Snooki Issues a Stunner, Announces Retirement from Jersey Shore

For Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, the days of drinking, fist-pumping and falling flat on her face as a result of doing one or the other of these things.

At least in front of a television camera.

During Friday's new episode of her It's Happening with Snooki & Joey podcast, the veteran reality star shocked listeners... 

... by announcing that she's filmed her final-ever installment of Jersey Shore.

Yup, folks, Snooki is done.

"So here comes my breaking news, you guys," she said on air this morning, adding in further detail:

"There's reasons why I've come to this decision...it's definitely a hard decision...I'm gonna throw up. OK, you guys, I love you so much and don't hate me for my decision, but I have to do what's best for me at the moment, and I am retiring from Jersey Shore."

Wow, right?!?

Snooki on Camera

Snooki went on to make it as clear as possible:

"I am not coming back to Jersey Shore [Family Vacation] for a season four, if there is one.

"And there's a lot of reasons why, but the main reason is really, I'm just like...I just can't do it anymore."

And why is this the case? Because, Snooki continued, she's simply missing too much time with her family.

Snooki and Cubs

"I hate being away from the kids, I don't like partying three days in a row, it's just not my life anymore," the 32-year-old explained, continuing as follows:

"And I wanna be home with the kids. I don't mind a here or there going to a dinner or whatever, but it's just really hard on me to leave the kids and film the show."

Snooki is married to Jionni LaValle and the couple shares a seven-year old named Lorenzo; a five-year old named Giovanna; and a six-month old named Angelo.

A decade ago, when the original Jersey Shore premiered, who ever would have guessed that Polizzi would be leaving due to family concerns?

The  Snooki

She really has come such a long way.

Snooki added on the podcast that she wants to come off as a "good person" on the series, but "lately" it's been "very drama."

Toward the end of the latest run, Snooki found herself in the middle of a feud between JWOWW and Angelina.

She blasted MTV at one point for editing episodes to make her look bad.

Snooki, Daughter

Perhaps we should have guessed at the time that Snooki wasn't gonna be long for the franchise.

"Our show, Jersey Shore, is about family and about making fun of each other and having a good time and laughing, and just knowing that it's all in good fun," Snooki explained on air.

"And lately, it's just like, everything is so serious, and when it comes to our show it's not about like, team this, team that, and fans are against one another when it comes to a cast member.

"That's just not how the show works and that's how it's becoming."

Aside from her time on Jersey Shore, Snooki maintained her small screen presence with the spinoff Snooki & JWOWW... appearances on season 17 of Dancing with the Stars ... and 2017’s The New Celebrity Apprentice.

She also released her fifth book, Strong Is the New Sexy: My Kickass Story on Getting My Formula for Fierce, in 2015.

Concluded Snooki on her Jersey Shore resignation:

“I’m not saying goodbye … I just need to move on from the show because I don’t like the direction it’s going in when it comes to the drama and the cattiness."