As an original cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ), Jacqueline Laurita knows something about the drama surrounding the cast members. Although she left the show after Season 7, her connections to the RHONJ world remain strong—particularly her friendship with Teresa Giudice. Recently, Laurita appeared on an episode of AllAboutTRH to address claims made by Melissa Gorga regarding Kathy Wakile and her family.
According to Melissa Gorga, the Wakiles were moving into the neighborhood just down the street from her and her husband, Joe Gorga. In a bid to mend fences, Melissa suggested she saw the move as an opportunity to rebuild their strained relationship with the Wakiles. However, Laurita had a different take on the situation, stating that the Gorgas allegedly tried to prevent the Wakiles from moving into the area in the first place. She suggested that this behavior is part of the reason why Wakile is hesitant to reconcile with the Gorgas.
Laurita didn’t hold back in her critique, noting that Giudice had been kind about the Wakiles’ move, but the Gorgas seemingly had a different approach. According to Laurita, when Joe and Melissa Gorga discovered that the Wakiles were interested in purchasing a nearby home, they allegedly attempted to outbid them to keep them from moving into the neighborhood. Laurita elaborated on the AllAboutTRH podcast that Melissa’s actions and subsequent remarks about the Wakiles may be what’s truly preventing the two families from reconciling.
Laurita doubts Gorga’s intentions, suggesting that Melissa may have tried to repair her relationship with the Wakiles purely for show-related motives. “I think it was convenient of [Melissa] saying that. I think she was like, ‘Oh, what’s a way to secure my spot on the season since they’re going to have to decide between Teresa Giudice and I? Maybe I can make up with Kathy and them,’” Laurita said. She added, “But the way she treated Kathy was so bad. She would get Kathy worked up behind the scenes and then gaslight her on camera. Once she no longer needed Kathy around, she just completely distanced herself. Later, she even went public, saying, ‘Oh, they’re just jealous that we’re still on the show and they’re not,’ which is hardly something you say about people you care for.”
Laurita also criticized Gorga for how she manipulated situations involving Wakile on the show. She claimed that Melissa Gorga would often encourage Kathy Wakile to bring up certain topics on camera, only to shut her down in front of the cast to make herself appear better. “[Melissa] even said to Kathy, ‘Oh, you should bring up blah blah blah.’ Then, when Kathy tried to discuss it on camera, Melissa would shut her down, saying, ‘Listen, Teresa and I are good right now,’ and gaslighted her,” Laurita shared. “These kinds of actions show the lengths Melissa is willing to go to keep her image intact.”
The fallout among cast members on The Real Housewives of New Jersey has created numerous strained relationships. Still, the situation between Melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile is notable for its layers of family tension and reality TV drama. Fans of RHONJ have long watched as family feuds and alliances shift. Still, Laurita’s recent comments provide fresh insight into the dynamics behind the scenes, raising questions about the genuine nature of these reconciliations and conflicts.
With The Real Housewives of New Jersey currently in its 13th season, viewers continue to tune in to see how the intricate web of relationships plays out among the Garden State’s elite. While Laurita may no longer be a part of the main cast, her influence and insight into the cast’s behavior continue to resonate with fans and give context to ongoing storylines.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey remains a captivating show on Bravo. It follows the lives of affluent women in New Jersey as they navigate friendship, family, and fierce rivalries. Watch as the drama unfolds on Bravo and stream episodes on platforms like Peacock and E!