Michael Sorrentino (born July 4, 1982), also known as The Situation, is an American television personality. He appeared on all six seasons of the MTV reality show Jersey Shore, from 2009 through 2012.

He is currently in jail for tax evasion and is scheduled to be released on September 13, 2019.

Career [ edit ]

Sorrentino was a cast member of Jersey Shore, which debuted in 2009 and finished in 2012. Since appearing on that show, Sorrentino has been a guest on TV series including The Howard Stern Show, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, The Jay Leno Show, Lopez Tonight, SportsNation, Chelsea Lately, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Conan.

Sorrentino was a contestant on Season 11 of Dancing with the Stars,[3] eliminated on the 4th week. His partner was Karina Smirnoff.

In 2010, Sorrentino appeared with Bristol Palin in a public service announcement for The Candie's Foundation, as part of its Pause Before You Play campaign to prevent teen pregnancy.[4]

In January 2011, Sorrentino signed on to star as a judge in the YOBI.tv talent-show web series Random Talent.[5] The name of the series was later changed to New Stage after the theme song title of the same name, written and performed by another New Stage costar Mykell.[citation needed]

Sorrentino made more than $5 million in 2010, the second highest of any other reality star after Kim Kardashian.[6][7] This money was accrued through endorsements with Devotion Vodka,[8][9] Reebok Zigtech shoes,[citation needed] as well as a ghost-written autobiography,[10] a rap song,[11] a workout DVD,[10][12] a vitamin line for GNC,[13] a clothing line,[14][15] and appearances on Jersey Shore and Dancing with the Stars.

In March 2011 Sorrentino appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump.[16] In August of that year, Sorrentino was offered a "substantial" sum of money by fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch not to wear the company's clothes. A spokesman for the company explained that "Mr Sorrentino's association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image."[17][18] In November 2011, Sorrentino filed a lawsuit against A&F after they made shirts that read "The Fitchuation" and "GTL...You Know The Deal."[19]

On February 22, 2012, Sorrentino appeared in a small cameo role on ABC's Suburgatory. In June 2012, he participated in Fox's dating game show The Choice.[20] On August 15, 2012 he became a housemate on the tenth series of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5[21] and on September 7, 2012 he came in fourth on the series final.[22]

In October 2012, he appeared in a PETA ad campaign promoting the spaying and neutering of pets.[23]

In 2014, he appeared on a reality show with his family, which aired on the TVGN network.[24]

In 2015, he was a participant on the fifth season of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars with his partner, Lauren Pesce.[25]

In 2016, he was a participant on the 9th season of Worst Cooks in America.

In April 2017, Sorrentino appeared on We TV's Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition with his brothers Marc and Frank Sorrentino.

In 2018, it was confirmed that a reboot of Jersey Shore, called Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, would air on MTV, with Sorrentino returning as a cast member.

Personal life [ edit ]

Sorrentino was born in the New York City borough of Staten Island and raised in Manalapan Township, New Jersey.[26] He obtained an associate's degree from Brookdale Community College and attended Kean University and Monmouth University.[27]

Sorrentino worked as an assistant manager of a fitness center in Staten Island.[13] When he was 25, he lost this job and began underwear modeling.[28]

He has two older brothers, Frank and Marc, and a younger sister named Melissa. Marc also serves as The Situation's manager and partner in MPS Entertainment.

On March 21, 2012, Sorrentino confirmed that he had checked himself into rehab "to get control of a prescription medication problem"[29] he had with oxycodone. He checked out of the Cirque Lodge treatment center in Utah on April 4, 2012.[30]

From 2004 to 2007, Sorrentino dated his college sweetheart, Lauren Pesce.[25] They later reconciled, and on April 26, 2018, Sorrentino announced they had gotten engaged.[31][32] They married on November 1, 2018.[1]

Legal issues [ edit ]

On June 17, 2014, Sorrentino was arrested for assault after a fight at a tanning salon in Middletown Township, New Jersey.[33]

In September 2014, Sorrentino was charged with tax fraud, allegedly avoiding paying taxes on $8.9 million. According to the US Attorney, Sorrentino and his brother, Marc, established S corporations that paid for personal expenses and failed to report income.[34] In April 2017, further charges were levied against Sorrentino and his brother, alleging tax evasion and the structuring of bank deposits to avoid reporting thresholds.[35]

On January 19, 2018, Sorrentino pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion, as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors.[36] Sentencing occurred on October 5 at the United States District Court of New Jersey in Newark.[37]

On October 5, 2018, Sorrentino was sentenced to 8 months in prison, 2 years of supervised probation, and 500 hours of community service.[38]

On October 22, 2018, an order was issued by United States District Judge Susan Wigenton extending the date for Sorrentino to surrender to the Federal Bureau of Prisons no earlier than January 15, 2019, or as soon thereafter as the Bureau of Prisons shall designate. Upon surrendering on January 15, the Bureau of Prisons designated that he would serve his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, in Otisville, New York, as prisoner No. 66910-050.[39]

On January 15, 2019 Sorrentino surrendered himself to the Otisville Federal Correctional Institution in upstate New York to begin his eight-month sentence for tax evasion.[40] He is scheduled to be released on September 13, 2019. On January 17, 2019, Mike's brother Marc began serving a 2 year prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, which is located approximately 200 miles away from the Otisville Federal Correctional Institution.[41]

Filmography [ edit ]

References [ edit ]



