Once known for gym, tanning, and laundry, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is now adjusting to court dates, community service, and fines.
In January of 2018, Michael Sorrentino pled guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced in October. He spent 8 months in prison, was charged with a $10,000 fine and, once released from prison, was placed on supervised release for two years.
Sorrentino was also required to complete 500 hours of community service. His brother, Mark Sorrentino, due to his role in the fraudulent act, pled guilty to one count of aiding the preparation of a fraudulent tax return and served two years in prison.
Sorrentino was released from the Otisville Federal Correctional Institution on September 12, 2019. The most current season of the hit TV series, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation features an episode where the castmates reunite shortly after Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino’s release. The episode entitled “Back to the Jersey Shore” aired on March 5th, 2020, and showed The Situation being welcomed back into the open arms of his longtime friends
Despite the trials and tribulations of being imprisoned and shut away from society, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino felt nothing but love and support. Throughout Mike’s entire sentence, his family and friends, especially his fellow Jersey Shore castmates, contacted him with well wishes and stories to keep his spirits up. The Situation also credits much of his success to the strength of his supportive wife, Lauren, who traveled to see him weekly while he was away, and emailed him every day. “She was loyal to me and kept me going”, he told his Jersey Shore housemates during their reunion.
The Situation knew, however, that most of his time would be spent alone, and he would have to keep himself active and mentally stimulated during his solitude. He spent lots of time working out, managing to lose 35 lbs and replacing it with muscle. Reading, watching television, and other activities were also methods that kept the negative feelings of being locked up at bay.
“I would wake up every morning and I would do a very similar schedule,” he said. “I was very regimented, I stayed in my intermittent fasting, which is not easy if anybody knows about fasting, for 16 to 19 hours a day,” Mike told the website “Showbiz Cheat Sheet” in March of this year. (via Showbiz Cheat Sheet)
Sorrentino discussed his methods to maintain his health, physical and mental, to many news outlets, as well as to his Jersey Shore pals. The crew had an emotional reunion episode as he filled them in on his time in prison, and caught up with their ever-changing lives. He did admit to his costars that, despite his ability to work out, stay connected, and entertain himself while in prison, he struggled with the lack of freedom. Upon being released, that struggle morphed into somewhat of a readjustment period. During the Jersey Shore reunion episode, he admitted to his friends how hard it was to be back to his old daily routine. He compared it to feelings of PTSD.
However, The Situation specifically decided to speak honestly and openly about his journey. He talks freely about the downsides of incarceration, using it as a teaching moment for young people. Mike told InTouch Weekly that, “Our main goal throughout the whole process was to handle it with grace and class. Not only for ourselves but to show the young generation out there how to handle adversity and move forward and continue to be the best, even if you make mistakes.” (via InTouch Weekly online)
He is acutely aware of his role as a celebrity and the fact that young people look up to him and his Jersey Shore pals, and he decided to use this opportunity to show them that, despite setbacks, you can rise above and overcome adversity. The slogan on his shirt in the photos from the day of his release says, “The comeback is always greater than the setback”.
Happily, Sorrentino is settled back into his home, and making plans for his own comeback. He is spending his time reconnecting with his wife, discussing their future and a family, and jumping back into his work, especially his return to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. “It’s fantastic. I have my beautiful wife next to me. I’m healthy, I’m sober, back at work with my best friends on the No. 1 show on MTV and just living the dream.” (via InTouch Weekly Online)