Luis Ruelas is apologizing after he went on a rant about the Real Housewives of New Jersey cast on the finale episode of season 14 and faced backlash for the things he said about Margaret Josephs‘ son, who has never appeared on the show.
As Luis, 50, chatted with wife Teresa Giudice, 52, about how she planned to navigate around Margaret, 57, during their then-upcoming cast dinner at Rails Steakhouse, he lashed out at Margaret, calling her “garbage” and saying he hoped her family suffered as he also took aim at John Fuda, 37, and Melissa Gorga, 45.
“Tell her to stay away from our family. And you know what? I hope Margaret and her family suffer. I hope her f**king son suffers … the way I suffer, the way other people in our family have suffered dealing with a woman like that. She’s a disgusting, vile human being,” Luis proclaimed on the August 4 episode of RHONJ.
“Our kids suffered because of what she’s doing,” Teresa replied.
“She’s a real piece of garbage,” Luis continued. “If Margaret doesn’t apologize to you, she’s not even worth you sitting in front of her.”
While Luis certainly had a lot to say about the RHONJ cast, it was his comment about wanting Margaret’s son to suffer that didn’t sit well with fans.
“So everyone is glossing over the fact that Louie said he wants Margaret’s son to suffer, someone who is not on the show and has nothing to do with this nonsense. That’s a true sociopath, no conscience,” one person wrote on X.
“Luis wishing harm to Marge, and her son ( who has NEVER done anything to him) is WILD. That’s on some SICK SH*T,” shared another.
“For Luis to say I hope Marge’s son suffers is a bridge too far,” someone else agreed. “Her son has never been on the show has never spoken in the press about what allegedly happened or didn’t that was just cruel.”
Another IG user wrote a message to Teresa, saying, “HONEY your man, wishing they suffer is wild! Luis is buck f*cking wild! I would seriously try to get away from him Teresa!”
“Luis’ comment wishing harm on Margaret’s son was as low as Jennifer Aydin’s body shaming. They are both inhuman! What atrocious things to say! Neither should be allowed on Bravo ever!!!” someone added.
Amid the backlash, Luis took to his Instagram Story to share an apology, explaining why he brought Margaret’s son up on the show.
“The finale was very tough for me to watch and I wanted to address it with you all,” he began on August 6. “After watching the finale, I was disappointed in my actions in bringing up Margaret [Josephs’] son. The reason he was even brought up was because I have been dealing with being falsely accused of calling [Margaret’s] son at work which is simply not true.”
He continued, “For the last year Margaret kept putting this narrative out there that I called her son at work and I have had to deal with it knowing I am being lied on.”
“Still, I know better not to bring someone’s child up and it is something I deeply regret so I do want to apologize and acknowledge that I was wrong,” Luis added. “There’s been a lot of toxicity on the show that has affected everyone on the show. We have been dealing with a lot of frustrating things behind the scenes and it has been very hard for our entire family and my children who have been really impacted by all that’s happened at the hands of certain people. Two wrongs don’t make a right and I deeply regret saying what I said.”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 14 finale watch party begins Sunday, August 11, at 8/7c on Bravo.