Abercrombie & Fitch Offers 'Substantial Payment' to Jersey Shore's the Situation to Stop Wearing Its Clothes

Poor The Situation.

In perhaps the most blatant example of snobbery, cultural elitism and not-so-subtle racism from better-than-you clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, the company issued a statement offering to pay Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, a popular cast member on hit MTV reality series Jersey Shore, to stop wearing its clothing on camera.

"We are deeply concerned that Mr. Sorrentino's association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image," read the statement, titled "A Win-Win Situation." "We understand that the show is for entertainment purposes, but believe this association is contrary to the aspirational nature of our brand, and may be distressing to many of our fans."

The statement, courtesy of Abercrombie's Brand Senses Department, goes on to say that the company has offered a "substantial payment" to Sitch and producers of Jersey Shore to ensure the muscular cast member wears non-Abercrombie attire on the program.

"We have also extended this offer to other members of the cast, and are urgently waiting a response," it concludes.

The Sitch seemed unfazed, taking to Twitter with this observation: "Looks like Abercrombie got themself into a Situation!" and a link to a CNN article reporting that the company's stock dropped 9 percent after the diss.

Meanwhile, fellow cast member Paul "DJ Pauly D" Delvecchio noted the company's hypocrisy, pointing out that Abercrombie used the popular Jersey Shore phrase "GTL" (Gym Tanning Laundry) on one of its t-shirts.

"Hmmm if They Don't Want Us To Wear Those Clothes Why Make GTL Shirts # yourPRsux http://t.co/XIozKsn"

While this latest stunt from Abercrombie & Fitch is disturbing and clearly disrespectful, it's hardly surprising behavior from a brand that has built its entire culture around being condescending, exclusionary and shamelessly snooty. The company's desperate desire to associate itself with privileged white teenagers and "aspirational" young adults who hang out on yachts and vacation on Cape Cod has even manifested itself in racist clothing, including a line of t-shirts discriminating against Asian-Americans.

Clearly, the Jersey Shore cast represents neither the brand's elite target market nor the prep school-perfect, half-naked models they'd hire to advertise their clothing. We all know that, amusing as they are to watch, Shore cast members are essentially caricatures of real human beings -- highly exaggerated examples of Italian "guido" and "guidette" stereotypes dipped in hair gel and spray tans. These are not the privileged darlings who went to boarding school and drive their mother's old Saab, but the vulgar loudmouths who think partying is an AP course.

Thus, Abercrombie would rather pay cast members to keep their bronzed bodies out of A & F threads than receive free advertising from brand rejects.

If the company is serious, the move falls right in line with standard arrogant Abercrombie practice. Otherwise, it's a lame publicity stunt by a brand trying to drum up back-to-school business in a tough economy. MTV tends to think it's the latter.

"It's a clever PR stunt, and we'd love to work with them on other ways they can leverage Jersey Shore to reach the largest youth audience on television," an MTV spokesperson said via statement.

Jersey Shore is now in its fourth season, with cast members taking their wild antics to Italy.