McDonald's, Burger King, Papa John's Pizza, Cisco, Nivea and Palm among others named
FAIRFIELD, N.J., Dec. 11, 2009 — After enduring the second week's installment and a recap talk show of the controversial MTV series "Jersey Shore," UNICO National President Andre' DiMino is specifically targeting three high-profile companies that sponsored the program.
"Why would The Gap, T-Mobile and LG Electronics support such a discriminatory, insulting and Italian-bashing program," stated DiMino after viewing last night's episode. "It is unconscionable for any responsible corporation to be involved with the negative stereotyping of Italian-Americans in trash television such as Jersey Shore."
DiMino added that Cisco (owner of Flip camera), McDonald's, Nivea, Palm, Burger King, and Papa John's Pizza were also among the sponsors featured during the follow-up talk show recapping the series.
"I am urging our supporters to call these sponsors and demand they pull their advertising from Jersey Shore," DiMino said.
DiMino, the President of UNICO National, has been leading the charge as an outspoken critic of the new series since prior to its debut earlier this month. In response to thousands of calls, emails, blogs and complaints and a worldwide media firestorm of coverage spurred by UNICO's criticism, MTV officials did remove the pejorative terms "Guido" and "Guidette" from their promotional clips and web site after DiMino spoke with MTV executives just prior to the debut.
Nevertheless, MTV has refused to pull the show from its schedule as DiMino had originally requested of MTV CEO Judith McGrath, ironically a former winner of an EMMY award for "taking a stand against discrimination." Many UNICO members have called on McGrath to return her EMMY award as she has chosen to air a program that openly and continuously slurs and stereotypes Italian-Americans.
"If they won't pull the show, then we have to get the sponsors to stop supporting this attack on our heritage and ethnicity," commented DiMino.
A number of Italian-American groups have joined with UNICO in the protest as well as thousands of individuals, both Italian-American and non-Italian-American.
DiMino and UNICO National have received many emails and calls of support and have identified a Facebook group called "Real Italians Against MTVs Jersey Shore" which has well over 1,300 members and growing.
UNICO National, the nation's largest Italian-American service organization, with local chapters throughout the United States, was founded in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1922. Its volunteer members support charitable, educational, and community service projects while promoting Italian heritage and combating negative stereotyping. For information or to join UNICO National, call 973-808-0035 or visit http://www.unico.org.
Contact:
Sebastian D'Elia
Communications Director
UNICO National
Office: 973-808-0035
Cell: 908-770-3662
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