‘RHONJ’ Season 14 reunion will not have traditional format amid divisive state of cast: ‘It makes sense’

   

Jackie Goldschneider: Margaret Josephs wanted me and Jenn Fessler to quit ‘RHONJ’ if Luis Ruelas returned

There won’t be a traditional reunion for “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” Season 14, Page Six can confirm. 

“The women were notified by production this week that a traditional reunion wasn’t happening this season amid the divisive state of the show,” a source exclusively tells Page Six. 

A second insider close to the situation shares that the Bravo cast — which includes Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania, Jennifer Aydin, Rachel Fuda, Danielle Cabral and “friends of” Jenn Fessler and Jackie Goldschneider — was told that the network is brainstorming a different concept to wrap up the season instead. 

In their typical format, “Housewives” reunions — moderated by host Andy Cohen — are meant to facilitate resolution among series stars. However, it has become evident that there isn’t a feasible path forward for the “RHONJ” group in such a setting. 

The "Real Housewives of New Jersey" cast

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” Season 14 will not have a traditional reunion format, Page Six can confirm. Andrew Eccles/Bravo

The RHONJ cast at Season 13 reunion

“The women were notified by production this week that a traditional reunion wasn’t happening this season amid the divisive state of the show,” a source exclusively tells Page Six.  Bravo

Andy Cohen

In their typical format, “Housewives” reunions — moderated by host Andy Cohen — are meant to facilitate resolution among series stars. bravoandy/Instagram

The second source emphasizes that an intense all-cast dinner filmed for the forthcoming finale — during which insults, expletives and dinnerware were lobbed between the ladies — felt like an impasse. 

“It makes sense,” the insider says. “And once viewers see the finale, the decision to forgo the traditional reunion will make even more sense.”

People was the first to report on “RHONJ” not having a traditional reunion format for Season 14. 

Page Six has reached out to Bravo for comment. 

Danielle Cabral, Margaret Josephs and Melissa Gorga

A second source emphasizes that an explosive all-cast dinner filmed for the forthcoming finale — during which insults, expletives and dinnerware were lobbed between the ladies — felt like an impasse.  Ralph Bavaro/Bravo

Jennifer Aydin, Teresa Giudice and Dolores Catania

“Once viewers see the finale, the decision to forgo the traditional reunion will make even more sense,” the insider says. Ralph Bavaro/Bravo

The discordant climate of “New Jersey” is rooted in Giudice’s longstanding contention with estranged sister-in-law Gorga. 

Their feud escalated after Giudice, 52, and her husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, accused the “On Display” singer, 45, of cheating on husband Joe Gorga during the explosive Season 13 finale.

Melissa — who denied the allegations — ultimately decided that she and Joe would skip Giudice and Ruelas’ August 2022 wedding.

Melissa and Giudice largely filmed the current installment of “RHONJ” separately.

Teresa Giudice

The discordant climate of “New Jersey” is rooted in Giudice’s longstanding contention with estranged sister-in-law Gorga.  Bravo

Melissa and Joe Gorga

Melissa and Giudice largely filmed the current installment of “RHONJ” separately. BRAVO

Melissa explained on a January episode of her podcast that both her family and Giudice’s are “happier” since leveling down to “almost zero” communication.

Meanwhile, conflict has abounded between other cast members. 

Ex-BFFs Josephs, 57, and Goldschneider, 47, are on the outs due to a convoluted assortment of issues — including the latter’s claim to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast that the former asked her to quit the show if Guidice’s spouse, Ruelas, 49, returned. 

Margaret Josephs and Jackie Goldschneider

Meanwhile, conflict has abounded between other cast members — including ex-BFFs Margaret Josephs and Jackie Goldschnedier. Dave Allocca/StarPix

Jackie Goldschneider

Goldschneider claimed to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast that Josephs wanted her to quit the show if her new pal Giudice’s husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, returned. Page Six

During 2023’s “RHONJ” Season 13 reunion, Josephs accused Ruelas of making a threatening call to her son at work — cementing their status as onscreen foes.

Still, Goldschneider pursued a friendship with Giudice and Ruelas — as did fellow “friend of” the cast Fessler, 53. 

Fessler’s budding bond with Giudice contributed to the demise of her once-close relationship with Fuda, 33. 

Notably, Ruelas has been accused by Rachel’s husband, John Fuda, of hiring a private investigator to dig into his past, while Giudice has called John the “biggest drug dealer in Bergen County” on camera — as well as spreading unfounded gossip about his personal life. 

Margaret Josephs

During 2023’s “RHONJ” Season 13 reunion, Josephs accused Ruelas of making a threatening call to her son at work — cementing their status as onscreen foes. Bravo

Rachel Fuda and John Fuda speaking

Rachel Fuda and husband John Fuda have also found themselves at odds with Giudice and Ruelas. Dave Allocca / StarPix

Cabral, 38, for her part, recently told Page Six that she fell out with Giudice in late 2023 for unspecified reasons. 

Additionally, it was reported last September that the Boujie Kidz founder and Aydin, 47, got into a heated altercation during production that resulted in both parties being temporarily suspended from filming. 

All the while, Catania, 53, has maintained neutral relationships with everyone. As seen in the preview for the finale dinner, she remains seated at the table surrounded by broken glass — which seems to be symbolic of the “RHONJ” gals’ fractured dynamic. 

Catania told Page Six at BravoCon 2023 that Season 14 concluded with tons of drama.

Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral and Teresa Giudice

Danielle Cabral, for her part, clashed with Jennifer Aydin during filming — and has since fallen out with Giudice. ©Bravo TV/Courtesy Everett Collection

Dolores Catania

All the while, Dolores Catania has maintained neutral relationships with everyone. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

“There’s a big bomb at the finale … and you would never know what it would be,” she said at the Las Vegas fan event last November.

“There’s two bombs at the finale,” Catania clarified before continuing, “It was a very rough season for all of us. [It] made good TV. Oh, if it made anything, it made good TV.”