Melissa Gorga Buys Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers; Melissa’s Facade Slips in Her Season 4 Episode 17 Bravo Blog and You See Her for Who She Really Is (Updated 8/30/12)

“Something definitely fishy is going on concerning her FB fanpage because she suddenly appeared as my latest “like” & I have never even visited the page. I ended up reporting the page because it’s really trashy & beyond tacky to have some sort of “system” randomly capture “likes” for your fanpage.” – MrIncredible, August 31, 2012, The Fame-Whorgas

Melissa Gorga’s Facebook Fans:

~50,000 10-30-11 (after season 3 ended)
~85,000 4-30-12 (before season 4 premiered)
120,000 8-25-12 (steady increase of about 2,000 per week during season 4 airing)
198,000 8-27-12 9:30 PM EST (sudden burst of new fans compared to 2-3 days before)
206,000 8-27-12 11 PM EST (+8,000 in less than two hours)
212,596 8-27-12 11:30 PM EST (+6,500 in 30 minutes)
215,766 8-28-12 12:20 AM EST (+5,000 in less than an hour)
221,330 8-28-12 1:15 AM EST (+5,500 in an hour)
226,883 8-28-12 2:00 AM EST (+5,500 in 45 minutes)
229,886 8-28-12 2:34 AM EST (+3,000 in 30 minutes)
256,407 8-28-12 1:51 PM EST (+26,500 in 11 hours, about 2,400 per hour)
And still counting.

Over the past 9 months, Melissa’s Facebook fans have increased steadily by about 2,000 per week, so a sudden jump in one day of 130,000+ (and still counting) is very, very suspicious. The only explanation would be that she is buying fans and her fan adder program went amok. More fans were added in one day than were added over the past two years. Since 8-27-12, her page has not been loading properly because all these new ‘likes’ are being added (and no one is ‘talking about this’ while it’s happening), so something is definitely up (a program must be adding them and hanging up her page so that no one can be shown ‘talking about this’ until the program stops or there is a lull).

Buying Their Way to Twitter Fame (Excerpt Below):

That friend who brags about having 1,000, even 100,000 Twitter followers may not have earned them through hard work and social networking; he may have simply bought them on the black market. And it’s not just ego-driven blogger types. Celebrities, politicians, start-ups, aspiring rock stars, reality show hopefuls — anyone who might benefit from having a larger social media footprint — are known to have bought large blocks of Twitter followers. The practice is surprisingly easy. A Google search for “buy Twitter followers”turns up dozens of Web sites.

“And it’s so cheap, too”… 250,000 for $2,500, or a penny each. One site, Fiverr, an online classified for cheap marketing services, has several ads offering 1,000 Twitter followers for $5.

Having fake followers, it is important to note, does not necessarily mean that they were purchased. Unlike Facebook friends, Twitter does not require users to approve followers. In other words, anyone can follow you on Twitter, whether it’s your mother or a spammer.

Twitter followers are sold in two ways:  “Targeted” followers, as they are known in the industry, are harvested using software that seeks out Twitter users with similar interests and follows them, betting that many will return the favor. “Generated” followers are from Twitter accounts that are either inactive or created by spamming computers — often referred to as “bots.”

Buyers and sellers see nothing wrong with it. “Buying followers generated by bots is against Twitter’s terms and frowned upon by the public,” Mr. Mitchell said. “However, it is perfectly legal.”

The practice has become so widespread that StatusPeople, a social media management company in London, released a Web tool last month called the Fake Follower Check that it says can ascertain how many fake followers you and your friends have.

- New York Times, August 22, 2012

She (and her husband) also bought Twitter followers (see chart here). Joe Gorga steadily gained exactly 101 followers a day through Feb., then it dropped to exactly 50 followers a day until April, then he gained exactly 261 followers a day for a few weeks.

Kathy Wakile buys them too. Kathy Wakile gained exactly 855 new Twitter followers a day in Feb. and March, then dropped to exactly 183 Twitter followers a day in April (in other words, she was doing WAY better before the new season of the Real Housewives of NJ started!) Someone also mentioned to me on Twitter that Kathy’s Red Velvet Cosmo account had 300 followers then randomly gained 17,000 followers, then dropped to 13,000 followers (large drops in followers appear to be common when you buy followers, Twitter must “purge” obvious “bots.”)

Melissa took the photo above when she, Joe and their kids celebrated his birthday with his parents on August 22, 2012 (there is a photo below of her from the same party). Obviously, she and Joe and their kids spend time with Joe’s parents as evidenced by the photos taken just five days before she wrote her scathing blog about Teresa (Melissa is the sister-in-law and daughter-in-law from hell that Caroline Manzo deserves, not Teresa and her parents). In Melissa’s August 27, 2012, Bravo blog she said:

“I will say I got a sick feeling in my stomach when Caroline said she’s been in the car with Teresa and heard Teresa bashing Joe and me to her mother. This is nothing we didn’t know already, but to hear about it is just sad. Joe suffers all the time because of the wall Teresa tries to put up between him and his parents. Nothing hurts him more. When they are upset for no reason at all, my kids don’t get to see their only grandfather. I think I understand why she lied and tried to poison everyone’s minds against us, but why his own parents?”

“I suggest Tree speak to MeGo in Italian at reunion and then ask Don what she just said… when she can’t say, say: ‘So when was this phone conversation with my off the boat momma that you overheard me calling her a stripper? Please tell me the words I used to villainize my brother to my momma? And just because you can be swayed by your children to think one kid is an a-hole over another don’t mean my momma rolls that way, so kindly keep that trash to yourself and your family and don’t for one minute suggest that momma’s parenting skills are anything CLOSE to yours’.” – madepiley, August 28, 2012, StoopidHousewives

“My question is: when was the last time Caroline was in a car with Teresa? It’s been obvious for sometime now that Caroline does not like Teresa, so why would she put herself in a car with her? IF Teresa did say nasty things about you, it was how long ago. It looked as if you and Teresa had kind of put the past behind you. Please don’t drag it back out again. Especially because of something Caroline says.  It’s obvious that she is miserable.” – DebbieD37, August 29, 2012, Melissa’s Bravo Blog

In Melissa’s season 4 episode 17 Bravo blog, ‘Character Assassination’, she defends Caroline’s verbal assault on Teresa and accepts whatever Caroline claims to be the truth about Teresa. She has finally returned to the real Melissa from her very first Bravo blog, where she showed her true colors. On August 26, 2012, Melissa also tweeted the following regarding what Caroline claims Teresa said about her:

“Not gonna lie. Hate knowing she said those things about me. All which are false.”

Jacqueline Laurita’s Storyline for Season 5 Would Be Nicholas’ Autism; The Timing of Her Announcement Coincides with Contract Renewals, Season 4′s Explosive Ending and the Upcoming Reunion (Updated 8/27/2012)

On September 10, 2012, Jacqueline Laurita was a guest on the Anderson Cooper Show. He asked her if she will be back for season 5, for which she neither denied or confirmed. Chris Laurita said that if asked back, he and Jacqueline would use the RHONJ as a platform for autism awareness.

They are all narcissists. To put yourself on TV is to be one. I’ve worked with many actors, and believe me, this is almost a necessary trait to be in the public eye in this vein. Someone further down the thread mentioned that Bravo was tiring of Teresa’s inflated ego due to fame. Weren’t they all chasing fame? Kind of part of the deal, and it’s the competitiveness over the spotlight that has got the storyline to where it is. I personally would argue that they are infamous rather than famous …. Horses for courses, it’s reality TV. Putting ego and id aside, this is a new step on Bravo’s behalf. Perhaps I’m being repetitive; however, please consider this: Bethenny has a well documented fractured relationship with her mother — Bravo certainly could have courted her, but did not go down this path [like the path they went down to hire the Gorgas and Wakiles to antagonize Teresa] — Bravo has the right to employ whomever they wish — that would have made for a spicy episode, don’t you think? What about Jeff from Flipping Out and his self professed flawed character — they didn’t go on a fact finding mission with him? Teresa deserves no more and no less than her counterparts, but somehow she’s got the raw end of the stick because some pimpled-faced producer, filmmaker wanna-be decided to make some controversy. Ratings gold. Brilliant, show me the money! Do it — perfect business sense — but do it impartially and fairly, not pointedly and maliciously… Don’t slaughter the golden goose…. Pretty sure they’d be making some coin off her ‘fame’. – Anonymous, August 25, 2012, The Fame-Whorgas

If anything, the “diagnosis” has given Jacqueline a get out of jail free card.

Jacqueline told People Magazine that she concealed Nicholas’ disability from the show as cameras rolled on its fourth season last year “but would be open to chronicling what’s going on if she signs on for a fifth year.”

