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Insider Dishes on Melissa Gorga and Says Melissa Thinks Teresa Giudice is Behind Fame-Whorgas; Melissa Received a $300,000 Advance for Her Advice Book on Marriage (She Asked for $1 Million); Teresa Giudice’s Parents Wanted to Disown Melissa After She Accused Teresa of Calling Antonia Ugly
On July 6, 2013, Fame-Whorgas received the following e-mail.
I am writing to you regarding an article that RealityTea posted as an exclusive on July 3, 2013:
I would like for you to add to it by addressing other facts and issues.
I personally know the Gorgas, Wakiles and Giudices. I knew Melissa before I knew Teresa, so there are a few things I would like for you to address:
– Please address: Melissa is convinced that Teresa is behind FameWhorgas. Melissa can not seem to understand why someone would dedicate so much time to a blog about her – negatively!
Note from Fame: I am in no way affiliated with anyone on the show, including production. I have never had any contact with Teresa or any other cast member, their family members or friends. Teresa has nothing at all to do with this blog, and I am not part of any “army”!
Here is where the double standards comes in:
– Other blogs such as AllAboutTRH and Reality Tea – Melissa does not seem to understand that bloggers are merely giving their opinion; in other words; they call Melissa’s bluff and it drives Melissa crazy. She always says she knows it is Teresa behind it. Melissa does not see that these sites see how Melissa is so transparent!
Melissa will contact a blog and throw Teresa under the bus – exactly why people like yourself report what you do about Melissa!
– Speaking of… You all see through her transparent ways.
In one of Melissa’s Bravo Blogs last season, Melissa wrote ( I am paraphrasing here). “All I wanted was for my big sister [Teresa] to accept me.” That is a crock of shit. Yes, Melissa always envied Teresa. You saw for yourself how Melissa copied Teresa’s every move – down to the way Teresa had her original font on her website, among the million other things that Melissa copied off of Teresa. Caroline thinks Teresa should have been “flattered” or handled it better? Some would agree. However, despite the feuding that went on before Teresa was on the show, Melissa and her sisters were bashing and doing anything they could to sabotage Teresa. They went on blogs ridiculing Teresa. Lysa Simpon’s (notice the spelling) biggest mistake was signing her name to many of the comments. No one knew who Lysa was when the comments were made. You have posted the comments on your blog (Thank you!). No need to rehash.
– Melissa went out of her way to contact AllAboutTRH and tried to intimidate AllAboutTRH. The Gorgas and Wakiles were convinced that AllAboutTRH worked for Teresa.
Have you noticed every time an “fan” account pops up it never lasts long? GorgaFans.com, MarcoSisters, GorgaArmy, MelissaFans, etc? It is the demands they set forth. Melissa and her sisters cannot seem to understand when someone volunteers, or is even paid, people do not want to bash family members for them (Melissa and her sisters have paid or promised things in the past).
What is horrible about the Gorgas and Wakiles is they attempt to intimidate bloggers when the truth is reported. Makes them look worse. Their PR tried to tell them, but when you are trying to restore your reputation and have things to hide, that is how one acts.
GorgaFans.com did not get enough hits to qualify for ads, so they asked Melissa and her sisters if they could be paid until they build up traffic. You know how that went. But Lysa (again) promised to have them on the show. Lysa needs to stop making promises she cannot keep and needs to understand not everyone wants to be on camera. GorgaFans did not live near NJ – they live on the West Coast – and that is not what they wanted. They have families to support and blogging a fan site takes time. GorgaFans received more negative comments than it did good. Imagine running a fan site and getting negative comments constantly. Melissa and her sisters (the sisters are not Gorgas but, as always, have their hands in everything) wanted them to post everything they were doing, down to buying a family a hotel room during the Sandy disaster. The GorgaFans advised it was not a good idea because Melissa and Joe were getting enough grief for only helping people for attention. Melissa and her sisters wanted GorgaFans to attack anyone back who spoke negative about Melissa or them! GorgaFans did not want to handle things in that manner. GorgaFans advised them to simply ignore.
