Teresa Giudice shut down claims that she only wants to reconcile with brother Joe Gorga because she is “desperate” to get back on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
The reality star shocked fans when she said she’d be open to a reunion with her estranged brother during her September 11 appearance on “Jeff Lewis Live.”
When host Jeff Lewis asked Giudice, 53, whether she could “co-exist” with Joe and his wife, Melissa Gorga, on the Bravo series, she replied, “Never say never, I think everyone can co-exist. Just put your big-girl panties on and be mature.”
Her peace offering came shortly after it was reported that several members of the “RHONJ” cast had started test filming without her, causing many fans to question her motives.
The author cleared up speculation that she is “desperate” to get back on the Bravo franchise on her “Turning The Tables” podcast Thursday.
“I’m not desperate. If Bravo doesn’t want me back I’m fine with that. If Bravo wants me back, I’ll be fine with that. I’m not just saying that because I’m desperate and I want my job back,” she said.
“Unfortunately, I know it’s crazy timing because there was stuff put out there that they were filming, but they’re not,” she claimed.
Giudice explained that there “are things that have happened that have changed [her] mind” about mending her relationship with Joe, 51, but is not willing to disclose them yet.
She also shared that she wants to extend an “olive branch” in order to “be a good example” for her four daughters because she is a “mom first.”
“Listen, we could rehash things. And then where’s that going to get us? Nowhere. Sometimes you can’t rehash things you just have to let the past go and move forward. A lot of people do look up to me out there and I want to be a good example for everyone.”
The Bravolebrity added that “people do change” and that she doesn’t hold on to the anger that she used to.
At one point during the episode, Giudice seemingly addressed Melissa’s response to her initial “olive branch” that came one day prior. Melissa had exclusively told Page Six that as far as she knew, Giudice’s “door has been closed.”
The mom of four did not address Melissa by name or her comments directly but said, “Right away, I see what she is saying, which is fine.”
Reps for Giudice were not immediately available to Page Six for comment.
Despite Giudice insisting that her intentions are pure, Melissa, 46, also questioned whether her sister-in-law’s olive branch has to do with the current hiatus of their Bravo show during Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” Awards on Wednesday.
“[Giudice] has said out loud on multiple platforms, podcasts, whatever it might be, that the door is closed. So, the truth is, I’m just confused why it might be opening or cracking a little bit,” Melissa said.
“Neither of us have had any contact in probably two years at this point, so that’s just so strange to come out with that out of nowhere,” the Envy store owner added.
Cameras reportedly picked back up last month with a few familiar faces from the last season of “RHONJ.”
“Some of the ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ cast have test-filmed,” a source recently told Us Weekly. “There are potential new cast members who filmed with Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania and Melissa Gorga in mid-August.”
But Giudice adamantly shut down rumors of production starting without her, telling Entertainment Tonight earlier this month, “Obviously they’re not, because if they were filming, it would actually be out there. So it’s just speculation and people putting stories out there.”
“You really can’t believe anything you read unless Bravo is saying it,” she concluded.