improved Snooki’s life.
The first way that Snooki’s life improved because of the punch involves her co-stars.
Jersey Shore’s Craziest Moments, According to Watchmojo | |
|---|---|
Jersey Shore Moment | Rank |
JWoww Hits Mike | #10 |
Pauly D’s Stage 5 Clinger | #9 |
Angelina Takes a Day Off | #8 |
Snooki on the Beach | #7 |
One-Punch Ronnie | #6 |
Snooki vs. Angelina | #5 |
The Letter | #4 |
Ronnie Trashes Sammi’s Room | #3 |
Mike and Ronnie Fight | #2 |
Snooki Gets Punched in the Face | #1 |
In August 2023, Snooki and Jenni “JWoww” Farley were interviewed by Page Six. During that conversation, Snooki and JWoww spoke about how the aftermath of the punch really bonded them.
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While talking to Page Six, JWoww explained that she had to protect Snooki after she was infamously punched in the face. “I just needed to protect her that night.”
After the first version of
Jersey Shore
finished airing, the show was followed-up by its first spin-off. That spin-off which focused on Nicole Polizzi and Jenni Farley was called Snooki & Jwoww aired from June 21, 2012 to February 4, 2015.
More importantly, JWoww told the outlet that it was a moment after the punch that made her realize how much she’d grown to love Snooki.
“That one was a big one for us. Grabbing her and bringing her to the bathroom, that’s when I was like, ‘I really do love this girl’ — from that moment on.”
During the same Page Six interview, Snooki stated that she immediately developed a bond with JWoww.
On top of the punch bringing Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “JWoww” Farley together, it also bonded
Jersey Shore
‘s cast as a whole. Snooki even told
Page Six
during the aforementioned interview that she was “glad [she] got punched” because the show’s cast came together after that happened.
However, Snooki stated that the moment that cemented their long-lasting friendship for her also revolved around the aftermath of the punch. As Snooki explained, JWoww agreed to skip her GTL routine to talk with Snooki the morning after the punch.
“I just felt like I got beat up and I felt not OK, so I was just like, ‘OK, it’s the summertime. Jenni, will you just go and get a margarita with me?’ And usually, she would do G.T.L. She wouldn’t go to the boardwalk that early with me, but she got a drink with me. … It was crazy. Half my cheek was swollen. I looked like a chipmunk.”
JWoww’s willingness to forego her routine to be there for her is when Snooki really came to care about her. In the years since Jersey Shore became a hit, it has been very clear that Snooki and JWoww have become so close that they could be called sisters. Since they both cite that event as the origin of that bond, their friendship is one way that the horrible incident improved Snooki’s life.
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Looking back at the events that took place during Jersey Shore’s original run, it is amazing how outrageous the show could be. As a result, there easily could have been enough content to make the show a sensation based on most of that footage.
In December 2009,
The Hollywood Reporter
published an article that focused on the infamous
Jersey Shore
punch. That article began by referencing how the
Jersey Shore
commercials hinting at the punch “caused a sensation online.”
That said, there is no doubt that the punch being focused on in the commercials for Jersey Shore played a major role in the show becoming a sensation. As a result, it makes sense to say that the punch played a role in a lot of the opportunities that Snooki has received over the years.
Since Jersey Shore became so popular partially as a result of the punch, Snooki went on to enjoy a slew of incredible opportunities. For example, Snooki once competed in a wrestling match and won during WrestleMania XXVII.
As her IMDb profile reveals, Snooki has also landed some small acting roles over the years. Snooki appeared in movies like The Three Stooges and Movie 43, as well as an episode of Supernatural. Of course, that is to say nothing of all the reality shows that Snooki has starred in during her career.
How Jersey Shore’s Nicole ‘Snooki” Polizzi’s Suffered Because She Got Punched On National Television
When MTV decided to promote Jersey Shore by casting a spotlight on the punch, it was a highly questionable decision, to say the least. After all, even though the decision clearly was a success, it was highly insensitive of MTV to highlight that kind of violence to viewers who didn’t expect it. Sadly, there are too many people whose lives have been touched by that kind of violence who could be traumatized by seeing something like that focused on in a commercial.
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In addition to the random viewers who were upset by the footage, Snooki also struggled to cope with seeing the punch. Even though a lot of fans don’t realize it, Snooki once revealed how badly she reacted when she saw the footage of the punch.
Around the time that Jersey Shore premiered, Snooki spoke to Entertainment Tonight. As can be seen in a YouTube video of the interview, Snooki revealed how she reacted to first seeing the footage of the punch.
It’s really hard for me to watch. When I first saw it, I started hysterically crying.
After seeing Snooki explaining her reaction to the footage, it is very obvious that she was traumatized. While some observers may not have considered how Snooki would have felt about the footage, it makes perfect sense that it would bother her like that.
After all, not only would Snooki be brought back to being brutally attacked out of nowhere, she also knew the whole world was seeing that moment too.
Jersey Shore
- Release Date
- December 3, 2009
- Main Genre
- Reality
- Creator(s)
- SallyAnn Salsano
- Cast
- Pauly D , Nicole Polizzi , Michael Sorrentino , Sammi Giancola , Ronnie Ortiz-Magro , Jennifer Farley , Vinny Guadagnino , Angelina Pivarnick , Deena Nicole Cortese
- Seasons
- 6
- Writers
- SallyAnn Salsano
- Network
- MTV
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , Paramount+
- Producers
- SallyAnn Salsano
- Character(s)
- Uncredited , Self