The main contributor at GorgaFans still cares for Melissa, so do not be surprised if she retracts – they had her sign a contract because of the falling out of a twitter fan account.
– Melissa wants Teresa to take blame for all the family problems while Melissa takes no responsibility. Have you noticed this season Melissa always excuses her behavior by saying, “I was giving Teresa a taste of her own medicine”? That is also complete bull shit. Reality: Melissa has always been this way. Melissa is great at playing the victim and manipulating the truth. You have covered these issues as well. (Thank you!)
– Melissa is the first to mention that Teresa’s marriage is fake – did you notice how angry Joe Gorga was when Joe Giudice said at the reunion, “Lets talk about how you met Melissa”?
Speaking of Joe Gorga! Where to begin? – Yes, Joe is on steroids.
– Melissa knows that Joe Gorga is insecure so she uses it to her advantage. It is really sad.
– Have you noticed how Joe whines about his and Teresa’s relationship, saying things like his heart is broken, constantly asking people to “talk” sense in to Teresa – but when it comes time for them to meet up, Joe treats Teresa like shit.
So your readers understand, the show is scripted to a point. Conversations are cut up as well. Here is an example: When Joe said he would start calling Melissa out on her behavior, that is not what Joe originally said. I know for a fact because someone who I speak to often was there.
Note from Fame: In the scene where Joe calls out Melissa on her behavior, Melissa’s hair is not as curly when she’s sitting on the bed typing on her laptop before Joe comes in to the room – when Joe enters the room and she hands the stack of clothes to Antonia as an excuse to get her out of the room so that Joe can call her out on the tweet about Teresa being the bankrupt one, it is curlier – so there was an obvious break in taping before they continued with the staged scene (a long enough break for Melissa to curl her hair). Hat tip to Longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller for pointing this out.
– Teresa and Melissa are encouraged to keep the drama going on and off season by staying in the tabloids. However, if you noticed when Teresa was in the tabloids last year, she was apologizing – but that upset everyone.
Note from Fame: Us Weekly publishes positive articles about Melissa; recently RadarOnline published a series of anti-Teresa articles (see the first comment to this article for links).
Melissa was saying things such as Joe Giudice hit on her and Teresa called Antonia ugly. That even threw BravoTV off. The “story” about Joe Giudice was funny.
When Teresa got on the show, Melissa started to wear extensions. Melissa’s hair was not that long then and still is not – if you re-watch Season 4 when they are at the shore house, Melissa has her hair pulled back in a bun; her bun is not full and you can see her natural Indian tail. You also can see her hair color is different colors in different scenes. Bad editing, but it shows you how things are shown out of sequence.
Melissa changed the way she dressed, stopped associating with people who she thought would not fit the “Reality TV Mold”. So, if you saw Melissa pre-RHONJ, lets just say, Joe Giudice was not interested. Joe Giudice never cared for Melissa – Joe Giudice never cared for Melissa because of the problems she started in the family.
As far as Teresa calling Antonia ugly? Teresa explained that well in her blog. What your readers do not know is that Teresa’s parents wanted to disown Melissa after that. Hopefully BravoTV does not manipulate the scenes. It is things like this, that Melissa does, that causes problems. Melissa is the stem of all family problems.
Look how everyone on the show blames Teresa for everything. It’s jealousy. The Gorgas, Wakiles, Manzos and Lauritas are all using each other. It is hard for Teresa to watch as Melissa hangs out with Teresa’s old friends.
So you understand, Melissa is on FameWhorgas constantly. 🙂 Melissa has to read Joe the comments and posts. He can read things like text messages and tweets, but a whole post? No!
