“Jersey Shore“O.G. Ronnie Ortiz Magro recently made a heartbreaking admission about his health after sparking concern among social media users. In a new series of Instagram posts, Ortiz-Magro admitted to suffering from “high-functioning depression,” indicating that his mental health issues have prevented him from being 100 percent present in the moment.
‘Jersey Shore’ Star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Gets Candid About His Mental Health Issues With Emotional Message
In a series of posts, Ortiz-Magro, 40, made a vulnerable admission about her mental well-being, saying that dealing with depression is like “waking up every day with a face that works, but a heart that doesn’t work.”
The veteran reality star, who first rose to fame as an OG cast member of the MTV series in 2009, went on to say that although he did what he could to take care of himself, he felt nothing inside.
“And most of the time, it’s like being trapped in your own life,” the post continues, “forced to keep moving even when every part of you wants to stop.”
In another post on his Instagram Stories, the father-of-one shared a graphic announcing that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The post shared a statistic that “one in four people will experience some form of mental illness” in any given year.
“Break the silence, break the stigma,” the message reads.
‘Jersey Shore’ Star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Sparks Concern After Spotted Dozing During Interview
Ortiz-Magro’s candid admissions come days after the MTV staple sparked concerns after a video of him appearing to doze off during a press interview went viral.
The growing conversation prompted a public response from Ortiz-Magro’s co-star and longtime friend Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, who said that while his heart was heavy to see his friend suffering, he couldn’t be held responsible for the other cast members.
“At the same time, my heart is heavy seeing what Ron, an adult, has chosen to present at press time. This situation is still developing, and while I don’t know the full extent of what he’s going through, I know it’s different from my path,” Sorrentino continued.
Both Ortiz-Magro and Sorrentino have faced challenges over the years. Ortiz-Magro left the show in 2021 due to mental health issues, according to The Blast, while Sorrentino has spoken openly about his substance abuse issues and legal issues that landed him in prison in 2019.
Ortiz-Magro said Sorrentino helped him in 2019
Meanwhile, Ortiz-Magro and Sorrentino were thieves. In a previous interview with Us Weekly, Ortiz-Magro confirmed that he and Sorrentino rely on each other to help them stay on the straight and narrow.
According to Ortiz-Magro, Sorrentino was one of the first people he contacted when he first sought treatment for his mental health issues. “Mike definitely pushed me to be healthy,” he said. “Just him being there was definitely an inspiration… When you’re like me – just depressed, always angry, full of resentment and regret, it was a big thing – you look at him and you’re like, ‘I want that. I want to be positive.'”
‘Jersey Shore’ Vet Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Implicated in Alleged Domestic Dispute
A month before Ortiz-Magro’s interview began circulating, he was already under surveillance after police were called to his Miami home.
According to TMZ, his ex-girlfriend, Kristen, called law enforcement while she was ending their relationship and asked for help getting her things back.
Miami police described the call as a “domestic dispute” and said they went to the reality TV star’s property in Florida around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 29.
Although Ortiz-Magro has not spoken out about the reports, a representative for the TV personality has, saying he was the one who requested that police be on scene.
“He was in the process of splitting from his long-time girlfriend…and because he has been the victim of lies in the past, is in a very good situation and didn’t want there to be any unnecessary drama,” the statement read.
Say goodbye to MTV’s “Jersey Shore”
The “Jersey Shore” casting news comes just days before the network airs the final season of its spinoff series, “Family Vacation.”
A previous report from The Blast noted that MTV was calling the next batch of episodes “a last hurray for a cultural icon,” while the trailer teased epic highs and devastating lows.
Previous seasons of the series are streaming on Paramount+ and the new season begins Thursday, May 7 at 8 p.m. EST.