It had to be seen to be believed, but Teresa Giudice might have extended the olive branch for her brother and sister-in-law on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
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It went down at RP Prime Steakhouse, where Teresa and Luis “Louie” Ruelas planned to meet with their nemeses, Rachel Fuda and John Fuda, in Season 14, Episode 6. But before the foursome could attempt to hash out their issues, Teresa wanted to clarify that a boxed liquor she and Louie brought to the restaurant — topped with a curly, iridescent bow and a card — was for neither one of them.
“Oh, by the way, that’s for my brother,” Teresa pointed to the gift. “Jackie [Goldschneider] told me he was having a housewarming party, if you guys can bring it to him.”
The Fudas said they would present Teresa’s gift to Joe Gorga and Melissa Gorga, with John adding that the Gorgas were at least partially why they agreed to the sit-down.
“That’s one of the reasons that I’m sitting down today, is out of respect for your brother, by the way,” said John. “He’s a good guy.”
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Why is Teresa feuding with Joe and Melissa?
The sibling rivalry runs deep between Teresa and her brother and sister-in-law, dating back to the infamous family christening brawl in the Season 3 premiere. In an interview with E! News, Melissa warned fans ahead of Season 14 that her recent estrangement from Teresa was “refreshing.”
“It’s such a different season, and it’s refreshing, especially for me,” explained Melissa. “I just feel like there’s a weight lifted off my shoulders not to have that family drama be the center of it all.”
Things have been particularly sour since the Season 13 RHONJ finale and subsequent reunion when Louie was accused of hiring “one of the most famous private investigators in the country” to sift through the skeletons in his castmates’ closets.
To make matters worse, as featured earlier in Season 14, Jennifer Fessler claimed those not part of Team Teresa (and by default Team Louie) gathered ahead of the explosive reunion to plan a counterattack against Teresa and her new husband.
“It was, like, a get-together to say, ‘We’re walking into this sh-t show. When they come at us with this, we can come back at them with, whatever, X, Y, Z,’” Jennifer said.
Did Teresa and Louie make up with the Fudas?
In short, there was no reconciliation between the two pairs since Teresa called John “the biggest drug dealer in Bergen County” in the season premiere. Although Teresa has since reiterated that she didn’t believe John was “currently” dealing drugs, the Fudas acknowledged John’s past, claiming Teresa had no right to “put that into the universe,” according to Rachel.
“If you heard that I called you a drug dealer currently, I’m sorry you heard that,” Teresa told John.
The Valet King businessman chose to “redirect” the conversation once Teresa said the information was already out there, reportedly from the mouth of John’s ex. He admitted that he sold marijuana as a juvenile, noting that the drug was now legal in New Jersey and Teresa had “no right” to weaponize his past.
But when Teresa demanded John apologize to her and Louie for attempting to "ruin his reputation," things quickly went downhill. John said Teresa wasn’t being "authentic" with her apology before he and Rachel got up from the table and left.
Teresa got another dig in by calling him “John Fugazi” on his way out.
“Just remember, you’re the poster child for mortgage fraud,” John said while turning with a smile and a wave. “When I need my money laundered, I'll call you."
That said, John did remember to take Teresa’s gift with him for the Gorgas.
More to come as Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey continues, airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.
