In the latest chapter of a deeply fractured family saga, Lauren Manzo is speaking out following an emotional podcast appearance by her cousin, Lexi Loannou — daughter of former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Manzo.
Lauren Manzo Speaks Out on Family Fallout After Dina Manzo’s Daughter Lexi Goes Public; Denies Ignoring Her 10
Lexi recently appeared on Gia Giudice’s podcast, where she opened up about the painful fallout between her family and Caroline Manzo’s side — particularly surrounding the controversial support Caroline offered to Tommy Manzo, Dina’s ex-husband, who was later convicted in connection with a violent home invasion in 2017.
What struck listeners most wasn’t just the complicated legal and family history, but Lexi’s emotional recounting of being ignored during a time of desperate need. She claimed she reached out to her cousins — including Lauren Manzo — begging for help retrieving personal belongings left behind at Tommy’s property, following his incarceration. Lexi said her pleas went unanswered.
“I was on my knees begging for help,” Lexi said during the interview. “I didn’t even want to get into the betrayal that I had dealt with from them… I just stopped hearing from them. It’s like they just didn’t even care.”
Now, Lauren Manzo is setting the record straight — and she’s not staying silent.
In a public statement, Lauren responded directly to the claims that she had ignored Lexi’s request:
“I do not have a relationship with my uncle and I was told I was not allowed to access the house,” Lauren explained. “I went myself to the garage sale and tried to get back her things and was kicked out. I was on private property that wasn’t my uncle’s house. I could not break into the home to get her those things. I tried everything.”
Lauren Manzo Speaks Out on Family Fallout After Dina Manzo’s Daughter Lexi Goes Public; Denies Ignoring Her 11
Lauren’s comments offer a sharply different view from Lexi’s portrayal — one in which she did make an effort, but was stopped by legal and physical barriers. Her response highlights the complex dynamics at play: estranged relationships, limited access, and the challenge of navigating loyalty amid a fractured family history. Lauren later responded to another listener asking if she was supposed to break in.
Lauren Manzo Speaks Out on Family Fallout After Dina Manzo’s Daughter Lexi Goes Public; Denies Ignoring Her 12
Lexi also expressed heartbreak over her strained relationship with Lauren specifically. “She’s the closest thing I’ll ever have in this lifetime to a sister,” Lexi said, suggesting that the emotional toll of their falling-out runs deeper than a single incident.
Lauren said she never ignored Lexi and has texts to prove it.
Lauren Manzo Speaks Out on Family Fallout After Dina Manzo’s Daughter Lexi Goes Public; Denies Ignoring Her 13
While Lauren didn’t directly address the emotional aspects of Lexi’s statement in her response, her assertion that she “tried everything” suggests that, at least from her perspective, the situation was never as simple as ignoring a cry for help.