P.S. I forgot to mention that Melissa and Joe decided to shop a workout video when they heard Teresa was working on one. Here is the thing: you never heard Melissa mention a word about working out. Last season you saw how Teresa copied the lyrics of Survivor by Destiny Child on her blog. Teresa also mentioned in that blog post, as she did in her book, that she needs good workout music. Read the post again. Teresa has always worked out. Joe Gorga has always worked out as well, but Melissa would complain he spent more time at the gym than he did with her. And he smelled like sweat all the time. If you look at earlier pictures of Melissa, she is not as toned as she is now or as Teresa always has been. Melissa should just say, “As I get older, I realize I need to workout,” just as Teresa did with her first book – told the truth! Teresa said she never cooked before she and Juicy got married and that she wanted to share her family recipes.
Teresa making NYT best seller three times? Drives Caroline and Melissa nuts. Sad. Did you see Teresa laughing at the epic fail of Kathy’s cannoli kit ? Or her trash Kathy like Rich did on TV? Or laugh at Melissa for writing an “advice book”? No. Melissa had wanted to write a book for a while, however, the publishing companies were not offering what Melissa wanted – $1 million dollars!
Melissa got around $300,000 for this book up front. Get this: Melissa gushes that Teresa only got $250,000 for her first book. That was in a bad economy over five years ago. Not bad at all after only appearing on six episodes! Teresa had presented the book to publishers as the show aired. Contrary to Bethenny saying Teresa copied, Teresa started the book before the season aired and filmed. Teresa had also kept quiet about it because she did not know if anyone would publish it. So when Caroline and Jacqueline talked about a family cookbook, Teresa mentioned she was one writing one. Teresa did not copy. Teresa likes to be original.
Note from Fame: On July 8, 2013, StoopidHousewives published a story from a source using the same term, “Reality TV Mold.”
Teresa Giudice Sells Stories to the Tabloids But Denies It; Melissa Gorga Claims Teresa Called Antonia ‘Ugly’ and Wrote a “Whole Lying Blog About My Daughter”
“I used to always cover up for her—I’ve kept a lot of secrets. Not anymore. When she stops telling lies about me, I’ll stop telling the truth about her.” – Melissa Gorga on Teresa Guiduce, October 1, 2012, Us Weekly
On the August 26, 2012 episode of RHONJ, Joe Giudice admitted to Chris Laurita that Teresa gets paid to give stories to In Touch:
“They write the bull (bleep), and we make the money,” Joe tells Chris Laurita.
“They came to us.”
Chris: “So you put it out.”
Joe: “So what?”
Chris tells Joe that he and Jacqueline were approached by a magazine to dish dirt on Teresa for $50,000, and they refused.
Joe: “You’re a moron.”
The following in a recap by Vulture of when Caroline called out Teresa (for the second time) in season 4 for a having a deal with the tabloids, which in listed on page 17 in the federal indictment handed down on July 29, 2013:
Tre: I love you.
Caroline: You’re lying.
Tre: I’m not lying.
Caroline: You have a seven-cover deal.
Tre: You’re lying.
Caroline: You’re lying.
Tre: I’m not lying.
Caroline: You are lying to my face right now.
At which point Caroline calls Tre a “fraud” and a “disgrace.” We find out over on the men’s side that Teresa planted a (false) story in a July In Touch about possibly having a baby boy. We learn from Juicy that Teresa did get paid for the tabloid stories. Joe Guidice’s attitude is more or less “So what? Your wives would do it too.” We also learn here that Jacqueline was offered $50,000 by a magazine to write a story about Tre and turned it down. We also learn that Juicy Joe called Chris Laurita “shady” to some businessman and they fight for two seconds but then make up. They all kiss each other. More than they need to, really.
Tre turns down a bend in the road and resorts to Ophelia-style non-sequiturs when Caroline says to her face that she used to tell her to stop hanging out with the rest of the women to prove her friendship: “Just because your family has problems,” Tre blurts out. Irrelevant?
Manzo sick burn: “Hanging out with your family was the biggest blessing because all the things that didn’t make sense began to make sense.” Oww.
Eventually, Joe Guidice yells “Caroline!” from across the room, and Chris Manzo poises for attack (“If he fucking hurts my mother, I’ll fucking jump across the room and hit that motherfucker.”)
