National

‘Jersey Shore’ star Snooki learns why her birth mother put her up for adoption

For the first time ever, Snooki had the opportunity to ask her birth mom any questions she’s ever had for her.
For the first time ever, Snooki had the opportunity to ask her birth mom any questions she’s ever had for her. Screengrab from Snooki's Instagram page

During the June 5 episode of “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation,” Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi opened up about her adoption in a way she never has before.

The mom of three shared with fans of the show that for most of her 37 years, she has thought about this very question — why did her birth mother decide to put her up for adoption?

According to Snooki, who was born in Chile, growing up, she never had much interest in finding her birth parents, the Asbury Park Press reported. After all, she had an incredible life with the parents who adopted her.

Nonetheless, through a genealogist, Snooki learned who her birth mother was and eventually was able to have her first-ever conversation with her, seeing the woman’s face for the first time.

In a video, she told Snooki, “I never forgot about you, and I love you,” which caused Snooki to immediately burst into tears.

In a confessional, Snooki said hearing her birth mom “say, I love you, oh my God. She just looks so sad. I feel like she’s been waiting for this moment to reach out to me. I never realized that I actually cared about hearing my birth mom’s voice.”

With the birth mom agreeing to answer any question Snooki had, the reality star asked, “Why was I put up for adoption?”

As her friend and co-star, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, sat next to her, Snooki said it can’t get “any more emotional.”

“For 36 years, I’ve been thinking about this question, and now the answer is going to pop up any second,” Snooki added in the confessional. “This is insane.”

In response to Snooki’s question, the birth mom explained that “when she realized she was pregnant, she told her partner, your father, and he just disappeared, leaving her by herself.”

As Snooki gasped, she said, “That is terrible.”

“She didn’t have any support at that moment, so that was the only option that she had,” the translator continued telling Snooki. “It was painful, she had to let you go.”

When her birth mother later asked if Snooki was “angry with her,” Snooki agreed to FaceTime with her.

As a nervous Snooki gathered the strength to speak to her birth mom, the woman told Snooki that she “never forgot about” her and became emotional.

Snooki told her not to cry, promising her birth mother that she has an incredible life after being “adopted by loving parents,” who “spoiled” her while “growing up in New York.”

“Obviously, I wouldn’t even be here if she didn’t put me up for adoption. I have amazing parents. I had a great childhood,” Snooki said.

“And then meeting my roommates. And meeting Jionni,” her husband. “And then having my kids,” 11-year-old Lorenzo, 10-year-old Giovanna, and 5-year-old Angelo. “I have the best fricken’ life.”

In the end, her birth mother expressed how happy she is knowing that Snooki is OK and has a family. “She’s really happy she talked to you, and she loves you,” the translator shared.

While reflecting on the conversation, Snooki said she “had no idea starting this journey that this is where I was going to end up. I’m so happy that I did this, but she’s still a stranger to me.”

When JWoww asked if Snooki would ever consider meeting her birth mother in person, Snooki said that she’s “just so content with my life and who my parents are, I don’t know where to go from here. My emotions are everywhere.”

SV
Sara Vallone
Miami Herald
Sara Vallone is a content specialist working with McClatchy Media’s Trend Hunter and national content specialists team.
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