The oldest of Teresa's daughters called her stepfather a "really, really good guy" in hopes that Louie and John Fuda could quash their feud.
Some cast members on The Real Housewives of New Jersey might be barking up the wrong tree when it comes to a possible reconciliation between the husbands of Teresa Giudice and Rachel Fuda.
Peace talks between Luis “Louie” Ruelas and John Fuda were proffered when the women — including Teresa — attended Jennifer Aydin’s pup party to celebrate the birthday of the family Cavapoo, Biscuit. As seen in Season 14, Episode 4, Jennifer said she invited Rachel, but according to Jennifer Fessler, Rachel declined the invite on account of Teresa being there.
“She feels like, now, what she wants is Louie and John to talk, and I feel like it’s going to help,” Jenn Fessler told the others.
Dolores Catania wondered if her upcoming annual Battle for Brooklyn softball event would provide the men an even playing field to hash out their problems.
“If John and Louie can’t put their big boy pants on and be civil at a charity event, especially this one, ‘Guys, go f-ck yourself,’” Dolores told producers.
Gia Giudice defends Louie Ruelas
Gia Giudice agreed with Dolores that it would probably be best if the men spoke alone, suggesting things would be “fine” if they spoke in the locker room before the game.
“I know my husband’s going to behave,” said Teresa during some overlapping discussion. “I really don’t trust Fuda.”
“Louie, I’m telling you, he’s a really, really good guy,” said Gia in support of her mother. “He said things, and I’ve looked at him now, and I’m like, ‘Lou, that’s not the person that you are. These people are just making you go crazy.’”
Why are the RHONJ men fighting?
Tension between John and Louie goes back to the explosive Season 13 reunion, which largely focused on Louie allegedly hiring a private investigator to look for skeletons in the cast members’ closets (something Louie has — sort of — denied). It also led to a fallout between Louie and his brother-in-law, Joe Gorga, which Jenn Fessler brought up after Gia defended her stepfather.
“People are saying hateful, disgusting things to each other that they wouldn’t otherwise,” Jenn told Gia before directing her attention to Teresa. “And so much of this — and I’m really not going here — goes back to you and your brother.”
Gia said the drama between Louie and Joe was “so passed.”
At the Season 13 reunion, John Fuda claimed Louie’s private investigator contacted the mother of his son, Jaiden Fuda, which came at a precarious time because Rachel was then in the process of trying to adopt the teenager (the adoption has since been finalized).
The rift became even more contentious in the RHONJ Season 14 premiere, which came to a head at Jenn Fessler’s surprise party.
The RHONJ drama in Season 14, recapped
At the party — which Louie didn’t attend — Teresa said to Rachel, “I don’t want to talk now, but your husband went for my husband, trying to ruin his reputation.”
“I think our husbands need to have a separate conversation,” Rachel responded.
Teresa said the husbands were “never going to be friends,” adding that Louie “was a gentleman” because he attempted to reach out to John before the party. Things became heated between the women, ending soon after Teresa leveled some allegations against Rachel’s husband.
“You know what your husband said to my husband? ‘I have tremendous respect for your wife ’cause we both went to jail,’” said Teresa. “I heard he was the biggest drug dealer in Bergen County. So don’t come for my husband, ’cause I will come for your husband.”
In Season 14, Episode 2, Teresa clarified to Jenn Fessler that she didn’t think Fuda was currently a drug dealer, and that these days, he seemed like “an amazing father, a great husband, a great business guy,” from what she saw.
There’s no telling whether the men will patch things up at Dolores’ softball game, but at least Gia went to bat for her mother’s new husband.
Watch all-new episodes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, airing Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock.