Albert Manzo does not seem to belong on this show, and not only because his flesh is not the sickly orange of a hormone-grown low-end grocery carrot: “I usually just sit in the back and pretend to be sleeping or not paying attention.” Eventually, Lauren comes to her mom’s aid.
At one point Teresa grabs Kathy’s face for emphasis.
“I don’t even know how to lie,” Tre says, and everyone basically snarfs. At least, I snarfed. This fight about old shit has actually been going on for half an hour now, and my brain cells are depleting worse than if I hooked myself up to an IV of 151 rum.
“He was an instigur.” Tre says at one point. Pauses, thinks. “He was an instigator.”
Finally Juicy Joe puts an end to all of this by announcing he has important business to attend to and the Giudices must depart. Tre shrieks something intellegible.
“She’s such a piece of shit,” says Lauren. “Why did you two start talking?” Melissa asks Caroline, incredulous. “Don’t talk!” Melissa wins for the only sane line uttered this week.
Like that moment in Fatal Attraction when the erstwhile-drowned Glenn Close springs up from the full bathtub, Tre pops back in for one final round of brief crazy, then she leaves. Joe Gorga says that he’ll continue to try to support Tre emotionally, blood being thicker than water and all, and the Gorgas prepare to leave as well.
The funniest thing about the Kathy face-grabbing incident is that every time Kathy says that she didn’t like it, Tre does it again. Caroline cries in an empty room. Yahtzee.
Teresa has adamantly denied being paid by the tabloids for stories, even writing a blog about “how it works.” In her June 12, 2012 blog, Cover Girl, Teresa said that she got paid for the photo shot and nothing else:
Here’s the deal though: you’re only ever paid for photographs. The magazine has to pay for photos no matter what: either they do a photo shoot with you, or they pay for shots from a professional photographer who just happened to catch you walking down the street, or god forbid, the paparazzi. Here’s how I feel about that: if the magazine is going to run a story about you anyway and you have no control about what the story will be, what will be on the cover, even how they might twist your own quotes or use ugly pictures of you, why not get paid for a professional photo shoot? I love, love, love photographs… especially of me and my girls. You’ve seen my Christmas cards; I go over the top with photographs. Now suddenly magazines are offering to give me gorgeous photos (that I get to keep) and they’ll pay me. If I say no, they’re going to do the story anyway, but the photos will probably not be pretty, like the recent cover of US Weekly with my arms crossed when I look all mad. Who wants that?
So Jacqueline and I were all excited to have beautiful shots of us and our babies in In Touch and get paid for them! And that one actually was a pretty nice story, no drama or crazy cover tags. But maybe that’s because we never made it to the cover. We got bumped for a story about Brat Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. No need to have a dramatic cover sentence for us because we weren’t the cover.
It’s weird how it works: you don’t always get paid even for photo shoots. People magazine doesn’t pay for instance (unless you’re Brad Pitt I’m guessing). But when I was asked to pose for a photo shoot with my girls in their playroom, for back-to-school clothes with Alex McCord and her boys, and with my girls for Halloween in People magazine, I did them all for free because I love taking pictures! You don’t have any say about the photos of course, and they can still pick a bad one, but I still think taking pictures is fun, especially when I get to keep them for free.
At some point the photos of me and my kids must have been selling well because I started to get asked more often, and started to appear on covers I was never asked about at all. And of course, the stories about me got crazier. To date, I’ve been on the cover of over 25 magazines. That’s just crazy to me; I know actors and models would kill for that much exposure. But I didn’t ask for it. They put me on the cover because apparently magazines sell really well when I’m on them. I’m not sure if that’s flattering or not since the stories aren’t typically very flattering.
The truth is Jacqueline and Caroline aren’t on the covers of magazines every week presumably because it wouldn’t make the magazine sell. They aren’t missing from the magazines because they take some high road and say no. They aren’t wanted. I’m not saying being wanted is better or somehow desirable because in most cases it isn’t, but to say that I have any control over it is false. And they know it.
