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Mayor, chief of police say ‘Jersey Shore’ won’t be filming in Wildwood

MTV's "Jersey Shore" is reportedly moving production to Wildwood, according to US Weekly, but city officials reportedly aren't aware of any plans to film.

Jersey Shore Family Vacation cast
Jersey Shore Family Vacation castRead moreMTV

Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and Chief of Police Robert N. Regalbuto have rebutted a report from US Weekly that MTV's Jersey Shore franchise would film a season of the show in the city.

Troiano and Regalbuto both said Jersey Shore: Family Vacation won't be filming in town. Regalbuto said he spoke with 495 Productions, the company that produces Jersey Shore, Friday and was told that the company "would never go into a community where we're not invited."

The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority later released a statement about Jersey Shore's attempt to shoot in Wildwood: "While the Wildwoods, N.J. embraces the opportunity to provide a beautiful seaside beach and boardwalk location for filmmakers, TV shows and social media to film here, it does not welcome the message that the MTV show Jersey Shore presents to its viewers. The Wildwoods' family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful award-winning beaches, boardwalk fun and doo-wop ambiance does not align with the show's overall theme and message. Our resort destination is geared toward good, clean fun for families and multi-generational vacationers who enjoy our beaches, boardwalk and one-of-a-kind attractions," the statement read.

Previously filmed in Miami, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation was reportedly moving to Wildwood after Seaside Heights, where four seasons of Jersey Shore were filmed, denied a permit to film Season 2 in the city. However, a "limited permit" was issued for June 27 and 28 that allowed the show to film at the Jersey Shore House, Casino Pier, and a T-shirt store featured in the show.

While the show will not be in Wildwood, it will be filming in Atlantic City. The Atlantic City Press  confirmed that Jersey Shore will film there through Sunday.

While 495 Productions was not issued a permit to film in Wildwood, one is not required to film at a private residence. But that would have limited filming to non-public spaces, Wildwood 365 reported.

"We had some talks several months back, earlier in the year. But they were not approved for a license here," Troiano told Wildwood 365. "The way it was originally presented to me, it seemed that this would be presented as a group of older, more mature people moving on with their lives. Not a bunch of party animals acting like fools. There's a chance it might have been good exposure for Wildwood, but the name comes with a stigma."

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation features franchise cast members Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi LaValle, Mike "the Situation" Sorrentino, Paul "DJ Pauly D" Del Vecchio, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Jenny "JWoww" Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, and Deena Nicole Cortese. It is a reboot of Jersey Shore, which first launched on MTV in 2009.

The show has become a sore spot for New Jersey officials, with even then-Gov. Chris Christie calling Jersey Shore "negative for New Jersey" in 2010. Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz told Shorebeat last year that the show brings in "the wrong type of clientele."

Season 2 of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation also took production to Las Vegas last month, where Ortiz-Magro and his girlfriend, Jen Harley, got into a physical altercation at a hotel. Harley later was arrested for domestic battery after allegedly punching Ortiz-Magro in the face and dragging him with her car.

MTV did not immediately respond to request for comment.