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The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Joe Gorga Remembers a Christmas When He Had the “Worst Feelings” Ever

Frank Catania said this holiday story marked the “first time” he ever felt bad for Joe Gorga.

By Shannon Raphael

Regifting may be considered a major holiday faux pas, but The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Joe Gorga probably wishes he could put a bow back on this past Christmas present, send it out in the mail, and never see it again.

How to Watch

Watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 premiere May 5th at 8/7c on Bravo and stream next day on Peacock.

Melissa Gorga’s husband put himself “On Display” alongside Frank Catania and Joe Benigno for BravoTV.com’s The Real Househusbands of New Jersey Holiday Special video series. He dished about the “worst” present he ever received for Christmas in the “Hair Comes Santa Claus Right Down Gorga’s Mane” segment.

Joe Gorga shared that when he was 24, he started “losing [his] hair” and “had to buzz” his head — but “it really didn’t flow the way it flows now. It was awkward.” 

At the time, he was a real estate developer, and he was working on a project in Paterson, New Jersey, where he, his sister, Teresa Giudice, and his pal Dolores Catania grew up. During a holiday party at the Brownstone —yes, that Brownstone — a few dozen people working around the town exchanged gifts.

While Joe was expecting to receive a bottle of alcohol at the event, he said an older billionaire with “amazing hair“ gave him a “special” present instead: a hair dryer.

“I was embarrassed. I wasn’t even mad,” Joe Gorga explained about his reaction to the billionaire’s present. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Joe Benigno immediately said that the hair dryer was a “messed up” present to give, and Joe Gorga reiterated that it felt “embarrassing" to open it in front of a group of people. Once the gift was opened, Joe Gorga said the “most awkward moment" followed, because “no one laughed.”

“I would have f--king beat him to a pulp,” Joe Benigno said. 

“It was a moment, because I was losing my hair,” Joe Gorga continued. “It was one of my worst feelings.”

While Frank told Joe Gorga, “This might be the first time in my life I feel bad for you,” it didn’t take long for the comedian to begin poking fun at Dolores’s ex. 

Press play on the video above to hear the full extent of Joe Gorga’s uncomfortable holiday story (which, thankfully, doesn’t include sprinkle cookies) and find out why he’s “not happy” to be sitting so close to Frank and Joe Benigno. 

Frank Catania Reveals the Way to His Heart on Christmas Morning

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