So on this episode they were all acting so shocked at the story they said I put out. First of all, they know I didn’t put it out. Yes, for that one I posed for the photos rather than have random street shots of me used. And I wanted some photos of me and Gabriella since she’s so quiet and not on the show a lot. During the shoot they asked me some questions, and I answered them. Some of them, not even all of them. And I didn’t say anything bad about anyone.
[…]
So now you know how it works. I never did. I do get paid for photo shoots sometimes, sometimes I do them and don’t get paid, but I like pictures. And here’s another thing: if they pay you for the shoot, they shoot a million pictures in tons of different clothes so they can spread them out and use them in several different magazines without having to pay you again. I think I’ve only ever done 4 or 5 photo shoots that they’ve used in the over 20 covers (I can’t even count how many times I’ve appeared in the magazines. I don’t even read them anymore…) And I do say no A LOT. I’m busy, it’s not a lot of money, and I don’t need it.
Regardless of the photos, I can’t control what’s on the cover or when, and I usually hate what they say. Even though I love the picture of my wedding vow renewals with Joe, they wrote right over my wedding dress: “Despite Joe’s drunken bullying, Teresa refuses to leave him.” Did I put that out there? Of course not.
In her June 12, 2012 blog, A Real ‘Rockstar’, Melissa criticized Teresa for the In Touch magazine article featured on season 4 episode 7:
“I guess in her mind, there is a difference between what she is willing to share with the tabloids for money and what she will share with her friends and family. Please take note, if there are constantly stories in the tabloids, the show is going to address it. If you don’t want these issues to be brought up on the show, then don’t address them in the tabloids.”
In this same episode Melissa accused Teresa of not being loyal to family because of the In Touch article:
“I get it—you need to make money, [so] make your money—but at the same time, you need to be loyal to your family. Maybe she can go see a therapist about that. I’m sorry, that’s how I feel.” – Melissa Gorga, Season 4 Episode 7
The In Touch cover above features a photo of Teresa and her children along with sensational headlines. Her children should be off limits and should never be featured on tabloid covers, especially knowing the sensational stories inside. If she wants her face on the cover to help build and sell her brand, fine, but she needs to protect her children from public scrutiny and humiliation. She also needs to restrict the way in which Bravo films her children. She should have final say on what airs, or she should not allow Bravo to film them at all.
In October 2012, Melissa accused Teresa of calling her daughter, Antonia, ugly, but Teresa denied the accusation:
According to Melissa in her interview with Us Weekly published on October 2, 2012, when Antonia, her daughter, got accepted to a modeling agency, Teresa said: “I heard Antonia got accepted. Yeah the ugly kids always get picked.”
According to Teresa in a response posted on her website on October 8, 2012 (see below): “And Antonia, don’t ever, ever let anyone tell you you are anything but BEAUTIFUL! Know how I know? Know how everyone knows this horrible story about me calling you “ugly” isn’t true? Because you look just like me when I was a kid! To be honest, you look almost more like me than my own daughters… I wasn’t trying to make this about me–I was only trying to point out that it’s ridiculous to claim I called Antonia “ugly” when we look alike–that would be like calling myself ugly. She’s beautiful, I love her and my nephews.”
Teresa wrote a blog on her website to give her version of the story and posted the two photos above, comparing herself to Antonia at the age:
My Darling BEAUTIFUL Niece
By Teresa Giudice, TeresaGiudice.com
October 8, 2012 at 2:21 PMThere were another million crazy hurtful untrue stories about me this week and I ignore them all, but one I can’t ignore. Again, Melissa is using our children in public, telling lies about them, to try and hurt me. Please Melissa, say whatever you want about me, but leave innocent children out of this!
