Melissa Gorga Open to Leaving ‘RHONJ’ If Bravo Takes a Certain Direction

Melissa Gorga is uncertain about her future with “Real Housewives of New Jersey” following the intense season 14 finale and the subsequent post-finale special.

During an appearance on fellow “Real Housewives” stars Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge’s podcast “Two Ts in a Pod,” Gorga was questioned by Judge on how she would feel if she wasn’t invited back for the next season, but her sister-in-law, co-star Teresa Giudice, was.

“Are you prepared for that, are you concerned?” asked Judge.

“I am prepared for anything at this point, obviously, because of all the rumors that are out there,” Gorga replied.

Gorga mentioned that if Bravo decides to favor Giudice over her, which she considers a “darker” direction, “then that is not a show that I want to be on anyway.” Although she expressed a desire to continue with “RHONJ,” she emphasized that she does not “want to be on that toxic shit.”

“As long as [Teresa] is there and that whole thing would come back, I wouldn’t find it as [enjoyable],” Gorga added. When Mellencamp asked if her perspective would change if Giudice’s husband Luis Ruelas were not part of the show, Gorga confirmed, “I wouldn’t find it as a loss [to leave].” She noted her 14-year tenure on the Bravo series, acknowledging that “you can’t do it forever; you don’t go and be on a TV show for 50 years or 20 years.”

However, Gorga reiterated her intention to remain on the show and her hope that Bravo introduces something “fresh and new” moving forward. She remains aware of the possibility that she may not be retained. “If they choose that route [of not keeping me], then I don’t want to be on it anyway,” the “RHONJ” star reiterated.

In the season 14 finale, the long-standing feud between Giudice and Gorga reached its peak, with Giudice repeatedly calling her sister-in-law a “whore,” reminiscent of her notable season one conflict with Bravo alum Danielle Staub. Instead of the usual reunion special, the women returned to the finale site and were divided into groups based on their alliances with either Giudice or Gorga, during a special that aired on Aug. 11 where they watched the finale together.

On the post-finale “Watch What Happens Live” show, Cohen described the finale as having a “pretty final” feel. Nevertheless, he clarified in his most recent comments on his SiriusXM radio show that no definite decisions have been made regarding a potential cast shake-up for season 15. He assured fans, however, “We are going to reimagine the show in some way.”

Source: Variety