'Princesses Long Island' star Amanda Bertoncini apologizes for photos at 9/11 memorial

Amanda Bertoncini of the Bravo reality show "Princesses: Long Island" has apologized for a staging a jocular photo shoot at the Great Neck memorial statue of Jonathan Lee Ielpi, an FDNY firefighter who died on 9/11.

On Sunday night's episode, a friend of Bertoncini's, identified onscreen as Eleca, posed and clowned at the statue while holding a beverage covered by Bertoncini's product, Drink Hanky.

"I would like to take this time and apologize to the community of Great Neck and fellow Long Islanders, as well as anyone who was affected by 9/11," Bertoncini, 26, tweeted Monday afternoon. I would especially like to extend my sincere apologies to the family of Jonathan Ielpi... I never meant to hurt/ offend anyone when I was doing my photo shoot for The Drink Hanky. I hope you all can find it in your hearts to forgive me and understand that it was a spontaneous photo shoot without being aware that that statue was of sentimental value."

The life-sized bronze statue was unveiled in November 2003.