Melissa Gorga is ready to move forward with her sister-in-law and longtime “Real Housewives of New Jersey” nemesis, Teresa Giudice — but this time, she wants to do it privately.
While promoting her upcoming episode of “Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition” on Bravo, the Envy boutique owner tells Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” that she hopes any reconciliation with Giudice, the sister of her husband Joe Gorga, won’t occur while cameras roll.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Melissa says, explaining that their relationship has always been defined by reality TV. “We haven’t ever had a chance to have anything private … so I’m going to keep this part private for right now.”
Melissa adds that she wants any progress to “be authentic and real,” noting, “We’ve never had that chance.”
The Let’s Sprinkle by MG founder’s comments come after Giudice recently told “Virtual Reali-Tea” that she was open to making peace with her brother and sister-in-law following years of public feuding. Joe, for his part, confirmed this month in an interview with “The Eds” podcast that he and Teresa had reestablished communication via text.
Prior to this development, Teresa’s relationship with the Gorgas had soured over multiple “RHONJ” seasons. The tension came to a head by the end of Season 14 — which finished airing in the summer of 2024 — and ultimately fractured the cast, contributing to the show’s current extended hiatus as producers determine its future.
Melissa insists she never wanted things to spiral to this point. “This was never a line that I was drawing in the sand,” she says. “The truth is, I’m always going to be Team Family. There’s no way I would ever not want that for Joe.”
Still, the mother of three admits that the idea of reconciling after so much history feels “shocking” at times. “I thought that I could never get there … I don’t know how any of this is happening,” Melissa says. “But it happens.”
As for whether she and Giudice might ever share the screen again when “RHONJ” resumes filming, Melissa emphasizes that would be a decision only Bravo can make.
She asserts that her motivation to mend fences has nothing to do with television — and everything to do with her kids. “I’m doing this for a more important reason,” says Melissa, who shares Antonia, 20, Gino, 18, and Joey, 15, with Joe.
“I would be willing to move on and try things, but to show my children that this is no way to live. This isn’t normal.”
Melissa hopes her children — who are close with her sisters and other relatives — can eventually have that same bond with Giudice’s daughters: Gia, 24, Gabriella, 21, Milania, 19, and Audriana, 16.
“This has to get fixed,” she says, highlighting the importance of family connection. “God forbid something ever happens. Everybody needs to be able to speak to one another.”
The Bravo star also stresses that real progress requires everyone involved to “take accountability,” herself included. “At some point, we’ve all said things out of anger,” she admits. “We’ll see what happens.”
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For now, fans can see a lighter side of Melissa on “Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition,” which offered her a rare chance to step outside the “Housewives” bubble and into the household of a family very different than hers.
Calling the experience “refreshing,” she says it allowed her to see her loved ones “in a different light.”
“Not only did I go live in a strange house with a stranger, but my kids had another woman in our home telling them what to do,” Melissa recalls with a laugh. “I truly had the greatest experience. I feel like I grew and learned a lot from it — and I loved the family we were paired with. It was perfection.”
“Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
