The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Frank Catania is weighing in on the swirling rumors that Teresa Giudice may not return for Season 15 of the hit Bravo series.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Lisa Alastuey Podcast, the disbarred attorney addressed the speculation head-on.
“I’ve heard the same [speculation] about Teresa being asked to leave, as opposed to being fired,” Frank revealed during the podcast. “But it’s a shame because, you know, I see Teresa landing someplace. Because Teresa, across all the franchises, is probably the most recognizable ‘Housewife’ in the world.”
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Teresa Giudice, 52, has long been at the center of rumors suggesting her departure from RHONJ, though she has consistently denied any intentions of leaving the show. Despite the ongoing chatter, Catania offered his perspective on the future of the series, hinting at potential changes on the horizon.
“I suspect that they are going to be dropping off some people and bringing additional new people in as well as keeping some people on,” he theorized. “You can’t continue the way we’re doing it now because right now it is basically two separate shows.”
Frank’s comments seem to reflect the deep divisions within the current cast, particularly the ongoing feud between Teresa and her sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga. The pair have filmed together minimally since the explosive Season 13 reunion in 2023, creating a noticeable rift within the show.
“You got a reality show where half the cast can’t — won’t film together with the other half of the cast. How are you supposed to have a reality show?” Frank questioned, highlighting the challenges of maintaining the series’ cohesion.
Beyond the speculation about Teresa’s future on RHONJ, Frank also reflected on how he believes she has changed in recent years, attributing much of the transformation to her relationship with her husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas.
“She’s changed. In my opinion, she has changed since Louie’s been around,” Frank told Alastuey. “She’s just not herself. Not the Teresa I grew up with.”
Frank and Teresa share a long history, having been friends since childhood. Their bond deepened further when the disbarred lawyer coached Teresa for her bodybuilding competition in 2019, a period during which Frank expressed admiration for her dedication.
“Teresa is an animal and that’s in a good way. I did not think that Teresa had it in her,” Frank told Page Six after the competition. “I don’t think the woman ever slept. And in between all this, she’s taking care of her daughters and she’s obviously filming and handling all of her other ventures. I was pleasantly surprised by Teresa.”
However, despite his longstanding friendship with Teresa, Frank has not shied away from expressing his disappointment with her husband, Ruelas. During the Season 13 reunion of RHONJ, Frank voiced his frustrations, particularly after Ruelas allegedly shut down his business without informing Catania’s son, Frankie, who worked for him.
“I have a problem with Luis,” Frank stated during the reunion, pointing to the negative impact he believes Ruelas has had on the show’s dynamic. “There have been such angry, angry arguments in this show, and it has never, ever gotten to the point it has gotten to right now. And the only thing different is Luis.”
Ruelas, who married Teresa in August 2022, has been a polarizing figure among the cast, with some attributing the heightened tensions on the show to his presence. As the future of RHONJ remains uncertain, fans are left wondering how these dynamics will play out in the seasons to come.
Whether or not Teresa remains a part of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Frank’s insights suggest that significant changes could be on the horizon for the long-running reality series.