Credit: Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo
While The Real Housewives of New Jersey has been on hiatus since season 14 stopped airing in August 2024, Reality Blurb has exclusively learned that three of the cast members have already been confirmed to return for season 15.
Yesterday, a post on X surfaced claiming Andy Cohen was set to have a meeting to discuss the show and finalize the cast.
In the wake of that post, an insider spoke out to reveal what’s going on.
“It is true that the cast is being finalized and there finally is movement on the RHONJ front,” a source dished. “And three of the prior cast members have already been told they’re returning to the show.”
So, who are the returning three?
“Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, and Dolores Catania are absolutely coming back,” the insider claimed.
“Fans long believed it would either be Teresa or Melissa due to all of the tension and issues that arose during season 14 with them refusing to talk to one another, but Bravo ended up bringing them both back,” they continued. “It absolutely helps that they made up off-camera and are now getting along as a family unit. Bravo stressed during the last season that something needed to change and the cast could not go on like this.”
The source noted that both Teresa and Melissa have “legions of fans” and thus Bravo knew cutting either of them “wouldn’t make sense.”
“As far as Dolores goes, she’s always been neutral, but she’s absolutely a fan and network favorite,” they noted. “Bravo put her on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island not only because they enjoy her, but also due to her popularity. She’s easy to work with, pleasant, and was the only person able to navigate the very split cast of season 14 of RHONJ without taking sides.”
When it comes to other cast members from season 14, the source confirmed that “Jennifer Aydin and Rachel Fuda are definitely gone.”
“With Margaret Josephs and Danielle Cabral there hasn’t been confirmation yet,” they shared. “And that’s likely part of what Andy will be finalizing, along with adding some new faces production and the network feel will integrate well.”
The source added there’s also a strong chance long-standing friend of the franchise, Kim DePaola, who was last seen on the show during season eight, could be “potentially making a return.”
“Kim was recently invited by Andy to come on Watch What Happens Live next week,” the insider spilled. “She will be promoting her book My Life With The Big Boys, but there could be a bigger play here, and the timing is quite interesting.”
The source noted Kim has “never been a bartender on the show” nor has she “sat in a seat” before.
“While she’s made guest appearances, this is definitely raising eyebrows, as people are buzzing about what it means and if she will actually be going back to the show,” the source elaborated. “Signs are pointing toward yes, because why else would Andy suddenly have her on Watch What Happens Live right on the cusp of him finalizing the RHONJ cast?”
“If that’s not the case,” they concluded, “she should be coming back to the show, as she is actually friends with everyone from the cast in real life and would completely make sense to be back in the mix.”