Will Melissa Gorga and Joe Make Peace with Teresa Giudice?

The ongoing tension between Melissa Gorga and her sister-in-law, Teresa Giudice, has been a prominent theme throughout The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14. This familial discord has not gone unnoticed by fans and has led to several dramatic moments on the show.

Melissa, along with her husband Joe Gorga, who happens to be Teresa’s brother, has maintained a palpable distance from Teresa. Teresa has openly stated on numerous occasions that there is no existing relationship between them. Despite this fractured bond, Melissa made some revealing comments regarding Teresa and her husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Sunday, July 28.

During the show, Melissa and Joe reflected on a past attempt by Teresa to mend fences, which aired in Season 14 Episode 7. Teresa had tried to extend an olive branch by giving them a bottle of liquor and a card at a housewarming party. Joe, however, chose to burn the card instead of reading it, a decision he expressed no regrets about when discussing it with host Andy Cohen.

The prospect of peace in the family seems increasingly unlikely. In a segment called “1, 2, Agree or Disagree,” Andy asked Melissa to agree or disagree with the statement: “Had Louie never entered the picture, there would be peace between Teresa and the Gorgas.” Melissa agreed, but added, “Fake peace, but peace,” a sentiment Joe affirmed with a nod from the audience.

Both Melissa and Joe have been outspoken about their discontent with Teresa’s husband, Louie. Their issues with him date back to prior to the Season 13 reunion of RHONJ, when Louie admitted to hiring an investigator to dig up information on all the cast members, including the Gorgas. This was allegedly in response to Teresa discovering a potential plot against Louie.

Their troubles escalated when Melissa and Joe decided not to attend Teresa and Louie’s wedding, further straining their relationship. Additionally, in Season 13 Episode 14, Louie revealed that Teresa’s ex-husband, Joe Giudice, had given him advice on handling Joe Gorga, warning him not to let Joe interfere with his life.

“He literally said to me, ‘Do not let Joe Gorga interfere with your life, because he’s gonna try to do that. He’s gonna feel intimidated. He’s insecure,'” Louie recounted during the episode.

By the time Season 14 rolled around, Louie’s stance on his brother-in-law seemed indifferent. “I don’t really talk about him,” he told Bill Aydin in Episode 4 of the current season.

During her chat with Andy Cohen, Melissa expressed that she does not foresee any future relationship with Teresa. She emphasized feeling liberated this season, explaining how she’s no longer pressured to accept situations she finds unjust or to proceed with a relationship she views as defunct.

“I don’t feel the pressure any more to kinda accept things I didn’t feel were right, or to keep moving forward with something that was at a complete dead end,” she said. “Having zero guilt any longer and knowing I’ve done the right thing for as long as I could is definitely my rose.”

Melissa’s sentiment highlights the depth of their estrangement and the personal growth she has experienced in moving forward from the troubled family dynamics. As RHONJ continues, it remains to be seen if there will ever be a resolution between the Gorgas and Teresa, or if their feud will persist.