“I am sorry to hear about her child, but you would think that she would keep it private. Especially since she trash talked other people for selling stories to the tabloids.” – AT, Independence, MO USA, August 23, 2012, The Daily Mail

Nicholas’ autism would be Jacqueline’s new storyline now that Ashlee has left home. Here are some other highlights from her People Magazine article:

• At 15 months, she saw a regression in his motor skills.
• At 15 months, he started to lose his ability to communicate.
• She says that once he began to speak, Nicholas would always say, “I love you Mommy.”
• At 18 months, he wouldn’t say “I love you.”
• At 18 months, he wasn’t answering to his name or noticing people come into the room.
• At 18 months, he couldn’t follow a simple command.
• They waited 8 months for their insurance to clear them to see a specialist, which was followed by the official diagnosis from a family doctor.
• She is starting to see behavioral issues.
• “I know they say a lot of autistic kids are not affectionate, and I don’t know how God allowed it, but he’s always hugging and kissing me.”

“Nothing! & we are helping people not hurting people. Not an illness!” – Jacqueline Laurita, August 26, 2012, Twitter, when asked by @KateHolmesF, “How much did you paid to exploit your son’s illness?”

Jacqueline tweeted that she wasn’t paid by People Magazine. Someone should tweet Jacqueline and ask her if she got paid by People Magazine for the photos of her and Nicholas. And maybe somebody should remind Jacqueline that she put out negative things about Teresa Giudice on Twitter, and she says she’s paid to tweet, so then she is paid for her stories!

Nicholas must have been extremely precocious if he was saying “I love you Mommy” at 18 months old; however, more likely than not, Jacqueline is exaggerating her story and Nicholas didn’t say that at 18 months old. A baby says his first word usually between 10 to 15 months, and the average age an infant says his first word is 13 months. Once a baby speaks his first word, he begins identifying other understood words by saying them. By 18 months, the average baby can speak close to 50 words. From 18 to 24 months, babies begin combining words (usually subjects and verbs or adjectives and nouns) to create two-word phrases to communicate. These two-word utterances leave out parts of speech and are direct: “Want cookie,” “Sara mean,” and “Fat cat” are examples of two-word utterances. [Source]

Initial diagnosis of autism requires parents self report any and all behaviors that they are concerned about. Given what we have seen about Jax on the show with her daughter, she almost seemed to enjoy the martyrdom that came along with having a “bad child” — like a jacked up psychological Munchhausen by proxy. She loved her crying scenes, thrives on Chris saying she has “such a good heart” blah blah blah. Any mother of a teenage daughter could spin their antic into making them appear to be the devil’s spawn but MOST mothers wouldn’t do that. Jax did. Jax did it with relish. I can only hope that the doctors could weed out any bullcrap such as this before agreeing with a parent that the child has autism. It seems to me that Jax has major perception problems when it comes to her interpreting the actions of other.

• Tree won’t share her struggles with me!!!!! (as much as I think she should)
• My child won’t show me affection!!! (as much as I think he should)
• Ashlee won’t babysit CJ!!!! (as much as I think she should)
• My child doesn’t listen when I say his name!!! (as quickly as I think he should)
• My college-aged daughter is obsessed with hanging out with her friends (imagine that)
• My toddler son is obsessed with his tonka truck (imagine that)
• It goes on…..

A misdiagnosed child is tragic and intentionally misdiagnosed child… no words.

- madepiley, August 23, 2012, StoopidHousewives

The photos below are stills from a video that Ashlee took during the Manzo’s/Laurita’s Jersey Shore vacation in August 2012 (they rented a big house, which they all shared; they tweeted photos throughout their ‘vacation’). Nicholas is more than three years old in the video. Just a week after this video was taken Jacqueline released her story to People Magazine about Nicholas having autism. Note that autism doesn’t affect the development of motor skills, which Jacqueline says is one of Nicholas’ symptoms.

“Do not feel bad for Nicholas. He’s extremely smart & making great progress. He’s happy and loved. Thank you all for the support though. xx”  – Ashlee Holmes, August 22, 2012, Twitter for iPhone

• Nicholas was born June 11, 2009 (according to IMDB.com), so in December 2010 he was 18 months old, which is when Jacqueline first noticed his ‘regresssion’.

• The season 2 finale aired on September 6, 2010, and reunion 2 was filmed shortly thereafter.

• Filming for season 3 began almost immediately, in late September/October 2010. Jacqueline first noticed Nicholas ‘regression’ in December 2010, a couple months after filming for season 3 began (filming ended in mid March 2011). However, they waited 8 months for their insurance to clear them to see a specialist, which was followed by the official diagnosis from a family doctor around August 2011.

• Filming for season 4 began late May/June 2011, six months after Jacqueline first noticed his ‘regression’, and continued through September 27, 2011. Nicholas was diagnosed in August 2011, around the time of the meeting on Jacqueline’s deck, where she criticized Teresa for replying to Danielle’s tweet and stated that she wanted to distance herself from Teresa and her family.

• The big blow up during the PFS at the end of season 4 (to be aired as the season 4 finale) was filmed on September 27, 2011, about two months after Nicholas was officially diagnosed with autism. The reunion for season 3 was filmed the next day, September 28, 2011, and aired two weeks later in early October 2011.

By Carolyn H.G., Comment Posted at StoopidHousewives
August 24, 2012

That Jacqueline Laurita would PREY UPON THE COMPASSION OF THE PUBLIC by using her son’s developmental issues to avoid facing accountability for her INDEFENSIBLE behavior is OFFENSIVE TO THOSE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF AUTISM.

The timing of Mrs. Laurita’s announcement couldn’t be more obvious; her PR team scheduled its release to coincide with the season’s explosive ending and the show’s upcoming reunion, where the New Jersey housewife will surely face the audience’s wrath for her shameful actions.

Mrs. Laurita had a solid YEAR to serve as an outspoken advocate for those dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She had every opportunity to sit down for countless interviews to SPREAD AWARENESS and SUPPORT RESEARCH. Instead, she spent precious time and energy trashing her cast mate on social media, in blogs, and on television. Now, she is attempting to hide behind the issue of Autism to garner sympathy from the audience and escape culpability for her morally questionable conduct.

It’s not surprising this group would stoop so low. After all, the audience is already anticipating their excuses:

• Caroline’s bullying and ruthlessness wasn’t her fault; she was menopausal.

• Melissa executed a devious plot to humiliate and destroy her husband’s only sibling because she was hormonal during her pregnancy.

• Jacqueline didn’t punch Caroline in the face because she has impulse control issues and she’s emotionally unstable; she was suffering from Post-Pardom Depression. (What about the arrest for assaulting an ex-boyfriend in Las Vegas?)

• Jacqueline already tried to explain away her vile treatment of her (former) best friend with claims of “low testosterone.” Unfortunately for her, the audience didn’t buy it.

Perhaps Caroline Manzo crafted this strategy? Remember, the Manzo-matriarch’s son, Albie, flunked out of law school NOT because he was too busy playing on Twitter and enjoying his newfound Bravo celebrity status; ADD was the culprit. (By the way, I’m not discounting ADD; I, myself, have ADD, as do many SUCCESSFUL professionals.)

As an aside, had Mr. Manzo not been tossed out of law school, he and his family members would know they’re walking a fine line in touting BLK’s “health benefits.” Remember the class action suit against the herbal supplement Airborne? Statements made by the Manzo and Laurita families indicate they probably DON’T.

In an article in the Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Patch, Mr. Manzo claims:

“A mother gave her autistic son BLK to drink, thinking its unique color might get him drinking more water. The boy not only drank it, he loved it, but the amazing part, he started behaving. The mother reached out to Albie, shocked, who sent her two more cases to try. Her son is stimming less and listening and following directions more. The difference, she told Manzo, is unbelievable.”

Comments, such as this, suggest THE LAURITA AND MANZO FAMILIES MAY BE POSITIONING THEMSELVES TO USE AUTISM AS A PLATFORM TO PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCT. Not only are they preying upon the “pity” of the public, they’re PREYING UPON THE HOPE OF FAMILIES DESPERATE FOR A CURE. That is truly DEPLORABLE.

More Readers’ Comments from StoopidHousewives, AllAboutTRH, and Reality Tea:

Ragin_Cajun_theonly1 said on August 26, 2012:

Ahhhhh, I guess we are not gonna see Jax in one of her Posche sausage dresses running down the hall screaming at somebody with Tre by her side. Jax wants sympathy and times that article about Autism to come out at the end of the season to make her soft again? Well, who the heck is manipulating the fans with tabloid stories? If her son was diagnosed with Autism a while ago then why is she all about getting messy with Tre? I will say screw you I am not gonna get upset all over your trampling booty and concentrate on my son. She did the same thing with Ashley. Instead of paying attention to her at the Fashion Show she is there poking that Dani Bear with Tre until it was her daughter that was eventually charged. When is Jax gonna get her act together for her children’s sake?

Lee said on August 27, 2012

I live in Bergen county like Jacqueline and I don’t understand why it took so long. I called the Bergen County Health Department and they sent someone to evaluate my son in 1 week and my doctor sent me to Hackensack hospital for an evaluation. In 2 months I was receiving services. I hope he attends a therapeutic preschool.

