Skin Cancer Foundation takes legal action against 'Jersey Shore'

Now that the show is off the air, "Pauly D" and "The Situation" along with all the other cast members of MTV's Jersey Shore don't have to worry about being tan for the show. "Pauly D" (Paul DelVecchio) in episode 13 of season two, enthusiastically nominated himself “Most Likely to Get Skin Cancer.”

If the Skin Cancer Foundation prevails in their complaint dated Jan. 17, 2013 with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to hold MTV accountable for promoting "cancer-causing behavior," future repeats, spin offs and advertising will display a warning against the dangers of tanning. It was MTV's Jersey Shore television series and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino's "GTL: Gym, Tan, Laundry" mantra that prompted the action by the Skin Cancer Foundation to stop pro-tanning messages.

Deborah Sarnoff, Skin Cancer Foundation's Senior Vice President, sat down with the cast of the show in 2010 to discuss the dangers of tanning in an effort to put an end to the "GTL" motto.

Tanning Intervention with the Cast of "Jersey Shore" Tanning Intervention with the Cast of "Jersey Shore"

The Foundation says that in the years since the show premiered, tanning beds which are a known carcinogen, became an integral part of the show's narrative. The Foundation claims that the series portrayed tanning as acceptable and harmless. The show is no longer on but the messages continue through spin-offs and repeats that continue to promote tanning with no disclaimers.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is asking that MTV include a warning about the risks about skin cancer with the show, its advertising, promotion and merchandising. The Foundation audited season three of Jersey Shore in its entirety and episodes one, two, three and six of season five. It identified 186 visual or verbal references to anning in just these 17 episodes. This count includes 12 specific mentions of "GTL" (gym, tan and laundry) and 48 images of tanning including a photo of a tanning salon in the opening credits of each episode.

MTV refused to include a warning with each episode thus prompting the Foundatoin to file a formal complaint with the FTC hoping that the commission will require the use of such a warning.

The complaint is available at www.SkinCancer.org/jersey-shore.