Why Frank Catania Believes Teresa Giudice Has Changed: “Not The Teresa I Grew Up With”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey ex-husband of Dolores Catania opened up about where he stands with his childhood friend today.
Teresa Giudice's life has changed so much over the past 14 seasons of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Viewers have witnessed her cope with the loss of her parents, the dissolution of her marriage to Joe Giudice, while watching her children grow up on screen, and find love again with her husband, Luis "Louie" Ruelas. Yet despite the hardships, she's always maintained her spitfire and loving personality.
And for those who grew up with the Paterson, New Jersey native, Teresa has changed. In a recent interview, childhood friend and RHONJ cast member Dolores Catania's ex-husband, Frank Catania, opened up about the ways in which he has seen Teresa evolve.
During an August 2 appearance on The Lisa Alastuey Podcast, Frank admitted that he thinks that Teresa is a different person from the girl he met so many years ago in Paterson. He inferred that Teresa's relationships with certain people in her life has had a negative influence on her.
"Listen, she's changed in my opinion," he said. "She has changed since Louie has been around...She's just not herself."
"She's not the Teresa I grew up with," Frank added.
Inside Frank Catania and Teresa Giudice's Friendship
Frank and Teresa grew closer when he coached her for her 2019 bodybuilding competition. The entrepreneur only had the utmost admiration for his trainee at the time.
"Teresa is an animal and that's in a good way," Frank told Page Six in January 2019. "I did not think that Teresa had it in her. I didn't think she was going to make it to the show. I'm not going to lie. She listened to every single thing I said and didn't vary whatsoever."
Frank noted that Teresa's work ethic at the time was intense. "I don't think the woman ever slept," he noted to Page Six. "And in between all this, she's taking care of her daughters and obviously filming and handling all of her other ventures. I was pleasantly surprised by Teresa."
How do Dolores Catania and Teresa Giudice know each other?
Dolores recounted the first time that she ever laid her eyes on Teresa in an interview with The Daily Dish in 2016. "I've known Teresa so long I actually have a specific memory, like here I am nine months pregnant from my daughter, Gabrielle, who's now gonna be 21 in September," she said at the time.
"I was the first to get married and here's my cousin, Tanya and Teresa Gorga coming over to hang out at my Shore house, getting ready to go to Temptations," she added. "I mean, OK, if that's not a flashback."
In fact, Teresa and Dolores are still close to this day — even if she does get some backlash from her friends for trying to maintain peace between everyone. "I try to keep the peace," Dolores said during an Aug. 4 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
"Playing both sides of the fence is turning on one behind their back," she added. "I do nothing behind anybody's back. I want to keep the peace."
