The Real Housewives of New Jersey has had its fair share of arguments and feuds over the years, but none has been more volatile than Teresa Giudice and her sister-in-law Melissa Gorga.
Teresa has appeared on RHONJ since the very first season. Melissa, who is married to Teresa’s brother Joe Gorga, joined in the third season of the Bravo franchise. The reality tv show has closely followed their ups and downs, which have been more negative in recent years. While Teresa and Melissa’s history goes a lot further back than the show, it appears their time on Real Houswives has only more negatively impacted their relationship.
“I think the root of a lot of our problems is just that if Teresa says black, I say white,” Melissa explained with People about her relationship with Teresa.
“We may seem similar, but we are extremely different people.”
Teresa Giudice Once Set Melissa Gorga Up For Humiliation With ‘Strippergate’
Via Bravo
Early in Melissa Gorga’s appearance on RHONJ, rumors emerged that Melissa worked as a stripper in her youth. Teresa Giudice and former cast member Kim D threw heat on the fire by trying to bring Melissa’s former employer onto the show.
Teresa attempted to comfort her sister-in-law at the Porsche fashion show but, in fact, made the situation worse. She asked Melissa how she knew Angelo Vrohidis, the man who alleged Melissa once danced for him at a New Jersey gentleman’s club. Angelo was then overhead telling people about Kim D and Teresa’s plan to set up Melissa.
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RHONJ star Jacqueline Laurita even received text messages about the plan to set up Melissa. “I can’t help but think Kim D had a huge part in this,” fumed Melissa, when she realized her co-stars had been working on setting her up for weeks. “With Kim D setting me up, does Teresa mean to tell me she had no idea this was going on? I’m sorry, it’s not adding up.”
Melissa admitted she worked as a bartender in a strip club for a short period of time but has never worked as a stripper. “I never believed Melissa was a stripper, but it just seems like a coinkie-dink.” Teresa declared.
Once Teresa’s brother, Joe Gorga, learned about what happened, things became even more heated. He sent a message to Teresa reading “you are dead to me,” and the sibling’s relationship never quite recovered.
Why Teresa Giudice And Melissa Gorga’s Feud Exists
Teresa Giudice told Kelly Ripa in a television interview that the drama with her sister-in-law happened long before Real Housewives. The iconic reality TV star believes Melissa only maintained a relationship with Teresa’s brother to appease her parents.
Although they officially joined in season 3, Joe and Melissa appeared in the season premiere where they called Teresa “garbage” at Joe’s son’s christening. This led to the iconic brawl between Joe Gorga and Teresa’s then-husband, Joe Giudice. Teresa and Melissa don’t interact on the show, Teresa explains her hatred of Melissa for taking her brother away from her.
“I totally blacked out after my brother told me to get out of his face or whatever he said. It’s sad that my children were there; it’s sad that my parents were there,” said Teresa about the christening fight.
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Another incident that is often mentioned on Real Housewives of New Jersey is Teresa not visiting Melissa in hospital after giving birth to her child. Then there was the infamous time Teresa threw away the cooking Melissa brought for her. This incident is frequently brought up and joked about on RHONJ.
Teresa claims her brother and sister-in-law weren’t supportive of her and her family during their legal issues. She accused Joe of only visiting her in jail when the cameras were rolling. Melissa rebutted by claiming her husband was not put on the visitor list. In the season 13 reunion, Teresa revealed she believes Joe and Melissa reported her and her husband, Joe Giudice, to the authorities.
How Teresa Giudice And Melissa Gorga’s Rivalry Affects RHONJ
Via Bravo
Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga’s feud caused a delay in filming the 14th season of RHONJ. During the season 13 RHONJ reunion, Teresa vowed to never film with her brother and sister-in-law again, and she lived up to her word. The pair continue to not speak to each other in season 14 and seem to not want to mend their relationship.
Teresa admits she has no interest in filming with Melissa again. On an appearance with Live with Kelly and Mark, Teresa admits she can’t forgive the Gorgas for “going against the family.”
Without a relationship with Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga was relegated to a side character on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
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Teresa Giudice received a 15 month prison sentence for bank fraud, but she thinks it was a fake Real Housewives scene that sparked the investigation.
RHONJ season 14 did not get a reunion, the first time the franchise ended without one. Tensions had reportedly gotten so high during the explosive finale that getting the cast back together for the annual sit-down reunion with Andy Cohen was not an option. Instead, the cast filmed two watch parties where they viewed the last episode in separate rooms. Melissa was joined by Margaret Josephs, Rachel Fuda, Danielle Cabral and Jennifer Fessler, while Teresa, watched the finale with Jennifer Aydin and Jackie Goldschneider.
Rumors are that if the show returns, it will be rebooted with a very different cast. It’s not certain if Melissa or Teresa will both return, as the pair seem to not want to interact or film with each other.
“I am excited to see what’s next and where this show goes from here.”
“Listen, I’m excited for what’s to come. I think we are due for some type of change. I don’t know what kind of change, but I am excited to see what happens,” Melissa told Page Six, although she admits she does not know about her future on the show.