The ex-girlfriend of Rachel Fuda‘s husband, John Fuda, is speaking out about her relationship with their son, 16-year-old Jaiden.
As Rachel continues to pursue a potential adoption of the child on recent episodes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, former bartender Brittany Malsch, who is currently serving prison time at a halfway house in Paterson, is accusing John of banning her seeing their son and explaining why she gave up her custodial rights over a decade ago.
In a prison interview with The U.S. Sun on April 5, Brittany, who lost custody in 2011, claimed that while she saw Jaiden “periodically up until 2017,” John has refused to allow her contact in the years since.
“I’ve tried to get in touch with my son, but John won’t let me. Since I’ve gone to prison, John has prevented me from speaking and seeing him whatsoever. This was not my choice,” she explained. “When I’m out of here, I’ll have to get a lawyer because he won’t let me see him.”
According to the report, Brittany will be eligible for release in September 2023, but she could remain behind bars until October 2024.
In recent years, Brittany has faced a slew of charges, including burglary, money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute crystal meth. But amid her legal struggles, Brittany said she made the “extremely selfless decision” to give up her parental rights “for Jaiden’s own good.”
After a four-year relationship, including a two-year engagement, John and Brittany parted ways in 2009. Then, eight years later, after meeting in 2015, John and Rachel, who share two-year-old daughter Gianella and one-year-old daughter Giuliana, tied the knot.
Speaking of RHONJ, Brittany said she first discovered Jaiden was appearing on the show from a friend.
“I think it’s great. I love it,” she said of her son’s role. “He’s amazing.”
As for John, Brittany said it was “extremely comical” seeing him and noted that “he acts the same as always.”
Brittany went on to say that while she doesn’t know Rachel well enough to form an opinion, she’s “not surprised” that Rachel wants to adopt her son.
“It doesn’t surprise me one bit. I knew they would, so I was expecting it,” Brittany revealed. “I actually predicted this would happen when I first heard about them being on the show. John will take any opportunity to make himself look better by making me look worse. But I’m unfazed by what others say and think.”
On a recent episode of RHONJ, John was seen discussing Rachel’s potential adoption of Jaiden with his wife.
“It’s not easy, it takes time. You have to go in front of a judge. The judge then signs a petition, but you know there’s a process of possibly contacting his biological mother,” he explained. “She probably would have to sign off.”
“I don’t really feel like dealing with [Brittany],” he added.
And, as the couple meets with an adoption counselor on a future episode, they learn Brittany could get in the way of Jaiden’s adoption.
“If Jaiden’s mother objects, she would have a right to an appointed attorney,” the counselor tells them.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 13 airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.