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‘RHONJ’ fans take aim at Joe and Melissa Gorga for picking sides in epic feud

'RHONJ star Teresa Giudice alleged that Margaret Josephs had been collaborating with Luis Ruelas's ex-fiancee solely to harm her family

MONTVILLE, NEW JERSEY: During 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' Season 14, Episode 12, the feud between Teresa Giudice and Margaret Josephs became a major talking point among the cast members.

The tension reached a boiling point when Teresa accused Margaret of deliberately trying to damage her husband Luis Ruelas's reputation. For those unfamiliar, Luis has been involved in a legal battle with his ex-fiancee, Vanessa Reiser, for the past three years.

Teresa alleged that Margaret had been working with Luis's ex-fiancee solely to harm her family. This explosive revelation set the stage for even more drama in the episodes to come.

In contrast, Teresa's brother, Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa Gorga, decided to support Margaret amid the ongoing feud with Teresa. This decision has drawn criticism from fans who believe that family loyalty should come first and that Joe and Melissa should have stood by Teresa, their blood relative, rather than siding with Margaret.

On X, one fan said, "This woman was (allegedly) stalking your sister, brother-in-law and nieces, was in contact with a cast member or two wanting to ruin your sister’s life and you still stand against them? Joe and Melissa are the absolute worst! #RHONJ"

Another fan added, "At one point is it too much. This mess went beyond regular reality tv fodder. The lady was going too far and Joey should have a problem with that…" A user went on to say, "They are disgusting."

One fan wrote, "I blame Joe Gorga more. Mel will always hate Tre. Joe, regardless of how he feels about Teresa should have stepped up for his nieces in my opinion. He should have had words with Marge. Wrong is wrong and he should have reached out to the girls. All of this goes beyond a TV show."

Another fan added, "Trash they need to go joe Gorga when he closes his eyes at night I hope he knows how disappointed they are of him garbage."

Will Teresa Giudice reconcile with brother Joe Gorga after their long-standing family feud?

For over a decade, viewers have watched Teresa Giudice navigate the complexities of her familial relationships with her brother, Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa Gorga, on 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey.' 

Throughout 12 seasons of the show, tensions, misunderstandings, and reconciliations have played out on screen, offering a glimpse into the ups and downs of this complex family dynamic. In the currently airing fourteenth season, the siblings are shown as being estranged, avoiding communication and maintaining distance from each other's lives.

Teresa has no immediate plans to reconcile with her brother Joe. In a recent interview on 'LIVE With Kelly and Mark', she expressed doubt about finding a way forward in their relationship, noting that they had already attempted a private conversation away from the cameras. "We've done it so many times, Kelly," she said.

The Bravo housewife further added, "And, you saw my parents — how I was raised — and there's a lot of things that, you know, I'm not going to discuss, that happened. And I always kept my mouth shut because I didn't want to upset my parents. And you know what, sometimes, you just can't go back."

Teresa acknowledged that many events and experiences have shaped their relationship over time. However, despite everything that has happened, she expressed a sense of peace with the choice she has made.

"Listen, he's happy with his, you know, wife and his family, and her family. I'm happy with my new husband," she continued. Joe and Melissa discussed the potential of reconciling during an appearance on Sherri in June, mentioning that they were not considering it at the moment.

"You know what it is when someone is never happy for you or your marriage, it becomes very difficult when — sometimes you have to take the toxic and say, listen, this is very toxic," Melissa shared.

Joe chimed in, "Melissa's been in my life for 20 years. I have three children with her — that is my life. You have to embrace my life. You can't try to tear my life down for what reason? I have to make a choice...and I can't be around somebody trying to hurt me."

'RHONJ' star Joe Gorga opens up on his relationship with Teresa Giudice

In the ninth episode of 'RHONJ' Season 14, emotions ran high as Joe opened up about the uncertainty of his relationship with Teresa Giudice and her four daughters. After officiating his cousin’s wedding, Joe couldn't help but express his sadness at the possibility of Teresa missing out on important moments in her niece and nephews' lives. 

The gravity of the situation was evident as Joe grappled with the reality of what the future might hold for their family dynamic. "It makes me think of my sister and I say, 'She won't be at my kids' weddings.' My nieces will get married and I'm not gonna be there," Joe said in a private confessional. 

'Real Housewives of New Jersey' Season 14 airs every Monday at 8 pm ET on Bravo.