Lara Sophia 
Caroline Manzo blames the “fame game” for the ongoing family drama between Teresa Giudice, her brother Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa Gorga.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum appeared on Thursday’s live taping of Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast, where Caroline Manzo gave her take on the longtime beef between the Giudices and the Gorgas.
Caroline Manzo says Teresa’s drama with her brother and his wife is “tragic and sad,” noting that she believes the “awful fame game” is blame for the rift.
The 61-year-old explained:
“I think that the whole thing between all of them is tragic and sad.”
She added:
“[The] awful fame game plays a very big part” in the decade-long family drama.
The mom of three went on to praise Joe and Melissa Gorga.
“They have never been anything but supportive and kind and fun,” Caroline said of the Gorgas. “They have nothing but kind words to say about me and my kids and my family and everything about my time on Bravo.”
Caroline notes that she has “no malice toward [Melissa] at all,” despite the fact that they hadn’t spoken in seven years until running into each other at BravoCon 2022.
“We live in the same neighborhood, literally within two miles of each other, [but] we don’t see each other,” she said. “But when we do, it’s like we saw each other the day before.”
The former Bravoleb wasn’t as kind to her former friend and co-star, Teresa Giudice. However, she did admit that she misses the Teresa she knew in the early seasons of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.
“I miss the days of Season 1, Teresa,” Caroline said, adding, “The fame got to her head.”
Caroline elaborated:
“Fame is a very, very dangerous thing, and if you are not completely grounded in who you are, you believe the bulls–t. The fame got to her head, and I will stand here to this day — to this moment — in the fact that I have always defended her.”
RHONJ airs on Tuesdays at 8 pm on Bravo.
