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Margaret Josephs is expressing skepticism about the recent reconciliation between Teresa Giudice and her brother Joe Gorga, along with his wife, Melissa Gorga. Her doubts come amid public speculation about whether the family has truly mended their long-standing rift.
Credit: Iris Zimmerman/INSTARimages, Todd Williamson/Bravo
Melissa, aged 46, found herself addressing questions about the sincerity of their family truce and the reasons behind their decision to make amends after years of discord. Meanwhile, Margaret, a 58-year-old fixture on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” conveyed her own reservations about Teresa’s motives, while also contemplating the possibility of rekindling her own relationship with Teresa.
In a conversation with Us Weekly during BravoCon on November 14, Margaret shared her perspective, saying, “I feel it shouldn’t be played out in the press, and I think it’s weird to be played out in the press, but that’s just me.” She emphasized her belief that not every personal move requires a public announcement, adding, “I don’t think that’s really necessary.”
Margaret continued, “It’s their family. I want it to be genuine for the sake of Melissa and Joe — I know it’s genuine on their part.” She underscored the importance of handling such delicate matters in private, advocating for a therapeutic environment rather than a public spectacle. “This has been done many, many times,” she remarked, hinting at the repetitive nature of publicized family dramas.
“It’s their family. I want it to be genuine for the sake of Melissa and Joe — I know it’s genuine on their part,” she continued. “I think things like this have to be done in a therapeutic setting and behind closed doors, and not to be played out in the press. This has been done many, many times.”
Although Margaret is glad to see a family back together, she said she wouldn’t be following Melissa’s lead with a reunion of her own.
“Some things would have to really change and it’s not [the] right time,” she shared of making up with Teresa, 53. “I think there’s too many things in the way, and it’s just not correct.”
“I don’t wish her any ill, because I think she has enough pain and enough horrible things going on, and I’m concerned for her,” she noted.
As for season 15, Margaret said she would love for RHONJ to come back — but not as it was amid season 14.
“I love Jersey. I love what we had. I don’t miss last season. That was ugly,” she explained. “I would love the fun Jersey to come back … I’m not allowed to really discuss [test filming]. But, you know, Jersey is always doing something to keep it moving.”
Also at BravoCon, Melissa addressed fans’ questions about her and Joe’s newfound friendship with Teresa during a panel event.
“I know a lot of you, like, there’s a lot of doubt. Right? Which, do I blame you? No. I understand that there’s a lot of questions and there’s a lot of people wondering if things are happening for the wrong reasons and if we’re making up cuz we know we’re the heart and soul of that show and we’re gonna kind of try to bring it back,” Melissa shared, as seen in a clip shared by All About the Real Housewives on Instagram. “But the truth is, the relief on my husband’s face when he came home from that conversation is all I really needed to see.”
In addition to seeing that her husband felt good about his reconciliation with Teresa, Melissa pointed out that she and Teresa have seven children between them who “grew up together.”
“So if my husband looks at me with relief in his face and has one sister on this planet and says, ‘It’s authentic. I feel it. She’s being real, let’s put trust. Let’s try this,’ I’m never gonna look at him and say, ‘No,’” she stated. “I’m never gonna be that girl. So I’m gonna try.”
Continuing on, Melissa said that she and Teresa have taken a different approach to making amends this time around.
“We’re not doing it in front of the cameras this time — this time, which is different, and it feels different. So I have really good faith in this. So trust in us this time. Please, believe in us,” she added. “We’re just like, giggling and laughing. No one’s talking about the past, and it feels really good.”
The Real Housewives of New Jersey has been on pause since August 2024.