‘Shahs of Sunset’ the new ‘Jersey Shore’?

They are rich, Persian, live in Beverly Hills -- and they have a reality show. This is the group of six Persian American friends who make up the new Bravo reality show “Shahs of Sunset,” and they are causing quite the controversy.  

The show is being accused of perpetuating Persian-American stereotypes.  Jimmy Delshad, who is was born in Iran and is a former mayor of Beverly Hills, tells Showbiz Tonight his first reaction to the show was “disgust.”

"They're acting like spoiled children,” says Delshad. “I want the people in Middle America to know that the Persians are not like what you see on that show."

The backlash is similar to the uproar from the Italian-American community when MTV's “Jersey Shore” hit the airwaves. Despite the commotion, the “Shore” crew has pulled in record ratings for five seasons. 
 
The stars of “Shahs of Sunset” disagree with those who think they are portraying their culture in a bad light. Cast member Reza Farahan thinks the show is helping the Iranian-American community look better. “We've been portrayed as terrorists … people think we have horns!  We're gonna humanize them -- they need to call us and thank us after the show airs," Farahan said to Showbiz Tonight.

Have you watched “Shahs of Sunset”? Do you think the show portrays the Persian-American community in a bad light?