Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi spoke to her birth mother for the first time and learned the reason for her adoption.
The emotional moment happened on Thursday’s episode (June 5) of the reunion spinoff series, Jersey Shore Family Vacation. The reality TV star had been consulting with Jersey-based genealogist Pamela Slaton, who previously helped cast member Angelina Pivarnick find her birth father on season seven of the show. Snooki was born in Chile to Chilean parents and was adopted by an Italian-American, Helen and Andrew Polizzi Marlboro, New York, at six months old.In the episode, Snooki talked to her biological mother on the phone with the aid of a translator. Castmate and friend Jenni “JWoww” Farley was present as she sat by Snooki and provided support.
The translator first showed Snooki a video of her birth mother, whose name was not revealed or image shown, saying she loved her and “never forgot” about Snooki. The video made Snooki emotional before she launched into a conversation with her birth mother via text messages. The 37-year-old began by asking her birth mother why she was put up for adoption.Her birth mother responded back in a video message and, according to the translator, stated, “When she realized she was pregnant, she told her partner, your father, and he just disappeared, leaving her by herself.”
“She didn’t have any support at that moment, so that was the only option that she had. Even [though] it was painful, she had to let you go,” the translator added.
Throughout the conversation, Snooki reassured her birth mother that she has been living “an amazing life.” Her birth mother asked her if she was “angry” about being placed up for adoption, which is when everyone in the room decided the conversation needed to happen via voice and not written words. Snooki asked to do a voice call instead of a FaceTime as she was not “ready” for one.
Her birth mother answered, introducing herself and saying, “Hola” to Snooki, and Snooki was too overwhelmed to speak. She eventually greeted her in Spanish, and so did JWoww, who also said Snooki’s birth mom sounded like Dora the Explorer. Snooki and her birth mom have a mini conversation where Snooki answered in basic Spanish like “Bien” and “Gracias” when her mom complimented her voice.
Her birth mother went on to say, as translated by the interpreter, ‘I’m sorry for putting yourself in that situation, and that you were adopted.” Snooki’s birth mother began to cry and said it was a “very difficult time” for her and she “suffered a lot” and never forgot about Snooki.
Snooki tried to comfort her birth mother, telling her not to cry and that she’s had a “beautiful life.” During the confessional, Snooki shared she is not “mad” at her mother as she wouldn’t “be here” if she weren’t put up for adoption, and how she has “amazing parents” and had a “great childhood.”
Snooki told the translator to tell her birth mother that she was adopted by “loving parents,” was raised in New York, and “was spoiled.”
Then in the confessional, she mentioned meeting the Jersey Shore crew, her husband Jionni LaValle, and having their three kids (Lorenzo, 11, Giovanna, 10, and Angelo, six). She continued in the confessional that Snooki’s birth mom gave her the best life she could have, and she has the “best life.” To the translator, Snooki asked her to tell her birth mother that she is married to a “handsome Italian man” and has “three beautiful children.”
Her birth mother responded that she’s “happy to know” Snooki has a family now and that she’s okay. She further said that she is happy that she talked to Snooki and that she loved her. Snooki responded that it was amazing to hear from her and they’ll talk soon.
In the confessional, Snooki expressed she was “happy” she did this, but how her mother is “still a stranger” to her. JWoww inquired if Snooki would want to meet her birth mother in person.
Snooki said, “I’m just so content with my life and who my parents are, I don’t know where to go from here. My emotions are everywhere.”