Barb Aroneo Roach said on August 25, 2012 at 4:50 PM

I wrote a comment last night Linda, what sickens me the most is that they are going to exploit the child by showing him on the next year’s NJHW if they are asked backed. He is going to be their story line. That is horrendous.

love nj said on August 24, 2012 at 10:21 PM

It’s scary how low they will go. Albie Manzo works for Chris Laurita. Nichola Laurita is Albie’s cousin. Nicholas supposedly has autism. (We haven’t seen the medical records – so I am using supposedly). Now, Albie is giving two cases of Blk water to a woman whose son has autism. The woman claimed that Blk water made her son behave. So, will Nicholas’ autism be manipulated to help sell Blk water for some purported health benefits and for sympathy for the Laurita family? I think so. Well, if Albie is L.D., he should stop slugging the alcohol and start slugging Blk water. How about Lauren drinking Blk water? Change her mood. This family is very crass and vulgar. If they ripped off Signature Apparel, they will rip off anybody else.

Castmates Are the ‘Inside Sources’ to Tabloid Stories About Teresa Giudice; Teresa Says She Doesn’t Have a PR Agent (Updated 8/28/12)

I actually don’t even have an agent. Well I do have a literary agent for my books, but that’s it. No PR person either. Bravo TV is my PR. – Teresa Giudice, August 20, 2012, ‘For Better or for Worse’

“I think you and the rest of the cast care more about magazine articles than the rest of the planet–they’re really not a big deal. Most people who live in the public eye learn not to read about themselves in tabloids.  I mean, it’s like this whole season has been about the cast being angry about magazine articles–I don’t get it. Just stop reading them! Most of them are all garbage and lack any credibility anyway.” – gohomelefty, August 29, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

“Teresa already admitted she made money on the pictures. She has no control over the content of the articles. Everyone knows this about these gossip mags, except everyone on your show apparently.” – onesmartcookie39, August 29, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

Here is a letter to Caroline about the tabloids, which was sent to famewhorgas with a request to publish (it was first published on RHONJ’s Facebook page):

ATTN: CAROLINE MANZO

As promised (in spite of a hectic day). I’ll break this down in the simplest of terms since you’re an uneducated woman of limited intellect.

THE TABLOIDS AND THE COOKBOOK COMMENTS ARE A RUSE. You and your cohorts are using these issues to:

1 – Confuse Teresa because you know she gets flustered under pressure, and

2 – Distract the audience with your semantics long enough to allow you to pull off this con. Your goal: “To get rid of (Teresa) once and for all” (S4, E17).

You know exactly how the tabloids work. After all, who are the ‘INSIDE SOURCES’ who regularly “put out” all the disparaging articles about Teresa and Joe?

In case the audience had any doubts, you went so far as to confirm their suspicions. As you RELISHED in your prediction of the Giudice family’s utter demise, you reminded viewers to remember they’d “heard it here first” (S4, E13). Unfortunately for you, the story had already surfaced in Us Weekly, the publication in which you and your band of bullies regularly appear (“Exclusive: Teresa Giudice Wants Her Own Show on Bravo,” May 29, 2012).

You criticize Teresa because she has accepted compensation to shoot cover photos for In Touch. When the magazine decides to publish a story, which usually depicts Teresa and Joe in a negative light (as confirmed by Jacqueline Laurita’s blog of August 27, 2012), Teresa receives a request for comment (“to get the truth out,” as she stated in S4, E17).

You very well know these negative stories will appear with or without Teresa commenting or accepting compensation for use of her photograph.You should, especially since the elusive ‘inside sources’ are the same individuals responsible for SELLING THESE MALICIOUS STORIES. You also know Teresa has no control over how the author decides to twist her statements.

You claim Teresa made negative comments about you and your cohorts in these articles, yet you speak in generalities when Andy Cohen asks you for Teresa’s specific quotes. In fact, the snippets in the text that refer to you are derived from episodes of the show; they are your OWN quotes!

Your brother, Chris, made the most telling remark in season 4 episode 17 when he stated that Jacqueline had been approached to sell a story about TERESA to a tabloid for $50,000 (S4, E17). THIS IS THE CRUX OF THE MATTER. Millions of people want to watch TERESA, read about TERESA, and spend their money on TERESA’S BOOKS, WINE and OTHER PRODUCTS. No one gives a damn about the Manzo and Laurita families. They simply play a supporting role on THE TERESA SHOW, just like the others.

That’s why you decided to work with Melissa and Kathy to get rid of Teresa. (By the way, none of you should attempt to pursue acting careers after this stint ends. I won’t even bother commenting on Melissa’s future in Karaoke.)

As far as the cookbook is concerned, it’s simply more of your “smoke and mirrors.” To turn on a friend of 15+ years with the ruthlessness you exhibited over two innocuous jokes appears absolutely ludicrous to any reasonable person. (Especially since the one-sixteenth “Olive Garden Italian” quip was written by a staff member on the Rachel Ray Show for your meatball contest, and the “stripper car wash” was part of the first season’s storyline.)

I had a long, busy day so I won’t waste my time getting into you and your family’s exploitation of Autism and potentially fraudulent claims, but if you and your cohorts decide to hide behind this sensitive subject to escape culpability going forward, I’ll be sure to set aside some time out of my schedule to share my thoughts.

GOOD LUCK AT THE REUNION.

“Teresa, DO NOT think for one minute that the viewers have changed their minds and turned to the blk side. Bravo stopped printing most of the pro Teresa comments a couple of weeks ago. I hope you realize that none of this hatefest could have been accomplished without the help and clever backing of Ms Andy and producers. I would be suspect of any requests or suggestions by these people. At least for now, Bravo is not your friend. Keep making the money and keep your chin up. If you haven’t filmed the reunion yet, don’t let them get away with those vague generalizations. Half of the stuff in the tabloids was said by them on TV!” – Parkview, August 28, 2012, StoopidHousewives

“Your cousin is beyond belief and I’m sure she didn’t change her personality for the show, so once again, you were right about her. What a phony troublemaker. Unfortunately, I hope she will never be a part of your life. What I wish you did and will do in the future is not take the bait and never engage in a conversation under those circumstances. She wanted to entrap you, and while you didn’t care if you were heard because you had nothing to hide, don’t let someone ever put you in that position. You gave Caroline the opportunity she wanted. She exposed herself as the lunatic she is, but unless you actually want that kind of drama, to be berated and have to defend yourself, don’t do it. Better to have said to Kathy, ‘I don’t want to discuss it with you.’ Take control of the conversation and of yourself, end it when it’s uncomfortable. Walk away. Don’t give them any more ammunition to use against you. Think dignity. They are ALL not worth it. I know you will have to face them at the reunion, you DO NOT have to go overboard defending yourself, your statements, your actions. We have seen everything. You will not convince them, they don’t care, they want you to lose control. I know you are learning and you WILL keep becoming a better person. Think self-respect and role model for your daughters. Let the others be ugly and mean. You’re not. I can’t even get into the horror of your sister-in-law and your former friend. Cowards. One is silent, the other is sleeping. It’s exhausting just to watch. I wish you better friends for your life and another way to support your family. You are very strong, but your energy should be spent on something more worthwhile. Keep writing those books.”  – viewer553, August 28, 2012, Teresa’s Bravo Blog

“Those high ratings are why Bravo keeps pushing Tre’s buttons. Bravo knows people like Tre so they keep pushing the drama with her.  Ever since she flipped that table Bravo and Mandy have been pushing her buttons, hoping she’ll freak out again. Every move by Bravo is a calculated attempt to infuriate Tre. They want to film her losing her temper again. Sadly, flipping that table is also what got her ALL the attention and made her the star of the show. That’s the reason she got the contracts for the cookbooks, teeth whiting, Bellinis etc. Now, with those ratings, Tre’s is stuck with that sort of story line and she can’t afford to leave the show because of their financial troubles.” – OCwoman, August 29, 2012, StoopidHousewives

During season 4 episode 17, drunk Joe Giudice said Teresa sold stories, but he didn’t identify which ones, probably because he doesn’t know since Teresa is the one who deals with the tabloids. She said she sold the story with her and Jacqueline on the cover after their youngest children were born. She said she sold photos and not ‘stories’ for the In Touch covers.

Sam at LynnFam has an interesting theory on tabloidgate:

“I have a theory regarding why Tre says she only got paid for one cover. Others have said she got a multi-cover contract, and if this contract was like my multi-book contracts, it could easily have given Teresa the impression that she was only being paid for one picture, especially if all of the cover photos were taken in one photo session or in a series of shoots that took place during a compressed time period. [Teresa probably got one check but was committed for more than one cover. For all we know, it could have been struck in the same deal as the one she did with Jac since I am sure they both had different manages negotiating for them.]“

There are rumors on the blogs that Teresa is trying to hide the fact that she is paid because she arranged for payment to go to someone other than herself so that she could avoid giving Bravo their cut. Andy Cohen has asked her on a couple of occasions if she got paid, and she said only for the cover she did with Jacqueline. If the Giudices were trying to be shady, then Joe Giudice is an idiot for outing her (or maybe he was so drunk he forgot to keep his mouth shut), but I think he just doesn’t know how it works. The risk of upsetting Bravo would hardly seem worth the money she would get for the stories. This is nothing but fodder for the blogs, so there’s not much more to say about it.

