Teresa Giudice is speaking out about the toxicity circulating on the internet.
In a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday, July 24, The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 52, called for online bullying to end and demanded that people stop spreading rumors about the RHONJ cast.
“I have been on The Real Housewives of New Jersey for the last 14 seasons and during that time I have seen and been a part of my fair share of drama with my cast mates,” she wrote. “What is happening off camera on social media, is absolutely disgusting and is fueled by toxic people who are not affiliated with the show or cast and are only interested in promoting themselves by spreading their hate through false narratives and lies.”
“It has affected all of us on the cast and our families,” she continued, referencing costars Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral, Rachel Fuda, Jackie Goldschneider and Jenn Fessler. “They are attacking our children, going after our businesses and they are turning something that is supposed to be entertainment into something very dark and toxic.”
She concluded: “This hate and toxicity has to stop. I am asking everyone to stop engaging in any negativity towards my cast mates and all our families. Enough is enough.”
Giudice signed off the message with “Love Love Love,” and turned the comments section off so no one could share their opinions under the post.
The cast of ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’.
Bravo Media
Though she did not outwardly say it, Giudice appears to be referencing the scandal erupting on social media in which a former troll account, currently named MelissasOldNose, claimed that Giudice and Aydin asked her and other accounts to dig up dirt and expose their costars, including Gorga, Fuda and Josephs.
The account has even shared alleged screenshots of direct messages with Giudice and Aydin, showing that she was given screeners to episodes before they aired (and, allegedly, gifts and financial compensation).
Giudice, 51, previously denied any involvement, telling Entertainment Tonight: “I don’t do that. Everyone who knows me, I am so real. Like, what you see is what you get and I don’t go digging up people’s pasts.”
Aydin, 47, also addressed the claims in an interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live July 14. “All bloggers out there start out as fans, and we are very good to our fans. Some get more invested than others… [the big lesson is] don’t talk to anybody, don’t talk to bloggers, don’t be so candid and naive and think you’re being nice to them in an attempt to not make them not like you and just say I’m not dealing with you anymore.”
“Nobody is innocent here, everybody talks to bloggers, Andy,” she added. “Mine is just being put on blast. But I will say theirs is being put on blast too. It’s just too hard to follow and who cares at this point?”
Amid the drama unfolding behind the scenes, fans have also watched a fractured season of RHONJ in front of Bravo cameras. Estranged sisters-in-law Giudice and Gorga haven’t interacted all season despite filming at the same events and drama between the other stars (like Cabral and Aydin’s physical altercation) has driven the cast further apart, with some even choosing sides.
PEOPLE also recently confirmed there wouldn’t be a traditional reunion for season 14, instead gathering the cast in two groups to watch the finale episode on camera.
The finale, filmed at Rails Steakhouse, is said to have many bombshell moments that end in a full on fireworks display between the cast. In fact, the RHONJ premiere began with a preview of the ending, with a defeated Catania sitting amongst rubble at a table alone, pondering how things got so bad between everyone.
Still, Giudice is certain fans will still be satisfied with the ending of the season.
“You’ll see the truth,” the mother of four told PEOPLE just days before her