Friends of “Jersey Shore’s” Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino say his brother Marc Sorrentino is overstepping the mark by heavily cashing in on the TV star’s fame.
Sources say Marc, 31, has been acting like his brother’s manager and piggy-backing on his business deals to pocket money for himself. Mike, 28, could reap millions from endorsement deals, including one for GNC supplements, as well as a workout DVD, a book deal and personal and TV appearances.
Marc works for Mike’s corporation, MSP Entertainment. Sources tell us Marc acts like The Sitch’s “manager, but the reality star’s manager is technically Mike Petolino of Gotham Entertainment.”
Sources tell us Marc’s meddling is causing “massive frustration.” But when we asked him to comment, Petolino simply said: “As far as management, I’m Mike’s manager. Marc is not Mike’s manager.”
The deals Marc is said to have parlayed with Mike include an endorsement deal with Devotion Vodka and an appearance on Spike TV’s “Unique Autosports: Miami.” Mike paid for two Bentleys from a Florida dealership for both himself and his brother and had them “tricked out” for the show.
Sources also said Marc booked gigs for his brother while The Sitch was sequestered during tapings for “Jersey Shore” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Mike later had to back out of at least one of those gigs. “Nobody knows who the person to deal with is because both are saying, ‘I’m the main person for The Situation,’ ” said one source.
“The Situation is starting to wake up and be like, ‘What’s going on?’ ” said another.
Marc made headlines this week when Kathryn Redino, a 24-year-old club promoter, accused him of holding her captive in a limo after he and his friends met her at a Manhattan nightspot. Sources said the case may now be dropped by the NYPD. A rep for The Situation directed us to Marc’s lawyer, Ray Raya, who said, “Marc is Mike’s brother and one of his closest advisers, but he’s doesn’t have an official role.”