Melissa Gorga finally gave Teresa Giudice the apology she had waited years to hear, but she still had one thing to say. Their RHONJ family feud had cooled, yet the casting decision that sparked it remained a point of contention.
The conversation unfolded during the supersized RHUGT: Roaring 20th finale at Bluestone Manor. With Season 15 approaching, Teresa and Melissa revisited the long-running conflict surrounding Melissa’s casting on RHONJ.
Teresa accepted Melissa’s apology before their RHONJ family feud produced one final pointed exchange
According to Bravo, Andy Cohen pulled Teresa and Melissa aside during the finale party. He explained that Melissa’s 2011 RHONJ casting was at the root of the family feud, which also involved Joe Gorga. Teresa remembered Melissa joining the show “behind [her] back.” Melissa recalled telling Teresa she was “going to audition” and receiving a “good luck” text in return. Teresa strongly disputed that version.
“Absolutely not. She did not text me before the audition. No f–kin’ way,” Teresa said. She also explained that Bravo had called her and that she never wanted to film a reality show with her family. After old RHONJ footage revisited Teresa’s years of family drama, Andy offered an apology. “I’m sorry that you had that experience,” he told her. Teresa replied, “Thank you for saying that. That meant a lot to me.”
Melissa followed with an apology of her own. “I know that you felt like you were here first — and you were — and it was your thing,” she said. “And then, I took an opportunity that they offered me. And I apologize to you.” She also reminded Teresa, “You were here first, and I will never not say that to you.”
Teresa accepted the apology and said she had already moved on. Melissa, however, had one final point. “I don’t need to let it go; you do,” she said. The pair eventually hugged it out, with Teresa promising, “I swear to you, I will never put the kids through this again.” Melissa said she wanted their reconciliation to last.
Reality Blurb later reported that Teresa discussed the moment on WWHL. “I accept the apologies, so thank you so much. I was like, ‘Wow, it took 20 years,’” she said. She also said she had been tipsy and did not fully remember the apologies happening. Teresa called her RHUGT sisterhood the season’s “rose,” while being away from Luis Ruelas and her kids was her “thorn.” She also named RHONJ Season 1 her favorite and said she was thrilled to reunite with Jacqueline Laurita.
Ahead of Season 15, Teresa had already said, “Melissa and I are in a good place.” The reconciliation will now carry into RHONJ Season 15.
