In a recent interview with Insider, Deena Buckner, best known as one half of the fun-loving "Meatballs" on "Jersey Shore," revealed why she was initially hesitant to have former cast member Ronnie Ortiz-Magro come back on the show.

Ortiz-Magro is set to make his return on Thursday's episode of "Family Vacation," marking his first appearance since departing the series amidst a series of controversies, including a domestic violence arrest, in 2021. As shown on the episode, he has a heartfelt conversation with most of the cast members, excluding his ex-girlfriend Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola. During the conversation, he apologizes for his past actions and expresses his desire to make amends.

Reflecting on the intense moment, Buckner shared during a confessional on the episode that she wasn't sure if she was ready to see Ortiz-Magro again. In a July interview with Insider ahead of the season six premiere, the mother of two talked about the emotions surrounding his return.

"We said a lot of things that we haven't wanted to say to him over text or in person," Buckner told Insider, highlighting the significance of seeing Ortiz-Magro face to face.

According to Buckner, Ortiz-Magro's comeback presented a harder transition for the rest of the cast compared to Giancola's return earlier in the season. This was primarily due to his controversial behavior outside of the reality series.

"There was just a lot of things that he did that all of us roommates didn't agree with, and we really just didn't want to be around that," Buckner explained.

Despite Ortiz-Magro's claims of self-improvement, Buckner expressed skepticism, noting that they had heard similar promises before. She pointed out that his return was not solely about sobriety, as fellow cast member Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino had successfully navigated his own journey to sobriety.

Buckner mentioned Ortiz-Magro's failure to take accountability for his past volatile behavior before his departure in 2021. She revealed that he would come on the show and pretend as if nothing had happened, a situation the cast deemed unacceptable.

"So him coming back, I think, was definitely a bigger issue than Sam coming back," Buckner added, emphasizing the impact Ortiz-Magro's return had on the group.

Ortiz-Magro and Giancola's on-again, off-again relationship was a significant storyline throughout the original run of "Jersey Shore." They eventually ended their relationship for good in 2014.

When Giancola made her return earlier this season, both Buckner and Sorrentino shared their initial reactions with Insider. Sorrentino admitted being shocked, stating that seeing Sammi was the last thing he expected. On the other hand, Buckner expressed her excitement to have Giancola back on the show, mentioning that there was no animosity and she was thrilled by her decision to return.

As the sixth season of "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation" continues, fans eagerly await how the dynamics among the cast members will evolve with Ortiz-Magro's return.