OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. — The “Party Down South” may not be in Ocean Springs, if residents have their way.
Many who don’t want the popular CMT reality TV show taping season three in the South Mississippi town have gathered nearly 500 signatures on a petition asking the producers to stay out of their back yards. The show features a group of young folks letting the good times roll in a Southern city. Opponents said out of control party people jumping on tables, yelling and using vulgar language in public places, isn’t the image they want portrayed of their quiet artsy town.
Mayor Connie Moran said in a Thursday night Facebook post, there isn’t much the city can do to keep the producers out of the city. “Film and TV producers have the constitutional right to film on our public right-of-ways, sidewalks, beach, etc.” she wrote. “As you are aware, the City cannot dictate or censor content of file or journalism stories. (It’s that freedom of speech thing.) Police could arrest them if they break the law of course.”
Producers have not offered any money for their work in Ocean Springs, but the extra business generated from the show’s crews, who eat and rent rooms in the city, would be a boost to the economy.
Unless something changes, the “Party Down South” taping in Ocean Springs is scheduled to begin June 19.
