Melissa and Teresa Came Face to Face at a Brunch — Leading to an Explosive Confrontation
Teresa had to keep her cool after Rachel Fuda called her an "old and stupid has-been."
Hell froze over at Danielle Cabral’s “Boujie Brunch” when warring sisters-in-law came face to face on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Longtime rivals Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga sat at the same table on RHONJ Season 14, Episode 5, when attending Danielle’s sit-down event ahead of her show at New York Fashion Week. It happened at the 618 Restaurant, where the Housewives gathered to celebrate Danielle’s Boujie Kidz Company fashion line, a sparkling affair consisting of tasty eats, jeweled tiaras, and other fun bling bling.
However, tensions erupted when Teresa and Rachel Fuda, the latter of whom maintains Melissa’s support, had a face-off of their own, prompting Teresa to leave early.
“Ciao,” Melissa later told producers. “Don’t let the door kick you in the ass.”
What happened at the Boujie Brunch?
There was no greater confrontation at the brunch than between Teresa and Rachel over the RHONJ Season 14, Episode 1 blowup when Teresa called Rachel’s husband, John Fuda, “the biggest drug dealer in Bergen County.”
Danielle’s event marked the first time either one addressed Teresa’s claims with one another, which — once again — Teresa tried to clarify. The mother of four said she was referring to John as being a one-time drug dealer and not one at the present time, based on statements reportedly made by John’s ex and the mother of Rachel’s adopted stepson.
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“The implication of anything like that is so slanderous and disgusting,” Rachel told Teresa. “Regardless of the verb — is or was — if you’re going to bring an ex back, be very f-cking cautious about what you’re f-cking with right now.”
Teresa ultimately accused Rachel of being the first to bring up John’s ex. Rachel then turned the conversation to Teresa’s husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, claiming his exes were the ones who’d been “f-cking talking.”
Teresa warned Rachel about bringing up her husband, telling her not to “poke the f-cking bear.”
“So, I would quit while you’re f-cking ahead ’cause your husband’s got way more exes talking than mine does,” said Rachel before asking Teresa her “intention” behind accusing John of dealing drugs.
Teresa admitted that the information was “put out there” but wasn’t sure if there was any truth behind it. The Namaste B$tches podcast host, referring to John’s business, Valet King, also asked if John was a “parking attendant” as a means of diminishing his work.
Things reached a fever pitch when Teresa said, “Maybe a drug dealer would be better,” which made Melissa’s jaw drop.
“My husband has built a life for him and his family. What the f-ck have you done, you stupid bitch?” said the sophomore Housewife. “You went to prison as a grown-ass woman, and what have you done?”
Jennifer Aydin chimed in to say such statements were “not necessary.”
To producers, Rachel admitted John “made plenty of mistakes in his youth.” But she said it was “embarrassing” that Teresa made poor decisions as an adult, referring to Teresa’s 15-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges in 2014.
Teresa did not engage, telling the others that Rachel was “young and stupid.”
In turn, Rachel called Teresa “old and stupid,” adding that she was a “has-been” and a "bully."
Melissa jumped into the shifting conversation after Rachel pointed to Jackie Goldschneider and Teresa’s past statements about Jackie’s husband, Evan Goldschneider, back in Season 11.
Jackie told the others she was over it and “didn’t give a f-ck,” though it seemed Melissa didn’t want her to forgive Teresa so easily. Jackie said this much was “very apparent.”
“But, Jackie, she picked on your marriage, and it hurt you,” Melissa told Jackie. “I’ll never let you deny it.”
“I’ve healed and moved on from my issues with Teresa, and I’m not gonna let anybody tell me how I should feel,” Jackie said in her confessional.
The food arrived when Teresa excused herself from the table, citing a daughter’s volleyball game. She and Melissa never said a word directly to each other.
There’s no sign of Teresa and Melissa patching things up anytime soon, but more to come on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.
