‘Jersey Shore’ star is accused of attacking woman to boost ratings

MIAMI — One of the stars of MTV’s
hit reality show “Jersey Shore” is accused of attacking a woman in a
South Beach club last weekend in order to boost ratings for the show.

Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, 22, punched Kristen DeMinco twice Saturday night at Dream, DeMinco and her attorneys said Tuesday.

Wearing a large, dark pair of sunglasses, DeMinco, 24, spoke to reporters in front of the Miami Beach
police department before filing a report with detectives. Beneath her
glasses, her right eye was marked with a dark purple stripe down her
cheek and her left cheek remained swollen.

DeMinco’s attorney, Tom Pennekamp,
called the alleged attack “unprovoked” and — lobbing a familiar
accusation — said the cast has been starting fights as part of a
strategy to increase viewership.

“This was produced to spike the ratings of the
show,” Pennekamp said. “They have left a trail, a wake of victims when
they run into clubs and attack and kick people.”

MTV had no comment Tuesday afternoon.

Here’s what happened, according to DeMinco and her attorneys:

DeMinco went to the Washington Avenue
club early Saturday morning for a friend’s birthday party, which was
held in the VIP section. At some point, the “Jersey Shore” cast entered
the VIP section, and everybody in the area signed MTV waivers.

DeMinco said she began a conversation with Ronnie Ortiz Magro, “just asking him how they liked Miami,” when Giancola approached her and asked, “Why are you talking to my boyfriend?”

The two exchanged tense words, and Giancola punched DeMinco twice, she and her attorney said.

DeMinco said her friends took her into the bathroom and then she left.

She did not immediately file a police report, and her attorneys declined to say whether she visited a hospital.

“They need to learn a lesson,” DeMinco said. “This
isn’t acceptable. They’ll find any little reason to hit someone.
They’re going to get more money after it and it’s absurd.”

Pennekamp said the crew was kicked out of Dream
after “stomping” someone else about half an hour after the alleged
attack on DeMinco.

Pennekamp said his client plans to file a civil suit against Giancola and MTV.

Detective Juan Sanchez, a police
spokesman, said DeMinco “tried to report it yesterday over the phone
and was told that because she had injuries she needed to come to the
station.”

Sanchez said the likely charge that Giancola could
face, misdemeanor battery, would likely have to be filed by the state
attorney’s office because DeMinco waited several days to file a report.

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