Sammi Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro's Explosive Reunion on 'Jersey Shore': Prepare to Be Shocked!

Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola has officially joined the cast of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation for its sixth season, leading to an unexpected reunion with her ex-boyfriend Ronnie Ortiz-Magro. "When I made the decision to return, I was aware that there was a chance Ron would also be here," shared Sammi, 36, in an exclusive interview with We on Thursday, August 3. "He's a part of the family as well, so I was prepared for whatever challenges may arise."

Sammi, who had chosen not to appear on the first five seasons of the Jersey Shore spinoff, confirmed in March that she had signed on for season 6. In May, the first clip of season 6 dropped, teasing Sammi's entrance and revealing that her ex, Ronnie, planned to return after his exit in 2021. Ronnie had taken a hiatus from the show due to a domestic violence scandal, for which he was arrested and later released on a $100,000 bond in April 2021. Sammi shared that reuniting with Ronnie was nerve-wracking but expressed her ability to handle the situation. She mentioned that their first Family Vacation encounter was documented on camera.

Sammi and Ronnie were in an on-and-off relationship from 2009 to 2014, which was documented on six seasons of the original Jersey Shore. Once they ended things for good, Sammi, a jewelry designer, made it clear that she has no interest in being just friends.

"I'm fine, we can move on. We're colleagues. You're someone I dated in my twenties. We can simply leave it at that," said Sammi. "When I tell people my age now, they're often surprised that I dated him when I was 22 and now I'm 36. A lot of time has passed, and I've dated other people. A lot of life happens in those years."

Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock; Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/Shutterstock

Sammi, who is currently dating Justin May, expressed her satisfaction in witnessing Ronnie's personal growth. "His dedication to self-improvement is what truly counts," she stated.

Although Sammi has moved on from her relationship with Ronnie, Family Vacation season 6 provided the perfect opportunity for her to reunite with her fellow cast members, including Paul "Pauly D" Delvecchio, Vinny Guadagnino, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Angelina Pivarnick, Deena Cortese, and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.

"I believe the timing couldn't be more perfect for me to make a comeback in my life, which is why I am here. I genuinely missed everyone and thought, why not return?" she expressed on Thursday. "When the decision was made for everyone to reunite [for Family Vacation], I had reservations about subjecting myself to an environment with an ex or potential toxicity. Therefore, I opted to steer clear of it. I am currently focusing on self-improvement and feeling content and happy with where I am. I don't feel the need to expose myself to an uncertain environment."

Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola revealed that returning was her personal choice, with her family and boyfriend Justin being her biggest supporters. "My loved ones, including my boyfriend, have been incredibly supportive in every area of my life," she shared. "I felt confident in my decision and knew it was the right move for me."

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation season 6 premieres on MTV Thursday, August 3 at 8 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi