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Teresa Giudice revealed the treaty she made with her sister-in-law, Melissa Gorga, as Melissa hinted at the “awkwardness” of their holiday gathering last year. Plus, Melissa and her husband, Joe Gorga, addressed rumors that their reconciliation with Teresa was a ploy to get back on Real Housewives of New Jersey.
On the latest season of RHONJ, Melissa and Teresa barely filmed together amid their family feud. The show was later put on hiatus. Nearly two years later, Teresa, Melissa, and Joe buried the hatchet and agreed to move on. Recently, Bravo announced that RHONJ was coming back with Teresa, Melissa, and Dolores Catania.
On Turning the Tables, Teresa revealed the pact she and Melissa made.
“We both told each other, any bloggers out there that are saying anything negative — we’re both going to unfollow them,” said Teresa. “If anyone’s saying anything negative about my brother or Melissa, like, I’m unfollowing them. [And] vice versa.”
Teresa said the family now has a united front.
“Because … we are a force,” she explained. “We don’t want any negativity. And I think that’s the way we should be going forward.”
On Casual Chaos with Gia Giudice, Melissa recalled the families’ first holiday gathering last year, shortly after they reconciled.
“I feel like there was a little awkwardness. Not so much with Teresa and Louie and I and Joe. It was the girls,” said Melissa, referring to her and Teresa’s respective daughters. “I think everyone was just feeling it out. And then as the night went on, everyone was like, oh no, this is normal. We’re all family.”
Joe then called it a “shame” that they “lost all those years” and memories.
“We can’t ever let this happen again,” said Melissa.
“Never,” said Joe.
As for the reconciliation itself, Joe said he was as surprised as the fans. (Last fall, amid their years-long feud, Teresa sent Joe a text in hopes of peace.)
“I was like, ‘Is this real? This is my sister.’ I was very confused,” he stated, via Us Weekly. “Took me a minute. I’m like, ‘Is this a joke?’”
“It took me a little minute to make it comprehend and sink in,” said Joe of Teresa’s text. “I answered her right away. That’s exactly what I wanted, because it’s not me. I always want her in my life. … But she pushed me away, and she had to. She had rights. Whatever she was going through in life, and I can’t blame her, because she went through a lot of things in life.”
Joe described it as “the best moment.”
“It was a great moment to receive that text,” he explained. “When we met it was just like, ‘Listen, I love you. I don’t want to hear nothing. … I don’t even care. It’s over. Let’s move on.’ And that’s what we have to do. Move on. And that’s it. Not bring up the past. The past is over. It’s done, it’s gone. It’s behind us. But we are older now, we are smarter now. We’re all more mature.”
At this point, Melissa claimed she felt “nervous” about meeting up, though Joe didn’t feel the same.
“I have no anger inside me. I just wanted to make up. I don’t care, it’s over,” Joe expressed. “I wasn’t nervous. I was just happy. Let’s all get together.”
Regarding the claim that they reconciled for the show, Melissa stated, “We’re not good actors.”
“How can you fake this s***?” Joe agreed.
“We’re not good at putting on a show, because we all just, like, spit it out,” said Melissa. Gia and Joe expressed that Teresa also “can’t fake it.”
Later on, Melissa addressed how RHONJ is finally returning. “Jersey’s back, baby,” she said.
“And you guys are going to see a united family,” said Gia.
“Thank you, Jesus,” said Melissa.