“What I don’t get is that the articles about Teresa are ABOUT TERESA. Even Jaq acknowledges that… They keep screaming about her bashing them, but the only time I can think of where they got ‘bashed’ was the one where there was a blurb about each other them and the info used is pulled from their own talking heads on the show! I don’t think those bitches even know why they are upset at this point. They are just angry to be angry.” – RHOAmbler, August 27, 2012, AllAboutTRH.com

“I read all the tabloid articles. The magazine printed what Teresa’s castmates said about her on the show. If they said it on camera, why should they have a problem with it printed in a magazine.” – Lee, August 27, 2012, AllAboutTRH.com

“I don’t understand what the big deal is about the magazines. Teresa lies on herself. Why does everyone else care? She doesn’t really mention the other cast members and if the magazines do, they usually mention something they said in their talking head interviews so what’s the big deal.” – ATLnNYC09, August 27, 2012, LynnFam

“Why would Teresa swear on her kids that she ever said a bad word about Caroline if it wasn’t true? I believe she didn’t do it. Tre does talk to magazine but the magazines make things up. Magazines do make things up. I am also sure they can also take statements said in the show — put quotes on it and put it in print and build their own context around them.” – rabblerouser2010R, August 27, 2012, LynnFam

“My writer friend, who I asked about this, works for a newspaper and had only a little knowledge on the subject. Pretty much, what she told me, is in the articles linked below. She did say though, that normally tabloids pay for photos, be it paparazzi types or photo shoots (like a Kardashian wedding or Brangalina baby). They also use pre-exsisting quotes in their articles and present them as if they are part of the story. You can’t do that in newspapers. Had I known the tabloids would have had such a big part in this season I would have kept them! I remember those magazine stories and I know, because I read them, half of those ‘bad quotes’ were things that came straight from the show itself. Meaning, they said it on air. It boggles my mind that they are lying like this. I guess they think we are all too stupid to notice.” – Exit4, August 27, 2012, LynnFam

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/tabloid1.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2292346_write-tabloid-style-article.html

By MM in OC, Comment at LynnFam
August 27, 2012 at 11:19 am

I believe the tabloid issue is all an argument over semantics. Teresa says that she is paid for photos and she answers a few questions that are asked of her. That’s much different that selling articles, which is something I believe PR people do. Teresa doesn’t know what the tenor of the article will be, what the headline is, etc. As many people have said, most of these articles have quotes directly from the show. Also, I rarely see Teresa quoted directly. This is very different than that article in People about Jax autistic son.

Regardless, the whole argument is stupid. What really makes me mad is that Chucky keeps saying that Kathy and Melissa are such nice people and she doesn’t give any credence to Teresa’s main issue – that they came on the show to create drama with the family.

The main issues seem to be jealously over Teresa’s opportunities and the dominican republic vacation where the favored sons got into a brawl and were arrested.

Finally, I think I’m the only one that couldn’t stand Carowhine’s mob mentality from the start. Her treatment of Danielle has shifted to Teresa. A hater through and through – does anyone think Caro is in a better and happy place???

By I Need A Housewives’ Detox Program, Comment at LynnFam
August 27, 2012

The things with those magazines is this, they take pix and recycle quotes and manipulate pix and take things said on the show, etc., etc.

Teresa is NOT lying about there being NUMEROUS negative stories about her and her family. Is SHE putting them out there? Jac and the rest of the gang are trying to say that Teresa is putting them out there to make people feel sorry for her. I’ve read some of those negative stories. They don’t make me feel sorry for Teresa. They make her sound like an a*shole (which leads me to believe they were put out by BRAVO or one of her castmates who also wanted to make a buck or two).

The way Teresa passionately and adamantly kept telling Caroline that she NEVER said one negative thing about her in any magazine….I don’t know. I’m sorry, but I think she was telling the truth. On WWHL, when Andy kept pressing Caroline to tell him exactly WHAT Teresa said in the mags that was so offensive to HER in particular, Caroline, in my opinion, could not really come up with anything so egregious that it justified her absolutely horrible behavior to Teresa all season.

MONTHS BEFORE Caroline gleefully made her prediction about Joe going off to jail, Teresa leaving him and writing a book about it, that same article with those exact same predictions was in Us Magazine (I know because I read it for free while I was standing in the grocery store. What? You think I was going to pay for that sh*t?!). Isn’t it funny that months later, Caroline makes that exact same prediction on the show? So, it seems like Caroline was the more likely culprit to have sold that story to Us Magazine — NOT Teresa.

At this point, with the way Caroline is behaving, the way she’s saying she wants Teresa gone, the way it was KILLING her to see Teresa getting along with her family and having a good time on the trip, the way it is KILLING her that Teresa and Dina are still friends, I would not put it past Caroline to have a hand, along with BRAVO producers, in setting it up at the end to make it look like Teresa tried to out Melissa as a former stripper. This is simply MY opinion. No offense.

Of all the cast, Teresa needs a PR agent more than any other, and it shouldn’t be Bravo TV… WHAT A HUGE MISTAKE! If her performance on WWHL on August 26, 2012 (the 1 on 1 interview with Andy Cohen) is an indication of what she plans to say at the reunion, she will turn off viewers — she has been repeating the same things over and over again all season to take on the insane clown posse, and she is starting to sound disingenuous (Caroline doesn’t sound any better, but she is good at spinning things and speaking in riddles to hide her deception, plus she will have the rest of the cast backing her).

You can’t argue with liars…they just cover one lie with another and another until you begin to question your own memory and then your own sanity…you can never resolve an issue with a liar. The best thing for Teresa to do is ignore them and not respond to their lies… if she constantly defends herself against their false accusations, she eventually will become consistently shrill and defensive.

Teresa would be better off saying nothing than to keep repeating herself like she did on WWHL. She needs to show a little humility; the others certainly won’t. Just let them attack and don’t attack back: say nothing but ‘I’m sorry I hurt you,’ give them hugs, and move on to the next topic. And she needs to stop making it seem like she has a perfect marriage… no one is buying it!

Did Joe Giudice Get Caught Cheating on Teresa?; Caroline Manzo Sells Spiteful Rumors About Teresa Guidice’s Marriage to the Tabloids (Updated 10/12/12)

Bravo used the magic of subtitles and voice-overs to give the illusion that Joe Giudice was taking to a mystery woman:

When asked, “Was Joe Giudice talking to a woman on the phone in Napa; did he forget to turn off his mic?”, a former RHONJ post production supervisor, speaking to a cousin on September 17, 2012, responded: “The call was 100% innocent. He called Teresa a c*** because he didn’t want to be there filming, and was taking it out on her. He had a legal mess at home he needed to deal with but was contractually obligated to be there.”

When asked by AllAboutTRH on October 10, 2012, if she ever told Jacqueline that Joe cheated on her, Teresa said: “I never told Jacqueline any of that. If I had proof of Joe cheated on me, I wouldn’t be with him. I’m just not made that way. I know some people would stick with their husbands even if they did that but to each their own. It would be unfortunate but I would definitely not stay with Joe.”

A magazine called me two weeks ago to ask me about my reaction to the new episode they just received. I hadn’t seen it, so I had no idea what they were talking about. Once I got a copy and watched it, I was sick. I felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach. It has not been a good couple of weeks. Of course I begged Bravo not to air it, but when you sign up for a TV show, you sign up to show everything, warts and all. The good and the bad. Kind of like that other promise: for better or for worse. Welcome to the ‘worse.’

My husband disrespecting me on camera happened a year ago, but I just found out about it, and I’m trying to process it. I seem to always be the last to find out things, huh? People’s pasts keep coming out and they admit their dirty deeds to me, like my own family contacting Danielle to try and “take me down,” but I only find out about it months or years later. They say they’re sorry, they’re not that person now, and what can I do? I forgive them. I forgave my brother and Melissa, and I can forgive Joe.

But I’m not stupid. It does make me wary, it does make it hard to trust the people I love. But that’s how it is in grown-up life. It’s not a fairy tale. Everyone I know has their own share of heartbreak. And to be honest, guys in Jersey aren’t the most refined in the world. I look around me and I see other guys treating their women the same as Joe treated me and worse. I don’t like it; I don’t think any woman does. It’s weird that we put up with it when we’re so strong and smart in so many other ways… But I’m sure it’s the same with guys in a lot of places. They’re different animals. They are animals. They think it’s funny to show everyone their buttholes. Women aren’t like this. We have our own kind of ugly that men don’t understand. But we have to work it out and live together, don’t we?

I don’t really want a guy that acts like a woman. I’d rather not have Joe talk to me like a perfect gentlemen and go to his mistress’ apartment every night either. So I guess you have to decide what you can take and what will break you. I’m pretty strong and I have to be: I’m the mom of four little girls.

