MTV Staff Getting Death Threats Over 'Jersey Shore'

Just because “Jersey Shore” got hot ratings doesn't mean all of MTV was happy with the outcome.

Pop Tarts has been told that some MTV staffers connected with the show have reason to be pretty afraid since the controversial debut of “Jersey Shore” on Thursday night.

“The MTV building in Times Square was getting crazy threats and they are in the process of hiring more security in bodyguards,” an insider told Tarts, adding that individuals involved with the press component on the show were being bombarded with abusive emails, phone calls and facebook messages - many of which involved death threats.

“People were going totally crazy, it was a nightmare,” added our insider.

The “Real World” style show features a group of Italian-Americans in a summer house together in which they refer to each other as “guidos” and “guidettes” which has enraged other Italian-Americans.

"Their behavior is reprehensible and demeaning in all respects," André DiMino, the president of Unico National, told the NY Times."I don't see any redeeming value in the show. They are an embarrassment to themselves and to their families."

Even the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau are hopping mad over the show.

MTV is providing a one-dimensional, dramatized version of a very small group of visitors’ summer experiences in one Jersey Shore town,” Daniel Cappello, executive director of the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a statement. “We're flattered that MTV thinks we're an interesting enough destination to warrant an entire reality series,” said Cappello. “But the national TV audience is hardly getting the full story.”

nd even despite safety fears for their staff, public outcry and the fact that advertisers such as Domino's Pizza have already pulled the plug on advertising during the controversial series, MTV are not backing down.

"We understand that this show is not intended for every audience and depicts just one aspect of youth culture. Our intention was never to stereotype, discriminate or offend,” said an MTV spokesperson.