Teresa Giudice Tells Joe She Wants to End Their Marriage: "The Past 5 Years Have Been Really Dark"
The Real Housewives of New Jersey couple decided to separate in the Season 10 finale.
Following reports that Teresa and Joe Giudice had separated during their reunion in Italy in November, The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 10 finale confirmed that the couple did decide to end their marriage of 20 years during the trip.
The RHONJ Season 10 finale followed Teresa and her four daughters (Gia, 19, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10) as they traveled to Sala Consilina, Italy to visit Joe following his release from ICE custody in October. At the end of the trip, which was full of family dinners and sightseeing around the Amalfi Coast, Teresa and Joe sat down to discuss their future together as a married couple.
Teresa asked Joe how they would be able to maintain their relationship while living in two different countries as he awaits a final decision in his ongoing deportation case. "You get in a plane, and we meet places, that's all. And we have fun," he told his wife. "And that's what we do. We make things work."
However, Teresa said that she is not interested in having a long distance relationship. "No, I don't want that," she said. "I want somebody with me every single day."
Though Joe told Teresa that the long distance could potentially "make our relationship stronger," she expressed that she hasn't been happy with their marriage since their legal troubles began. "The past five years have been really dark. You've said a lot of hurtful things to me, you wish you never married me and all this stuff," Teresa shared. "It just makes me think about a lot of things. Like, you marry somebody and they're supposed to protect you. I don't know, I trusted you, and you made s--t happen."
Joe said that he hoped to move on with Teresa and leave their legal issues in the past. But Teresa said that she has been forever changed from the entire ordeal. "Listen, Tre, do you think I want our marriage to fall apart? Absolutely not," Joe said.
After Teresa again emphasized that "a lot's happened" and that they "live in two different countries," Joe asked his wife, "I get it. Do you just want to end it now?"
Teresa replied, "All right, I mean, do you want me to lie to you?"
In an interview during the episode, Teresa said that she hoped Joe would have shown more remorse during their reunion. "It's so infuriating to me. After four years of us both doing time, he still does not take responsibility for what he's done," Teresa shared. "He hasn't changed."
Teresa told Joe that she wants the best for him whether they remain married or not, and he wished her the same. "Never in a million years would I ever want to hurt you. I hope you know that, right?" she said. "I just want you to know that no matter what, I want you to be happy endlessly."
Teresa shared what's next for her family in an interview during the episode. "We're still gonna fight the appeal, and there's a chance that Joe might come back to America. But I'm just really happy that Joe is out and free and my daughters are reunited with their dad, even if they're definitely gonna have to get on a plane to see him," she said. "This is not the end, so that's how I want my daughters to feel."
An update on the screen toward the end of the RHONJ Season 10 finale read: "Teresa and Joe announced their separation after 20 years of marriage. Their daughters spent Christmas with Joe in Italy... They are still waiting for a decision on his appeal."
The episode ended with Teresa teasing what the future has in store. "The past five years, we've been through a lot. Of course, I've put everyone else's needs before mine," she said. "Hopefully, now that this chapter's closed, I can start thinking about what makes Teresa happy."
Teresa opens up more about her separation from Joe in The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 10 After Show, above.
Want more RHONJ? New episodes air every Wednesday at 8/7c or catch up on this season through the Bravo app.
We'll get more updates from Teresa and her fellow Garden State gals when the three-part RHONJ Season 10 reunion kicks off on Wednesday, March 4 at 8/7c. Watch a sneak peek, below.