The truth is Joe and I are happy together now. He’s a great dad and a great husband and we still really like each other. He’s not perfect, I’m not perfect, but you put up with each other’s faults for the good of the whole. Should I break up my family and leave him because he called me an ugly name a year ago? My pride wants to of course, but I don’t think that’s the right or responsible thing to do. People don’t stay married for decades without bumps in the road. So this is a pretty big bump, but I’m hanging on. Thank you all for hanging on with me!

- Teresa Giudice, August 20, 2012, For Better or for Worse

Video of Joe’s Mysterious Phone Call (Still Below)

“For Teresa’s sake, I really hope that Joe was talking to Jake from State Farm, but it’s obvious to me he’s cheating.” [charmed1, August 20, 2012, Television Without Pity]

“Loved Joe’s switch to another language even though his phone partner had obviously understood English a few seconds beforehand. Obviously their signal for ‘no longer able to talk freely’.” [Jessie Q, August 20, 2012, Television Without Pity]

“Here’s another thing about Joe’s call that should tip off Teresa. It looked like it was about 6 or 7 PM when that call happened, which means it would have been 9 or 10 PM back in NJ. Does Tre really think that any legit business needed to be conducted that late? [TheBombDotCom, August 20, 2012, Television Without Pity]

“So why at the particular time did Teresa need to confront him about being on the phone? I think it’s because he walked away to have the conversation in private (and it could have been his body language and the look on his face while on the phone, which Teresa could see from the table). Joe seems like one of those assholes who has loud phone calls in public without giving a shit about what he’s talking about or what others hear. So him walking away for a good couple of minutes talking softly probably jumped out as a warning sign to Teresa. That whole display in the vineyard was truly pathetic and embarrassing.” [luckyroll3, August 20, 2012, Television Without Pity]

“Many marriages go through infidelities. If you chose to forgive him and give him a second chance, we support you. Just make sure if you stay, you find out for sure if he was cheating and not let him off the hook for that.” [CC1921, August 21, 2012, Teresa's Bravo Blog]

“As for Joe’s phone call… Please do not ignore the fact that he was not on a work related call…your fans are not stupid; and just because you don’t address it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen…or that it will be forgotten. At least say ‘it’s a matter I have chosen to keep private’…but not addressing it at all makes you seem…dumb.” [MaaMaa, August 21, 2012, Teresa's Bravo Blog]

“Teresa…it was very clear, by the tone of your husband’s voice and the content, that he was talking to another woman in your presence. He is so disrespectful and I’m not sure why you put up with it. I also think you had an idea of what he was doing; that is why you followed him and then tried to force him to have sex with you. Now, you are trying to obfuscate the cheating by focusing on the name-calling. The name-calling is bad enough, but the cheating is worse.” [ceeacee, August 21, 2012, Teresa's Bravo Blog ]

I’ll give her a pass on the phone – it’s their business and nobody else’s and they’re dealing with it privately – fair enough.

Teresa is deliberately giving a BS excuse because she is not about to give those hags what they want – so I say the more outlandish the better.

I suspect part of the “convo” she had with Juicy behind closed doors included a very loud “you a-wipe – you just gave them ammunition to throw at me and our family. Nice going you ignorant douche!!”

Teresa and Juicy are working things out… protect your man, girl. I hope behind closed doors she ripped him a new one.

Teresa and Joe are still together. They got past that very bad moment in their marriage.

“I’m not going to comment on what came out on this episode regarding Joe Giudice, because I feel that it is such a sensitive matter to talk about, and I am sure it was very hurtful for Teresa and her family to see. Despite our fighting, my heart hurt for her. That is all I will say on that matter. As far as the sex they had in the vineyard, I think I understand more now why she chose such a time to make a scene. I was wrong thinking that it was entirely about her trying to take the spotlight away from Caroline. I think somewhere in her mind, she was marking her territory. In my opinion, she should have just peed on him, kicked up some dirt, and walked away.” [Jacqueline Laurita, August 21, 2012, Marking Territory]

For an Excellent Recap of Episode 16, Read ‘Whispers in the Grapevine: Teresa is no fool‘, Excerpt Below:

“One thing I hope she is not feeling is embarrassment or humiliation about how Juicy spoke about and to her. It’s not her fault. She cannot control whether he behaves like a gentleman. For the record, I do not believe Juicy is a bad man. I think he’s broken. He lost his way. He forgot the difference between what is right and what is wrong. And I strongly suspect that if he gets into alcohol recovery many of his problems would be resolved. After all many of them stemmed directly from drinking. Many more can be solved if he can just get the help he and his family need.” [Priscilla from Wascilla, August 20, 2012, Whispers in the Grapevine: Teresa is no fool]

Joe Giudice Before Bravo | Joe Giudice After Bravo

Was/Is Joe Giudice Cheating on Teresa?

Footage from season 4 episode 16, which aired August 19, 2012, shows Teresa Giudice seducing her husband in the vineyard (stills below) after the mysterious phone call where he verbally abuses her and claims he is talking to someone from work. Here’s a summary of what was shown in the episode: Joe is on the phone with what seems like another woman; Teresa, suspicious of him stepping away to make a call to ‘work’, goes over to investigate; as she is approaching, Joe says to the person on the other end of the call: “Here comes my bitch wife”; he also refers to her as a “c—”; Teresa, maybe trying to avoid going back to the table in this emotional and awkward moment (and not wanting the others to suspect anything is wrong), leads Joe to the vineyards where (perhaps playing to the cameras to lighten the mood and prove to the audience that all is good) she tries to seduce him, but he tells her: “I’m not doing it over here. I don’t like it over here”; and when she persists, he calls her a “f–king whore.”

After interrupting Joe’s mysterious phone call (knowing the camera crew was filming and her mic was on), Teresa led Joe into the vineyard to fool around; he said he didn’t want to; she kept insisting; he called her a ‘f—ing whore’. The others could see Teresa jumping up and wrapping her legs around Joe, and they could hear him cussing and saying he didn’t want to do it. Note that Teresa had suggested making out in the vineyards earlier, while the Gorgas and Giudices were stilling driving in the RV (and after Teresa’s vulgar remark, when Melissa took their picture, about her husband sticking his finger somewhere in her–her attempt, she said, to ‘make him smile’).

Since season 1, Teresa has been jumping on Joe and has allowed the crew to film them in bed in the morning as she attempts, in a playful way, to engage him, to which he is never receptive because it goes against his personality (he’s no nonsense, rough around the edges, very private, and hates the cameras but is allowing them into his life for Teresa). After Joey and Richie joined the show, Teresa’s sexual banter increased: the c-ring, Joe’s lubrication, hot dog breath, etc., as if she’s trying to keep up with their exploits. Joe Giudice doesn’t seem to appreciate public displays of affection, yet Teresa keeps trying to get him to respond. She needs to stop: some people are just not comfortable with PDA and don’t behave in a romantic manner.

“I’m trying to make some sense of this. Teresa and Juicy had to know that the camera was following them into the vineyard. Didn’t they? I remember seeing a still of Teresa with her legs wrapped around Juicy sometime either just before the season aired or when it was just beginning. So, what they didn’t know was that Bravo had Juicy calling her all the other nasty names. Or that Bravo had the audio of his phone call before Tre showed up to question him.” [They probably did not realize that Bravo had a clear audio of the phone call or that they would make such a major deal of it.] – WestCoastFeed, August 16, 2012, Reality Tea

In Richie’s talking head interview, about what he saw and heard in the vineyard, he made a nasty comment about the Giudice’s marriage:

“All I kept hearing is, ‘Come on, we can do it here, I’ll put my legs up.’ And I’m wondering to myself, ‘This guy doesn’t even want you in the bedroom, what makes you think he’s gonna wanna do you on gravel?”

In her Bravo blog for the episode, Kathy made excuses for Rich’s comment, as usual (he constantly hurls insults at Teresa behind her back). She also made excuses for teaming up with Caroline to stir up trouble for the just-rekindled (albeit lukewarm) friendship between Jacqueline and Teresa. Remember, just prior to Teresa’s toast that got Kathy and Caroline riled up further (Teresa didn’t mention Jacqueline in her toast, even though they just made up, yet Jacqueline wasn’t upset about being left out), Kathy and Caroline were trash talking Teresa and trying to redirect Jacqueline’s anger back onto Teresa. Here’s what Kathy wrote in her Bravo blog on August 20, 2012 (what the others say and do is harmless, according to them, and the swipes they take at Teresa are just ‘wisecracks’):

“When Joe Giudice stepped away for his phone call, none of us knew what was said or what had happened between him and Teresa until this week when we previewed our episode. In retrospect Rich’s comment, which was meant as a wisecrack, now may have been a little insensitive. Rich and I both feel badly about the situation. This all happened a year ago, and we sincerely hope that they are in a much better place.

