Melissa Gorga and her husband Joe revealed they no longer have a relationship with their former brother-in-law and Real Housewives of New Jersey castmate, Joe Giudice. The couple made a conscious decision to distance themselves. This came after he left prison and was deported to Italy.
Melissa joined the Bravo reality series in 2011 for season three with some tension between her and her sister-in-law Teresa Giudice, who has been apart of the show since season one. Melissa and Joe became infamous characters on the show after the huge brawl between him, Teresa, and her ex-husband Joe. The fight began after Teresa gave an insincere congratulations to Joe and Melissa regarding their son Joey's christening. Even though the family has since made amends, it has been difficult for Gorga to forgive Giudice for what he has done to their family.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 41-year-old told the publication that she and her husband no longer speak to Joe Giudice since his divorce to Teresa was finalized. "We have no relationship with him," she said, adding, "We don't talk." Melissa and Joe felt it was in the best interest of their family to keep a distance from Giudice now that he has been deported to Italy. "[Giudice and Gorga] have bumped heads forever, and it's just like, what's the point?" she admitted. "It's easier to keep the peace from a distance." The Joe's have had a long, tumultuous relationship over the years. Giudice has made several inappropriate comments about Melissa on RHONJ over the years, plus Gorga has referred to him as the reason why his mother died so early in life. Especially now that Teresa and Joe are no more, it doesn't make sense for the couple to keep in contact. "I wish him well, I know his daughters love him so much and I wish him well, but we really just don't have a relationship," Melissa concluded.
Although the drama between the Joe's has not disappeared now that they live on different continents. The new trailer for the upcoming season of RHONJ shows Gorga becoming enraged when he found out Giudice had been talking about him to the press, claiming to have dirt on his marriage and his business. "How dare him say he's got dirt on me?" Gorga says in the season 11 trailer. The fight gets heated later on when it is brought up at dinner, as Teresa does not seem to be taking her brother's side. "You're going to defend him?" Gorga shouts at Teresa. "F--- that piece of s---. He put my mother in a f---ing grave. Do you understand that?" Looking back on the moment, Melissa reveals she is done sticking up for Teresa as she feels they are always doing or saying something wrong. Even though she and Teresa always go back and forth, Melissa will always have love her. "We're fine. It's always been what it's been. We go back and forth with each other," she revealed. "I think as a family we do a good job of being on reality TV and keeping it together."
Will Teresa finally understand her brother's side now that she is no longer with Juicy Joe? Melissa and Joe should not have to deal with their brother-in-law's antics now that they are no longer in contact. Hopefully, Teresa will see what damage her former husband has done and be on better terms with her brother.
Sources: PEOPLE