EXCLUSIVE: Snooki Rakes In $9,000 For Appearance At University; Security Increased
Feb. 25 2010, Published 4:00 a.m. ET
Jersey Shore star Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi’s scheduled appearance at a university caused an uproar among the students – but for Snooki the controversy has turned into a $9,000 payday, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
As RadarOnline.com first reported, some students at James Madison University were outraged that a student organization was bringing in Snooki – but she’s turned their internal strife into a big payday and has already sold out the appearance.
Things have been so contentious though that security has been increased at the event.
And in an effort to diffuse fall-out from her scheduled appearance on March 3, Snooki will mock herself when she appears with comic Michael Dean Ester before a crowd of 1,045 people at Memorial Hall.
“The demand for tickets has been unbelievable and students will not be allowed to consume alcohol at the event,” a source at the university told RadarOnline.com.
“And the security will be tighter than at previous events because of the recent racist comments surrounding Snooki.”
As RadarOnline.com reported students started spewing racist comments at each other in the battle over Snooki’s appearance. Many students objected to the frivolity of inviting Snooki and others made comments supporting the guy who famously punched her to the ground in a bar – one of the show’s most controversial moments.
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Others argued that the University Program Board that booked Snooki should have spent the money elsewhere.
Stephen Eure, the UPB’s public relations director, defended the decision by writing in JMU’s Breeze newspaper.
The JMU insider added: “Snooki and the comic will try and take some heat out of the situation as she will self-mock herself on stage - but it’s understood she will answer some questions from the assembled audience too.
“Most of the students are actually looking forward to having Snooki here and hopefully there will be no trouble.”