“I want to address the little talk I had with Caroline and Jacqueline before our last dinner at the Lancaster Estate. If you’re wondering why I asked so many questions about what went on in their conversations with Teresa, I will tell you. We all spent a great deal of time on this trip trying to understand and sort out our relationships. Some relationships were on the mend and others were fractured. This was true for each and every one of us. Here we were, all together, trying to make a go of it, each in our own way. I felt that I needed to understand the dynamics of what was going on so that I could be supportive and compassionate to everyone. That’s just me, I’m a libra and I constantly try to find balance.

“This brings me to our last dinner. Sometimes I need to see things played back, because I want to be sure of what I heard or didn’t hear at that dinner. The fact that I was left out of my cousin’s toast after I had tried so hard with her was a disappointment at best. If you were there, you knew it was a deliberate snub. You could cut the tension with a knife. I was embarrassed, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin my evening or cause a scene that would ruin anyone else’s evening. Once again Teresa’s actions speak volumes. So at this point I would like to offer my own toast, “In Vino, Veritas (In Wine Is Truth).”

Teresa, in her August 20, 2012 Bravo blog, explained that she did not snub Kathy in the toast:

“Of course I didn’t mean to ‘snub’ Kathy in my toast! For goodness sake! I thanked our hosts, the birthday girl, and mentioned how glad I was that I was working things out with my brother. I have wonderful things I could have said about everyone at the table — how much I love Vito’s bear tattoo, how Lauren just warms my heart every time I see her happy little face — but that would be kind of ridiculous and long. I had patched things up with Kathy already at our lunch, but this trip was the start of fixing things with my brother and Melissa. If anything, Kathy should be happy for me and Joey. If Rosie was sitting at the table and they toasted each other after a rough patch, I’d be happy for her and not try and make it all about me… I’m sorry, but it just didn’t make sense to toast Kathy or Richie, because then I would have had to also toast Albie and Chris and Greg and Lauren and Vito and the people who owned the winery and the camera guys and my agent… I actually don’t even have an agent. Well I do have a literary agent for my books, but that’s it. No PR person either. Bravo TV is my PR.”

Caroline, in her August 20, 2012 Bravo blog, wrote a short blog (just a few sentences) for episode 16, saying:

“This has been quite a season so far, and frankly I can’t wait for it to end so I can lock it away in my mind’s vault never to surface again.”

“Here’s my problem with Caroline: she is always saying she’s over the drama and doesn’t do drama, while constantly causing it by instigating it and involving herself in other people’s family issues, while simultaneously saying no one has the right to get involved in her family dramas or comment on it. It’s a double-standard. And next week I think she’s going to maybe lose it or something – I don’t know, but I feel she’s been very out of line with Teresa’s family this season. Maybe she’s over it completely ( I can sympathize), and I know Bravo is hiding pivotal information from us but, still, it’s getting ridiculous and she is looking like a huge hypocrite.” [Mary, August 20, 2012, Reality Tea]

“Caroline is a total shit stirrer. When Jacq said she was ok with just being a casual friend to Tre, Caroline was all over that screaming that you need to pour out your deepest thoughts to your friends. Really? When it was clear she wasn’t able to stir any more shit between Jacq and Tre, she decided to turn to Kathy and tell her how lousy Tre treats her too. I didn’t think the toast was mean, what is Tre supposed to do, go around the room and make up things to thank people for? She isn’t articulate, she doesn’t think ahead, but I refuse to believe she planned to diss Kathy. She’s just not that smart. Caroline is the mean girl on the RHONJ, not Tre. And why is everyone so friggin concerned with their friendship with Teresa anyway? God, it’s like watching high school, where everyone wants to hang with the popular girl. Pathetic.” [poeticlicenced, August 20, 2012, Television Without Pity]

“For Caroline to come on national TV and said she felt ‘sorry for Teresa’ about her marriage… if that is not mean spirited, what is?” [GiveMeBalls, August 31, 2012, Twitter]

No Birthday Parties for the Gorga Children; The Cock-and-Bull Story That Teresa Guidice is a Bad Aunt (Updated 9/23/2012)

“I know I’m not going to get my old sister back, but hopefully she can be an aunt to my children and love my kids the way I love her kids, and maybe I can open up her eyes, you know… I’m hoping Teresa opens up to this man [the therapist] and doesn’t blame anyone else for what’s going on in her life… That’s why I’m going to therapy: to make her understand what she does wrong.” – Joe Gorga, Season 4 Episode 10

“I hope she is going to start having a more positive attitude about my marriage, my music, and my kids, and just stop overanalyzing me and everything I do. It must be draining for her to worry about me all day and worry about how we are living our life.” – Melissa Gorga, Bravo Blog for Season 4 Episode 11

UPDATE 9/23/2012: Melissa Tweets Photos to Give the Impression That She Threw Gino a Birthday Party on September 22, 10 Days After His Birthday

Melissa tweeted photos to give the impression that they celebrated Gino’s birthday party at Medieval Times on September 22, 2012, 10 days after his birthday, which was September 12th. Notice in the photo above that Joe is holding Joey and a pint of beer, and that the people at the table next to them also are wearing the same hats. So it looks like the event was not a birthday party but just a normal day at Medieval Times. There isn’t a birthday cake or gifts in the photos that Melissa tweeted (above).

This article about them not throwing parties for their kids was last updated on September 18, 2012, with a picture tweeted by Lysa Simpson, Melissa’s sister, showing that Gino was with her on his birthday (photo below).

Melissa and Joe were at Six Flags on September 14, 2012, but didn’t bring their kids (they must have been on the road on the 12th and Lysa must have had their kids with her). Melissa tweeted on August 8, 2012, Antonia’s birthday, that Antonia ‘chose’ not to have a party this year, and wanted to go to Six Flags instead; however, they never took her there… they planned to piggyback their kids’ birthday celebrations onto their previously scheduled trip to Six Flags for Melissa’s performance at ‘Gay Night Out’ on September 14th, but instead left their kids with the aunt.

Joe and Melissa were called out by Fame-Whorgas (this article was originally published on May 6, 2012, and then updated and republished on August 13) and Reality Tea (in August) for not throwing parties for their children. Hopefully, it isn’t negative attention from bloggers that motivates them to throw parties for their children. Joe and Melissa should focus their attention more on their children and less on themselves.

UPDATE 9/18/2012: Joe and Melissa Gorga Did Not Take Antonia to Six Flags for Her Birthday as Promised

Melissa promised to take Antonia to Great Adventure in lieu of a party for her birthday (August 12), which wouldn’t have required much effort since she was going there anyway on September 14 to ‘perform for ‘Gay Night Out’ at Six Flags Great Adventure’. From her tweets it seems like they didn’t bring the kids; therefore, Antonia and Gino, whose birthday was on September 12, didn’t have birthday parties and didn’t go to Six Flags either, or so it seems. The only tweet about Gino’s birthday was from Lysa Simpson (who Gino was with on his birthday, not his parents) and it was not a party photo and it was not from Six Flags (see photo above: it was tweeted on September 12th, two days before Melissa’s performance).

The Gorgas did not take Antonia to Great Adventure on her birthday, so not only didn’t she have a party, she didn’t go to the amusement park (her parents tweeted photos of themselves partying at their shore house with Melissa’s relatives on Antonia’s birthday)! This is because they never intended to give her a party or a choice on what she would like to do special for her birthday… Melissa had already scheduled an appearance at Great Adventure amusement park for September 14, 2012, and she planned all along to piggyback Antonia’s and Gino’s birthday celebration onto that trip, but it seems she changed her mind. Melissa ‘performed’ at Gay Night Out at Six Flags Great Adventure (photo below) … she tweeted photos from that event but no photos of her children at the park with her. It’s all about Melissa and Joe Gorga, not their kids. Their kids are used to being ignored.

The photo below was taken on August 12, 2012, Antonia’s 7th birthday. The photo is hilarious but also sad because it must be the best photo they have to share with their ‘fans’. It seems like, at the last minute, in an attempt to prove to the viewers that they celebrated Antonia’s birthday (even though they didn’t throw her a party), they stuck a baby’s party hat on her head (it looks like the one she wore in photos from her 1st birthday) and made her pose with them so they could tweet a photo: Melissa is literally holding the hat atop Antonia’s head (it is barely touching the top of her head and the chin strap appears to be hanging out from under it), and Joe is holding back Antonia so she can’t break away from them. Antonia’s expression says it all. The Gorgas must have been too drunk to realize how bad this photo looks!

Joey Gorga Jr. Has Never Had a Birthday Party

Most parents throw a party to celebrate the first year with their child, but not Joe and Melissa Gorga. When Joe Gorga, Jr. turned one-year old on April 27, 2011, his parents didn’t throw him a birthday party; and when he turned two-years old on April 27, 2012, his parents again didn’t throw him a birthday party. For Joey’s second birthday on April 27, 2012, the Gorgas took him out to dinner. The only photos Melissa or Joe tweeted or Facebooked were Joey coloring in a dining room at a formal restaurant with linen table clothes and Joey blowing out one candle in a slice of cake from the dessert menu (see below). Melissa threw herself a 33rd birthday party on March 22, 2012 — all the NJ Housewives were there except for Teresa (see below).

