Why Melissa Gorga Was "Shocked" by Kathy Wakile's "Shade": "Of Course It's Convenient"

The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member spoke out about her new neighbor again amid an ongoing feud with her cousin.

Melissa Gorga and her husband Joe Gorga are about to have some new neighbors on their block — The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum Kathy Wakile and her husband Rich Wakile. But Melissa and Joe might not be borrowing a cup of sugar from his cousin anytime soon.

Kathy acknowledged that she will be living on the same road in New Jersey during a surprise appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on July 14, jokingly referring to it as "Melissa Way," "because apparently she owns the street." "Not to be boastful, but each property is at least an acre to two acres," Kathy revealed. "You know, so you really don't see each other."

Kathy also noted that it's "very convenient" for Melissa to want to run into her and her husband again, as Melissa said previously in a separate interview, for a possible reconciliation. But Melissa did not hold back in responding to her.

Melissa Gorga's Response to Kathy Wakile's WWHL Comments

During an appearance on WWHL on Sunday, July 28, Melissa noted that she was a little taken aback by Kathy's comments. Even host, Andy Cohen, admitted he had been surprised by her attitude towards Melissa.

"I was a little shocked that she had a little shade to her answer," Melissa said. "As opposed to being a little more optimistic."

Melissa visits Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on July 28, 2024 in New York City.

Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo

She noted that the initial comments she had made about Kathy's house during a late June appearance on Jeff Lewis Live were not malicious at all. "It was very like, 'Hey, you're going to live across the street, hopefully the two cousins can connect.' And I meant that as like, non-convenient," she said.

Melissa addressed the one comment that bothered her a little. "She said, 'Oh, that's convenient.' Like, of course, that's convenient, you're going to live across the street from us. It actually is."

"It just seemed like she was trying to throw shade when there was no need," she added.

Melissa Gorga Recants Her "Olive Branch" to Kathy Wakile Amid Feud

This is not the first time that Melissa has responded to what Kathy said on WWHL. During a July 18 episode of her own podcast, On Display with Melissa Gorga, Melissa said that she felt that Kathy was a "little negative" when talking about them, even though the original comments had been positive.

"What I had said on [Jeff Lewis Live] was, what I thought, very nice...a way of moving forward in some which way, and it wasn't like a, 'Hey I want you on the show' or 'I want you back in our lives,'" she explained, noting that she would want her husband to "work it out" with his cousin. 

Melissa Gorga attends a movie premiere at Regal Times Square on July 08, 2024 in New York City; Kathy Wakile visits Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on July 14, 2024 in New York City.

Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

"That was basically what I was saying to Jeff Lewis on his podcast: 'Listen, these are real cousins.' And that's me extending an olive branch...But you know what? Your loss," she added. "Stay on your side of the street. All good. I tried to say something nice. I don't think I liked the attitude. I'm like, it's weird."

Are Joe Gorga and Rich Wakile friends?

During the same podcast episode, Joe recalled a "nasty" encounter with Kathy's husband at a plumbing supply store. At the time, Joe knew they would be moving into the neighborhood, so he was "being nice."

"I go, 'Hey, what's up Richie? What's up Wakile?' That's what I call him and I was gonna be extremely nice and just say, 'What's up?' And welcome to the neighborhood," he recalled. "And you know what he said to me...He goes, 'Hey, that's Mr. Wakile to you.' And he gets in his car and tears off. Like, really rude and nasty."