The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast seems, by far, the most fixated on loyalty, compared to the other Real Housewives. Perhaps it shows how vitriolic the relationship between Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga has become. Because the cast has firmly chosen sides, and to even speak to the RHONJ original star is a reason to cut ties.
Of course, Teresa never does herself any favors by repeating what she hears about her co-stars’ supposed sexual preference “on social media.” She also brought up John Fuda’s prior arrest in a combative way.
So it’s understandable that Rachel Fuda would have her guard up. And when Jennifer Fessler spoke frankly to Teresa about the Season 13 reunion pre-game at Margaret Josephs’ house, the mother-of-three was quick to question Jennifer’s intentions.
Jennifer continued the friendship with Teresa despite being branded “disloyal”
“I definitely feel betrayed,” Rachel exclusively told Entertainment Tonight about the conversation between Teresa and Jennifer.
“We don’t have a friendship anymore,” she revealed.
After the Season 13 reunion, most of the cast was in agreement about cutting Teresa and her husband, Luis Ruelas out of the social circle. Luis’ claims of hiring a private investigator were the catalyst.
Jennifer told Rachel that she was done with Teresa. So one could understand Rachel’s confusion about the change of heart, especially since the timing coincided with cameras filming the new season.
“Her words and actions are not the same,” Rachel explains. “Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you don’t want to be around these people, then don’t be around them. But if you truly, genuinely like her and you want to be around her? That is fine with me, and … [if] that is what she was saying to me, but it wasn’t.”
And what was Jennifer saying? According to a confessional interview, she said, “Teresa is a good person.”
Indeed, the season trailer indicates that Jennifer will continue to nurture a friendship with the Bravolebrity, at the cost of those with the rest of the cast.
“I enjoy her. Maybe that makes me disloyal, but can’t help it! I do, I like her. Sorry!” Jenn told producers.
“I’m good,” Rachel said of her current status with Jennifer
Meanwhile, Rachel revealed exactly how close she and Jennifer got after filming their freshman RHONJ season together last year.
“I don’t really let people in,” she reflected. “I am a very– I am not cold, but I am very particular about who I let into my life, and I really let Jenn in. She was at my house on holidays. She spent time around my kids. We were very, very close, like, on the phone four times a day. I was talking to Jenn more than I was talking to my own family.”
Ultimately, Rachel decided to end her friendship with Jennifer, something that she said made her feel conflicted.
“A part of me is sad about it, and the other part of me is good, like I’m good,” she explained. “My No. 1 priority is my family, my husband, and my kids, and as long as I have that, I have everything. I don’t need anyone or anything. That is all that I need in my life, and I’m trucking on.”