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Teresa Giudice Clarifies Her “Chosen Family” Comment at Her Housewarming Party
The drama stems from the latest episode of RHONJ, during which Melissa Gorga attended Teresa's housewarming get-together while Joe Gorga chose not to go.
Joe Gorga skipped out on Teresa Giudice and Luis “Louie” Ruelas’ housewarming party on the February 28 episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, leaving Melissa Gorga to attend on her own. However, it wasn’t long before she was back home with her husband.
Melissa’s departure came after Teresa and Louie’s welcome speech, during which Teresa said, in part, “You guys are our chosen family. Everyone here is really special to us… We love you from the bottom of our heart.”
The “chosen family” remark is what Melissa apparently took issue with. “I just don’t get it, these subtle digs,” she said in a confessional. “Like, her ‘chosen family’? What about all the people who have been here for so many years when she was away, driving the girls to dance? I was the one pulling up to her house. It all means nothing. And I just know that Joe’s home, very upset.”
Melissa eventually broke down in tears, and while Teresa wasn’t aware that her sister-in-law was upset at the time, she’s now responding to her reaction.
“Why would it upset [her]? I was saying everybody there was my chosen family. Like, I was thanking them for coming,” Teresa told Access Hollywood. “I consider them family, they’re my closest friends. The only family member I have is my brother, and he wasn’t there. And Melissa’s my family, but I didn’t think I said anything bad.”
Teresa went on to explain that the term “chosen family” didn’t even come to her organically. Instead, she had recently heard one of her friends use it. “I went to another party… she said a speech and she said, ‘I want to thank my family for being here, and everyone else here is my chosen family.’”
“I got so taken from that,” Teresa added.
As for Joe, he made the decision not to attend his sister’s party after she had reached out and asked him to “make peace.”
“I feel like she really doesn’t want me there. I feel like it’s just a game and I don’t wanna feel uncomfortable,” Joe said in a confessional. “It’s the worst feeling to walk into your own family’s home and you feel uncomfortable. It sucks, man. I’m tired of that. I can’t fake it.”
While delivering the news that he wouldn’t be joining Melissa at the party, he said, “Listen, I really can’t go tonight. I’m really not ready to come.”
Watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bravo Tuesdays at 9/8c and the next day on Peacock. Catch up on the Bravo app.
