Even though Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola passed on joining Jersey Shore Family Vacation, the premiere episode revolved around her anyway — and it doesn't seem like she was too happy about it. Throughout the episode, the cast discussed Sammi’s absence from the series, and some even took a few subtle jabs at their former housemate. Though the jokes at the brunette beauty's expense were all in good fun, Deena Cortese quickly came to her defense.

During the episode, Deena backed up Sammi's decision to pass on the series and tried to keep the peace. "I just want to say one thing, Sam is our friend so I will not like anyone talking bad about her," she told the gang.

Though Ronnie Ortiz-Magro's ex girlfriend was relatively quiet on social media during the premiere, she seemed to sum up her emotions with just one tweet. "I love my @DeenaNicoleMTV," she wrote. Fans couldn't help but wonder if this was Sammi's way of shading the rest of the cast, especially since she ignored friendly tweets coming from Vinny Guadagnino and JWoww.

Last week, Sammi took to Twitter to share the real reason she wasn’t joining the reboot series. “I have chosen not to join the show this season because I am at a completely different place in my life right now focusing on my businesses and relationship,” the 31-year-old wrote. “I am not the same person as I was when I was 22. At 31, I am currently extremely happy in every aspect of my life and want to avoid potentially toxic situations… I will forever be grateful to Jersey Shore and everything it has brought to me!”

Even though Sammi is missing from the series, many of the cast members have said they're on good terms with her — even Ronnie. "I made a decision and she made a decision, there's nothing I can really say about that," he told TooFab. "It's something she chose to do and it's her choice. So you know, as someone who was around her forever, you gotta respect that. We all respect that and we just wish her the best. If she's happy and she's in an amazing place, God bless her, and we all really do just wish her the best and nothing but good things for her."