Andy Cohen called Luis “Louie” Ruelas’ viral comment about Margaret Josephs’ son the “darkest moment” of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” finale.
The Bravo executive told “Garbage World” podcast listeners Tuesday that he would have gone “absolutely mental” in Josephs’ shoes despite usually being “mellow yellow.”
Ruelas, 49, brought up Josephs’ adult son in last Sunday’s episode.
He said, “I hope Margaret and her family suffer. You know, I hope her f–king son suffers the way I suffered, the way other people in our family have suffered.”
Cohen noted that he has viewed the “Housewives” drama “a little differently” since becoming a parent to son Benjamin, 4, and daughter Lucy, 2.
“Let me tell you something,” the “Watch What Happens Live” host said. “If someone that I didn’t care for invoked either of my children’s name … that is what it would take for me to be Danielle [Cabral].”
He joked, “Danielle Cabral’s button is: ‘Don’t talk about my husband’s pecs.’ Mine would be if you mention my children in an unfavorable way.”
Podcast co-hosts Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider chimed in to say that Ruelas’ wife, Teresa Giudice, and her “RHONJ” castmates “have never gone after each other’s children.”
They added, “Children have always been of importance to these women.”
While Giudice, 52, has yet to address Ruelas’ controversial comment, her partner issued a public apology Tuesday.
“The finale was very tough for me to watch,” the businessman wrote on his Instagram Story. “I was disappointed in my actions in bringing up Margaret Josephs [sic] son.”
Ruelas went on to claim that while he had been “falsely accused” of calling Josephs’ son at work, he knew “better than to bring up someone’s child” and felt “deep … regret.”
The reality show’s bombshell Season 14 finale also included Jennifer Aydin shaming Cabral’s husband Nate’s “boobs” — which prompted him to fire back with a shirtless photo shoot.
The reunion, which was filmed in a nontraditional way due to the cast’s many feuds, will air this Sunday, but the future of “RHONJ” remains unclear.
Cohen made headlines last month for implying there would be a reboot with “all fresh faces” for Season 15 before walking back his commentary and saying nothing is “definitive.”
