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The brotherly love is real. Ronnie Ortiz-Magro revealed that his Jersey Shorecostar Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino inspired him to get the help he needed. The MTV alum opened up about his recent stint in rehab for alcohol abuse and depression in a candid new interview, addressing how Mike had actually been one of his biggest supporters throughout the process. Ronnie said that even though Mike is behind bars currently, they still chat “every day.” Scroll through the gallery.
Ronnie, 33, and Mike, 36, used to have a contentious relationship, but not anymore. Ronnie called Mike the day he decided to go to rehab.
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Courtesy of Ronnie Magro/Instagram
Making Positive Strides
“He was just like, ‘I’m proud of you … I’m glad that you finally got to your point,’” Ronnie tells UsWeekly.
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A Big Decision
Ronnie continued, “He’s like, ‘People can try to push you and force you to do things that you want, but that’s not the way you get someone to do it. You have to want to do it.’”
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Family Is Forever
“Mike was one of the ones that was actually there for me throughout the whole process,” the MTV star added.
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Tough Times
“Everything that has happened over the last year … he would always hit me up,” Ronnie said. “When I would feel a certain way, I would call Mike up, and he’d be like, ‘It’s going to be all right.’”
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Leading by Example
Ronnie said that watching Mike’s evolution as a person motivated him to take the same big steps in his own life.
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Ready for a Change
The Jersey Shore alum explained, “Just him being around was definitely an inspiration … When you’re the way I was – just depressed, always angry, resentful and just regretful was a big thing.”
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Lessons Learned
Mike has dealt with his own struggles over the years, including a prescription medication addiction. The reality star has also gone to rehab several times.
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New Challenges
Fast forward to now, and Mike has been sober for over three years. Meanwhile, he is currently serving an eight-month sentence in prison for tax evasion.
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Behind Bars
Mike is doing his time at Otisville Federal Correctional Institution in New York and his prison release date is reportedly set for September 13, 2019.
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Making It Work
Despite the circumstances, Ronnie revealed that he and Mike still talk every day via email.
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Silver Lining
“He’s doing great. He still has his positive attitude. He still sounds like he swallowed a book of poetry,” the reality star said about Mike.
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Stronger Today
“Me and Mike’s relationship has definitely grown throughout the last year, because we were always back and forth, but that’s brotherly love,” Ronnie said.
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Sibling Rivalry
The father-of-one concluded, “You’re going to fight with your brother, then you’re going to make up.”
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Looking Ahead
As far as Ronnie’s future goes, the reality star said he’s planning to move from Las Vegas to Los Angeles as he focuses on bettering himself. We’ll have to wait and see if his daughter, Ariana, is also coming along or staying with baby mama, Jen Harley.