As concerns mount over MTV’s new show Jersey Shore and the program’s perceived stereotypes of Italian-Americans, the series prepares to rock Seaside Heights in a new way with a walloping episode on domestic violence. On next week’s show, cast member Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi — a 21-year-old professional cheerleader from Poughkeepsie, New York — gets sucker-punched by a high school gym teacher at a bar while the cameras were rolling.

“This particular scene is obviously extremely disturbing, what happened to Snooki was a crime. As we do with any sensitive issues, we will provide information at the end of the show and on MTV.com,” MTV said of the Snooki Sucker-Punch in a statement Wednesday.

The network will run a domestic violence PSA after the episode airs on Dec. 18.

“We applaud MTV for partnering with us to provide resources and help to members of their audience who may be experiencing violence in their relationships or lives,” says Sheryl Cates of the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

The filthy woman-beater has been identified as high school physical education instructor Brad Ferro, a burly 24-year-old from Long Island, NY. An educator at the North Queens Community High School in Flushing, Fero was arrested in late August after punching out the petite “Guidette” during an argument over a drink at the Beachcomber Bar & Grill in Seaside Heights. According to local police, Snooki was savagely attacked when she stood up to this brute for trying to rip-off her drink.

“That started a verbal altercation after which he struck her in the face,” says Det. Steve Korman. “She sustained an injury to the inside of her mouth due to the punch.”

Ferro was fined $500 and given a 6 months suspended jail sentence.