Real Housewives of New Jersey has always, at its heart, been about family. Both the joy and sometimes the pain that those bonds have. After fighting for 10 seasons, Teresa Giudice cut ties with her brother, Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa Gorga. And Teresa has no plans to try and fix her relationship with her only sibling.
Plus Melissa and Teresa refuse to speak to each other, which made filming Season 14 of RHONJ awkward. And you know what else is awkward? Trying to watch one of my favorite franchises that is now so weird and off-balance. It is no surprise that Bravo decided not to film a reunion with a bunch of people who refuse to be near each other.
Teresa Giudice won’t give it one more try with her brother, Joe Gorga
Teresa was recently a guest on Live with Kelly and Mark, and she shared that there wasn’t a “path forward” with her brother. Host Kelly Ripa tried her best to help. “Can you move forward with your brother and Melissa, and hear me out. We have siblings and I understand sometimes there is no path forward, but don’t you ever think that maybe there could be a path forward?” Then Kelly, who is also a Jersey girl, encouraged Teresa and Joe to meet off-camera.
“We’ve done it so many times, Kelly,” Teresa replied. “And, you saw my parents — how I was raised — and there’s a lot of things that, you know, I’m not going to discuss, that happened.” She added, “And I always kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to upset my parents. And you know what, sometimes, you just can’t go back.”
Right now, Teresa feels “at peace” with her decision. “Listen, he’s happy with his, you know, wife and his family, and her family. I’m happy with my new husband,” Teresa stated.
Meanwhile, on a recent episode of RHONJ, Joe reflected on missing important events in Teresa’s daughters’ lives. “It makes me think of my sister and I say, ‘She won’t be at my kids’ weddings.’ My nieces will get married and I’m not gonna be there,” Joe said.
In the end, I feel bad for the Giudice and Gorga children, who are missing out on a relationship with their cousins. It’s a shame that Teresa and Joe couldn’t at least be cordial.
Real Housewives of New Jersey continues on Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.