Teresa Giudice may have been under attack amid production on the upcoming 12th season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. But according to the longtime reality star, it came as no surprise.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated premiere next month, Teresa said she knows exactly why her co-stars come for her while also addressing fiancé Luis Ruelas‘ thoughts about fame, his relationship with her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, and her daughter Gia Giudice‘s 21st birthday.
“Unfortunately, they all come for the top dog. They always come for me. But it’s okay. I know how to handle myself,” Teresa told Extra‘s Billy Bush of her castmates during a January 24 interview. “I’m the GOAT… When you come for the OG, then you get some relevance on the show, so that’s why they come for me, but it’s okay.”
While Billy suspected Teresa’s co-stars may be jealous of her happy relationship with Luis, she said she wasn’t so sure.
“I have no idea. [But] I think you should be happy for people when they’re happy,” she explained. “People should be happy for one another because I feel like when you’re happy for someone else, happiness comes for you… And not try to hurt other people.”
Although Luis has gotten a bad rap in recent months due to a series of unflattering reports shared against him, including a 2018 assault charge, Teresa assured Billy that he’s no celebrity hunter.
“He does not want the spotlight. He so didn’t want any of this,” she explained.
But that’s not to say he’s not supportive. In fact, Teresa said she’s “grateful” he’s been such a good sport.
“It’s hard meeting someone when you are in the public eye because… it’s not fun. You get scrutinized. That’s why I will do whatever it takes to protect him because this is not something he signed up for. He is a smart man and he handles himself very, very well,” she revealed.
Luis has also handled himself well with Joe, who he met in the Bahamas last year.
“Everything is great with [Joe]. He and Louie speaking on the phone, they get along great,” Teresa shared.
As for Gia’s recent birthday, Teresa said she and Luis had a blast with her oldest child in Miami.
“She asked me to go to Miami with her and party for her 21st birthday. And Luis and I went. We went clubbing with them. We had so much fun. It was so great,” she gushed.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 12 premieres on Tuesday, February 1, at 8/7c on Bravo.