Teresa Giudice says she is not desperate to rejoin The Real Housewives of New Jersey and is not using a reconciliation with her estranged brother Joe Gorga for a Bravo contract. The remarks came during a Sept. 11 appearance on Jeff Lewis Live, where Lewis asked whether she could co-exist with Joe and Melissa Gorga on RHONJ.
During the interview, Giudice underscored that while she could co-exist, she did not want to rehash past grievances. "Never say never, I think everyone can co-exist. Just put your big-girl panties on and be mature," she said. She then rejected the notion that she only offered an olive branch to land her job back, telling fans she is "not desperate" and would be fine whether Bravo wants her back or not. "I’m not desperate. If Bravo doesn’t want me back I’m fine with that. If Bravo wants me back, I’ll be fine with that. I’m not just saying that because I’m desperate and I want my job back," she added on her Turning The Tables podcast on Thursday. She also explained that there are things that have happened that changed her mind about mending the relationship, but she won’t disclose them yet, and that she wants to extend an olive branch to be a positive example for her four daughters, because she is a mom first.
Her comments arrived as reports circulated that several members of the RHONJ cast had begun test filming without her, fueling questions about her status on the show. A source told Us Weekly that some cast members, including possible new faces, had filmed with Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania and Melissa Gorga in mid-August. Giudice later told Entertainment Tonight that the rumors of production moving forward without her were unfounded, insisting, "Obviously they’re not, because if they were filming, it would actually be out there. So it’s just speculation and people putting stories out there."
Melissa Gorga responded to the olive-branch chatter during a separate interview, telling Page Six that, as far as she knew, Giudice's door has been closed—"the truth is, I’m just confused why it might be opening or cracking a little bit." The Envy store owner added that there has been little or no contact between the sisters-in-law in roughly two years, and she questioned whether the gesture was connected to the Bravo series’s hiatus. Giudice did not address Melissa by name during the Turning The Tables discussion but indicated she understood the other woman's perspective.
While Giudice has publicly signaled a possible reunion, a Bravo spokesperson has not publicly confirmed plans for a RHONJ renewal, and fans remain without official confirmation of filming timelines. Cameras reportedly picked back up last month with a few familiar faces from the last season, though Giudice has maintained a wait-and-see posture about her participation in any new episodes. "You can’t believe anything you read unless Bravo says it," Giudice told ET earlier this month as she rejected speculation about being cut out of the reboot.
Giudice’s comments reflect a broader pattern of mixed signals around RHONJ’s future. Her remarks come as fans watch for any signs of a reunion, or a formal declaration that production on the Bravo series has resumed with or without her. At the same time, she has stressed personal growth and the idea of moving forward, including guidance she says she wants to set for her four daughters.
With no official confirmation from Bravo and no public word from the network, fans will have to wait for further statements or a formal announcement about RHONJ’s future.