Joe and Melissa Gorga Hold Grudges: It’s Their Whole Storyline; The Entire Cast Has Storylines Based on Old Grudges Against Teresa Giudice (Updated 8/27/12)

Teresa holds grudges like no other, and I can’t control that. She has to decide her family is important enough to her and let it go. The issues going on between her and Jacqueline and Caroline have nothing to do with me. It’s pretty obvious they are upset with her for their own reasons. I will say that there definitely is a sense of reality that is missing lately with the fake dogs and all the other nonsense stories. Teresa doesn’t ever have to worry about me taking anything from her, she loses her credibility all by herself. What you will see if you pay attention is that Teresa is trying to take me down every chance she gets. She is attacking my character, my marriage, my looks. What she is claiming is happening to her is quite the opposite. There goes that projection again.  I see my husband Joe doing nothing but putting his two feet forward and also trying to move on with his sister. He is trying his hardest to convince her that they need to do something to fix it. Everyone is trying to move on from the past. It’s funny how Teresa says to Jacqueline at the wedding that therapy brings up the past and she doesn’t want to bring up the past, she wants to start fresh. Well then please do it, Teresa! It’s time to move on. I wish I could let her know that constantly lying to try to convince everyone that I’m a bad person is only going to give her temporary satisfaction. In the long run actions speak louder than words or written words that someone else writes for you. I am trying to move on, but quite honestly she is making it impossible. I’m so sick of all this nonsense. If Teresa ever comes to us and says she needs us, we will be there. But she hasn’t. I’m a smart girl and I can figure out why she is doing this. I said it in my first blog on Bravo and it remains true to this day. Teresa likes to be the center of attention. Be beneath her or get the hell out of her way. I refuse to let her walk all over me, disrespect me or my family, and that’s the real issue. – Melissa Gorga, A Real ‘Rockstar’, June 12, 2012

The Cast Keeps a List of What Teresa Has Done ‘Wrong’, Which is the Definition of Holding a Grudge

According to Melissa (Her Conversation with Teresa on the Beach During Their RV Trip, Season 4 Episode 14) the Cast Apparently Keeps a List on What’s Wrong With Teresa and What She Has Allegedly Done to Them (Melissa Had a List on Her Cell Phone During Reunion 3, But She’s Not One to Hold Grudges!) — NEWSFLASH! Keeping a List is the Definition of ‘Holding a Grudge’

Melissa: You need to sit back from it maybe and say ‘What am I doing wrong? Because why am I having an issue with everyone?’

Teresa: Oh, really!

[...]

Teresa: If you have a problem, say it to the person and be done with it. Like, don’t hold grudges. I don’t hold grudges.

Melissa: And I agree with that. I’m not a grudge holder at all. I’m a person, I quickly forgive. But maybe I can see one or two things, but if they’re saying there’s like a list and

Teresa: What list?

Melissa continues: People constantly have a list of (stops in mid sentence to respond to Teresa’s question).

Melissa: I don’t know.

Melissa continues: But they have a list: ‘OK, you did this to me, then you did this to me’.

[...]

Teresa: Someone got in her [Jacqueline's] head.

Melissa: Who’s someone?

Teresa: I don’t know! I don’t know.

Jacqueline in her Bravo blog claims that Teresa is holding a grudge about Kathy’s cookbook comments but in reality Teresa is simply trying to air out her grievances and give Kathy the opportunity to explain herself (she took her aside and voiced concern). The RV trip was Teresa’s first chance in person with just Kathy present to address her concerns regarding Kathy’s very public accusations that Teresa and her mother stole Kathy’s mother’s recipes.

“Boy, Jacqueline, do we see things differently. Teresa telling Melissa what happened is not the same as holding a grudge. Holding a grudge is remaining angry directly with Kathy well after the confrontation. In Teresa’s direct interaction with Kathy, Kathy denied even using the word recipe, which apparently she did not. Rather she said she was just refering to the pictures of the cookies that were just like the cookies her mother used to make. The next day, when Teresa tells the story (most likely because she is still trying to understand Kathy’s intentions since Kathy was less than forthright), Melissa definitely takes Kathy’s side when she tells Teresa… “She said your mom called her mom for the recipe and then you put it in the book”. Obviously this is a complete contradiction to what Kathy said the night before when she insisted that she never even used the word recipe and she only meant to comment that those pictures of the cookies were like her mothers cookies. Poor Teresa, who can she trust. You say Melissa is trying to remain neutral, yet she seems to rely completely on the version of the story Kathy told her. I did not see Teresa act upset because Melissa was taking Kathy’s part. She seemed confused because Melissa’s version of Kathy’s story was so different than what Kathy herself said the night before to Teresa. Yet you feel for Kathy and Melissa, or at least the version of them you made up for yourself. And once again, Teresa is completely wrong and the other two are just high minded do gooders, perfect in there intentions much like you are. If you want the viewers to believe this you will have to tell us what you are drinking and how much so we can catch up and lose all perspective. Are there pills involved, because your view of things is pretty darn distorted. Enough about Teresa, tell us about you, your projects that are keeping you so busy. What are they specifically. Besides the whirlwind that is the marketing of BLK. Unfortunately a lot of the viewers live in the same country you do. You might want to walk back some of your claims of how well it is doing. It might hurt your credibility, and we do not want to burst that perfect bubble of denial you live in.” – littlewitch, August 7, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

“Jacqueline, why are you commenting on something that is really none of your business. Ummm taking sides. It’s clear to see because you dislike Teresa: you are automatically on “the other side”. I feel (just my opnion) that was so rude of Kathy and yes passive agressive. My natural comment would be “my mom makes those also.” If I cringed when she said that, my gut instinct tells me it was wrong. And if she didn’t mean it in that way, why is she backpeddling to say Teresas mom called her mom to get the recipe? That would only make sense if she said that comment meaning it was her mom’s recipe, so why would she be covering her tracks. Teresa was upset; I think she handled herself well. She did not address it at Kathy’s dessert tasting, and she did address it at the beginning of the trip, openly and honestly. Kathy never mentioned that her mom gave the recipe to Teresa’s mom. As for telling Melissa, maybe she did want her take on it, and did hear what Melissa said. However, in the end, as a viewer, I felt Kathy was wrong and innapropriate, and getting it out in the open was the right thing for Teresa to do. I know Teresa never does anything right according to you!” – valgal62, August 7, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

“Jacqueline, would you please stop with the nasty tweets, blogs, comments, talking heads, private conversations on tape? Maybe then Teresa could stop holding her “grudge”? Doesn’t the word “grudge” imply that the issue is in the past? It can’t be in the past if you keep doing it. If Kathy would stop it with cookie talk behind Teresa’s back, it would go away. So Teresa isn’t your type of friend….does that mean you have to hate her?” – Parkview, August 7, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

“Jacqueline, I feel like I am watching someone who I want to shake and say PLEASE STOP. STOP WITH ALL OF THIS CRAZINESS. Isn’t there one person in your family, or one friend, that can pull you aside and set you straight. What I mean about setting you straight in your inability to be logical. Nothing you say makes sense. Your mind is stuck and what you say is not based in reality. You said you have been trying to convince Teresa for seasons to forgive, or not hold a grude. You act as if Teresa knew everything that was going to be said ahead of time… are you nuts?? Who are you to insist your mis-guided thoughts on anyone? You overlook everything and have set your mind on hating another person. You all sound nuts. You AND THE REST OF THE CAST KEEPS SAYING TERESA DOSEN’T WANT ANYONE TO DO WELL?? WHAT ABOUT DINA AND HER NEW SHOW. DINA is the only one that has her own show. Teresa has kept her friendship with her and supports her and tweets about her show… did anyone in your family do that? Even if you are not talking, you could show her support; so who has the problem?. Caroline is a mean-spirited person who, once has set her sights on someone to dislike — or even worse, hate — has no bounderies. She has no guilt. I do not believe that Teresa has done anything that would warrant so much hate. If someone or a friend hurts you, you move on; you do not go out and try to destroy them. Do you get that???? I want this to be over because I cannot wait for the reunion. I hope that Bravo realizes that this is not entertainment and that is why people are taking Teresa’s side. I would take anyone’s side who was being talked about and surrounded by so much negativity. It will only come back to all of you. You try to come across as sweet, innocent and wounded. What people are seeing is a mean hearted unbalanced woman. Please Bravo get rid of this dark energy that has turned into a witchhunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – Vicgrca1, August 7, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

“Isn’t that exactly what Caroline did at the beginning of the season??? She talked to Teresa and was still upset about the book! Good Lord, this show is full of hypocrites. It’s too bad, because I used to really like it!” – kamara_lynn, August 7, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog

It’s a double standard with this cast. All of them are permitted to whine and complain about Teresa and her transgressions, whether real or imagined (mostly imagined), from years ago, and then rehash them every day to anyone who will listen or any tabloid that will run with the story (as long as the cast can hide behind their true identities). But the minute Teresa addresses something that has just been brought to her attention (even though it many have occurred years earlier), she is holding a grudge. The hypocrisy of this cast is unbelievable!

