New beginnings? ‘RHONJ’ star Melissa Gorga hints at possible family reunion with Kathy Wakile after years of feud
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Melissa Gorga, renowned for her role on 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' (RHONJ), has sparked hopes of a family reunion with her recent comments about her cousin-in-law, Kathy Wakile. The two families, who have been estranged for years, might find a path to reconciliation now that Kathy and her husband, Richie Wakile, are moving closer.
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, Melissa revealed that Kathy and Richie have bought a lot on her street and are starting construction on their new home. “They are building a house diagonal from me — across the street — on my street,” she shared. This unexpected development has given Melissa hope for mending the fractured family ties.
Melissa elaborated on the past relationship between her husband, Joe Gorga, and Kathy, noting that there was once a strong bond between them. “I do think that he regrets, you know, he did what he had to do at the time to back his sister up and do what he had to do, but I really think he enjoyed Kathy,” Melissa said.
She added, “Kathy was a good cousin to him. She took care of him. He had a great relationship with [Kathy’s sister] Rosie.” “I secretly hope Joe and Kathy are walking down the street one day and bump into each other,” she admitted, emphasizing that at the end of the day, “Kathy’s a good person.”
She hopes that Joe and Kathy will reconnect, noting that Joe is an emotional person who wears his heart on his sleeve. “I think deep down inside, he wants it too,” she shared. “It’s hard. He comes from a place where he feels like he has to please. He felt like he had to please people his whole life.”
What is the feud between Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile?
The feud between Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile and both families joined 'RHONJ' in season three without informing Teresa Giudice, Joe Gorga’s sister, which created an initial rift as Teresa saw this as a betrayal. Over the years, Joe and Melissa consistently sided with Teresa during conflicts, which strained their relationship with Kathy and Richie Wakile.
While Melissa and Joe remained on the show, Kathy was phased out after season five, leading to feelings of resentment. Kathy recently criticized Melissa and Joe for allegedly altering their behavior to stay relevant on the show, claiming she refused to manufacture drama for the sake of TV.
Melissa's comments about regretting their distance from Kathy have been contradictory, with past statements suggesting the Wakiles were "sour" about their departure. This inconsistency has fueled tension between the two families.
Why were the Wakiles fired by Bravo after ‘RHONJ’ season 5?
The Wakiles, Kathy and Richie, were fired from Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' primarily due to their lack of dramatic storylines that the show thrives on. Kathy was part of the main cast for three seasons but was demoted to a part-time role in seasons six and seven before being completely dropped.
Insiders suggest that Kathy's refusal to fabricate drama or alter her behavior for the show played a role in her exit. She criticized other cast members for manufacturing conflicts to stay relevant. Ultimately, Bravo decided to focus on more controversial and dramatic personalities to maintain high ratings, which led to the Wakiles' departure from the show.