By RHWvwr, Comment Made on Melissa’s Bravo Blog, ‘Breaking Down the Wall’
August 6, 2012

Okay, this is long but hopefully BRAVO grants me this respectful yet honest Brain Dump.

Melissa, these blogs carry so much animosity because we’re very aware of what you’ve done. It’s as simple and complex as that. The fact that you guys, Teresa’s “family,” are embracing their future devastation, perhaps jail time, with smugness and even anticipated glee is the sum of all the parts you brought with you. And there’s not a person out here who doesn’t know you are hoping for the worst case scenario for the Guidices because it will be public knowledge, and on our television screens, in our homes is where you play your game against Teresa for fame.

This is and was, the worst case of personal battery that I have not only ever heard of, but actually had to witness. I  can’t even watch re-runs. I understand that sounds mundane, but I used to SO enjoy channel surfing if I happened to be home, and catching old RHW episodes, especially NJ because it was fun, glamorous and most importantly, left me happy. Then you joined. Now, I cannot stomach to watch these last two seasons a second time. Not a single episode. I can’t. The ONLY time I’ve enjoyed myself for the past two season’s is when Teresa has filmed scenes with Gia.

Gia’s “song” that she performed and the aftermath was so hard to wrap my brain around. And it’s because Teresa couldn’t fix the problem for her daughter who was in so much pain. Teresa COULDN’T because the problem, as defined by you guys, was a LIE.

Teresa keep saying let’s leave the past behind, but you and Joe COULDN’T because then you would have no storyline. Teresa was left scratching her head wondering why everyone was getting angrier, having no idea you were manipulating behind the scenes and working the talking head’s chairs to just crucify her, every– single– episode. If you had stopped like she wanted to, your conversations with the Wakiles and rest of the cast would have gone “off plan.” Your purpose and blueprint would have needed a new script, so you continued the manipulations to keep your storyline alive. When she wasn’t fighting back, you created more: Joe’s re-enacted scene telling you what Teresa said in private arched the entire season’s plot. Teresa tried to move on but you couldn’t let that happen or you were left with just ‘you,’ and you knew you needed the momentum of the “Teresa needs to be Ruined” storyline everyone was climbing on board with, especially after she created another best seller, or as you called it, “making some extra cash.”

THAT’S what happened Melissa, and that’s why we aren’t buying this “we are getting closer” blog. You already had the wheels in motion and you saw your future pop star career at the demise of your sister in law, and there was no stopping you.

Teresa couldn’t SAY what the problem was, what we all have come to learn IS the problem. She couldn’t say “Melissa wants to be famous more than she wants to breathe, and she’s so jealous of my spot on this show, she’s come on to unearth every family fracture and smear me to anyone who will listen because not only does that get her ON the show, it has the added GOAL of ruining me because she’s sat in a silent jealous STUPOR for two years while I’ve been famous!”

And she certainly couldn’t tell Gia what you were doing. So we all had to sit through the facade that ALL of this was Teresa and Joe’s strained relationship, knowing DARN WELL that you and your constant manipulations and paralyzing envy was what was causing GIA and her entire family so much pain.

Teresa finally tried to tell Jacqueline once she was faced with the truth about you and Danielle, but by then your easy plan of getting rid of Teresa and her success to make room had infected the entire cast. Had Teresa been a secondary character on this show, like a “Kathy,” and non threatening in competition, you would have been soo different, but you knew you needed to pull the trigger.

You gave yourself away at the beginning because why would you come on so defensive, guns blazing if you knew you didn’t mean any harm? You and Teresa had a strained relationship so, of course, Teresa wouldn’t welcome the idea of you on the show — who would? If you’ve used that excuse in your head to sleep at night you better buy some sleep aide.

Well, now I hope Teresa can just say what we all know, because THAT’S why she becomes so tongue tied — you have her trapped. She can’t explain away your actions without stating the above because you’ve masterly manipulated it under the guise of a brother/sister conflict. Baloney!

Teresa may be self absorbed, but there’s not a malicious bone in her body, even now after all you’ve done. Your Joe is a rotten man for going along with you, but he most likely STILL doesn’t know what he has in you. Kathy has shocked me the most after your Joe. She hopped on your ill-will and rode it for all she could get. She was pivotal in this plan and her eyes were wide open (no pun intended.) Richie is the sorriest man I have ever come across on a reality show. I could care less about his verbiage and juvenile behavior; I think that part of him is harmless. What isn’t harmless is trashing his wife’s cousin, a woman, on National TV for two years because he thinks she’s in the way of him making some big bucks off of his wife landing a role.

Joe Guidice has never sat in that chair like a HW and planned a personal smear. His “reality” rant was well deserved after watching his wife tortured at the hands of her family for two seasons. Teresa on her worst day has not attacked you all — she hasn’t and that drives you nuts. THAT’S why the fans are carrying her through this.

I understand you were miserable in that small town with your nemesis so huge in pop culture and starring on a show, but the way you crawled onto this show with zero considerations for Teresa, her girls or your in-laws has clearly defined you. I really don’t think you care: all I can hope is for karma to stop you in your tracks because that’s the ONLY thing that will reach someone like you.

Today they showed the top 20 moments in reunion history. You created Teresa’s hell before you even signed your contract. The reunion where she became so visibly upset and pushed Andy away (which I still think he harbors resentment) was because Danielle was using information YOU fed her to use on the reunion. She went ballistic when Danielle mentioned YOU because she didn’t want HER family’s name dragged through the mud. Isn’t that rich irony!  I cannot believe you called Danielle to give her reunion “ammo.” Geez, did you watch the reunion on the edge of your chair at home waiting for your “moment?”

After that scene, how you THEN came on swinging makes you something I can’t even print. I’m beginning to rethink Danielle after watching you, and I hope she does pop up on the reunion to redeem herself. You used her Melissa. That scene is what spring boarded Caroline into her Danielle rant that made us all think Danielle was a monster. Now seeing how Caroline bullies, I’m beginning to think Danielle did not get a fair shake.

I do know how harsh this blog sounds but you’ve brought us here. No one wins here, least of all your nieces or in-laws. The only upside is you’ve made Teresa even larger. I’m sure bloggers will let me have it for being so vocal but we are very invested, because we are very angry. What you did was wrong and it was planned. And we’re stopping it. I just want my show back, and that will not happen until you are fazed out. Teresa may forgive, but the fans certainly won’t.

By mktgdrivethru,Comment Made on StoopidHousewives
July 31, 2012

Italian parents favor the son to point of insanity in some cases — the sun rises and sets on him — especially since Joe Gorga was the only son and the youngest (like my father) he was probably doted on by his mother and sister. Unfortunately, that distorted his view to the point where he thinks that the world should follow suit. Couple that with a singular lack of intelligence and there you have Joe Gorga. Remember, he had two or three failed engagements before hooking up with Melissa. I knew guys like him (and was briefly engaged to one) where they are not so much in love with the girl, but the IDEA of her — a whore in the bedroom, a chef in the kitchen and a mother to take care of his every need and breed. So basically, any (Italian) girl willing to adhere to those conditions would do.

Seems to me that he had an agenda — as did Melissa, whose reputation was not the best in those parts. And to old school parents, no woman is ever good enough for their prince — especially one who even Joe Gorga referred to as “the whore of Babylon” – – and now she is the mother of their grandkids.

So they (including Teresa) put up with her, but will never ever accept her. She knows it. He knows it. And it enrages him, as it goes against his distorted view THAT EVERYTHING HE DOES IS PERFECT. Hence, the “angel from God” comment. He truly believes that.

So now his sister has fame and attention and her husband is loved by their parents (being family friends from the same village) and worlds collide — all at his baby’s christening. So JoeGo reacts like Mount Vesuvius and feels completely justified in doing so. Make no mistake — this is not out of undying love and respect for his wife — he treats her no better than the whore of Babylon himself. No wonder the previous two fiancees ran.

Not that I am shedding any tears for Melissa — she is just as bad — set up as mommy and daddy’s special snowflake her whole life and only surrounds herself with people who worship at her altar. She is calculating and went into this with her eyes wide open, but also is nowhere near as clever or interesting as she thinks she is. She couldn’t fool the Gorgas into buying the sweet and innocent act — and most of the viewing audience isn’t fooled either.

Now as for Kathy — she is unfortunately typical of the jealousy that runs rampant in these too-close-knit almost clannish families. Their views are so insular, they cannot see the world beyond their own backyards. So in this world, Teresa was likely the most favored diva, attention-grabbing princess, and Kathy was forced to sit on the sidelines, making passive-aggressive comments to soothe her bruised ego. Now, she has her chance to sit at the cool kids table (as her gross nerd husband) and she is clinging to it like grim death. Kathy is also neither smart enough or interesting enough to hold her own, so she will be back at the stove soon enough.