I’m not even talking about her ridiculous claim that she’s leaving her “dream house” because she doesn’t want her kids to go to school with my kids. Our kids are all in school now and they don’t go to the same school already. She can stay in her dream house. We all know that’s not the issue…
But while I can protect my own kids from her lies and keep telling them that their uncle and aunt love them, I don’t have any access to my own niece and nephews anymore. Someday Antonia will be old enough to make her own decisions and hopefully I’ll have a relationship with her and her brothers then, but I have to answer the INSANE LIE that I ever, ever said anything mean about Antonia.
Someday when Antonia is able to Google her own name, she’ll find the evil story her mother told to a magazine about me calling her “ugly” (I can only pray Melissa’s words were taken out of context by the magazine and I hope Melissa sets the record straight with Antonia privately, even though she didn’t publicly) but I want Antonia to also see my response: it’s absolutely NOT TRUE. I adore you Antonia, and I adore Gino and Joey. You are my blood. You are Gorgas. You are beautiful inside and out! Zia Teresa will always, ALWAYS love you and always be here for you with open arms. My children love you as well. They always treated you like their own sister growing up since you didn’t have any. I hope one day you’ll be able to hang out again.
And Antonia, don’t ever, ever let anyone tell you you are anything but BEAUTIFUL! Know how I know? Know how everyone knows this horrible story about me calling you “ugly” isn’t true? Because you look just like me when I was a kid! To be honest, you look almost more like me than my own daughters. You are like a daughter to me and will always be in my heart. I love you Antonia! xx
Update on Monday, October 8, 2012 at 5:14 PM by Teresa Giudice
Believe me, I hate to leave a message for my nieces and nephews on the Internet, but I have no other way to get through to them, and at least this will be here, permanently, for them to read with their own eyes someday. I meant every word of it. I don’t care who believes me or doesn’t, this is how I feel.
And this wasn’t just a tiny rumor, the accusation was in a national cover story and you and I both know Melissa bought boxes of that magazine, so yes, Antonia will one day see it. I wasn’t trying to make this about me–I was only trying to point out that it’s ridiculous to claim I called Antonia “ugly” when we look alike–that would be like calling myself ugly. She’s beautiful, I love her and my nephews. Visit us all in 15 years and hopefully you will find one big happy family. xx
I know I’ll laugh about this cover story one day. Actually, the red dresses did make me laugh right away.
On October 8, 2012, Melissa responded by tweeting: “Did T seriously write a whole lying blog about my daughter? This is why I’m moving. Always about her. #enoughalready”
I’m not so sure Antonia looks ‘just like’ Teresa when she was a kid (I think Milania has Teresa’s features and will grow up to look a lot like her mother — photo below). Antonia resembles the Gorga side of the family but I think she also equally resembles the Marco side of her family. Melissa certainly will have something more to say about it.
Castmates Are the ‘Inside Sources’ to Tabloid Stories About Teresa Giudice; Teresa Says She Doesn’t Have a PR 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. – 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!
Teresa struggles to articulate her thoughts under pressure and explain things clearly when she distressed, and her cast mates take advantage of that. I myself am getting tired of seeing her continually blow her chances to clear up misconceptions. And I am tired of doing it for her on this website (if she can’t be bothered, why should anyone else make the effort for her?). She knows that the cast twists her words, so she should be prepared to clear up the misconceptions or not say anything at all, especially about the tabloids (either she was paid or not — give the specifics and end it!).
“If Bravo misrepresented themselves and their intentions, surely Teresa would have a leg to stand on. Let’s remember that this is a year ago. Her brand, life and relationships would have evolved by now. Bravo has really taken liberties with her storyline. Yes, she signed up for it so she has to cop it, which she is, but then she’s slammed for defending herself. They don’t see what material Bravo has chosen until the week before it airs. If Bravo has a bone to pick with her, as suggested, then she’s never going to be treated equally. We saw this when the ‘homophobic slurs’ started. That’s when Cohen seemed to change. I think the producers build friendships with them to earn their trust; and I’ve said it before, she’s not the brightest spark, so there could be a false sense of security there. She is the only housewife in all the franchise to be victimized like this. Ethics appear to have flown out the window in Bravo’s HQ!” – Sackem, August 21, 2012, Reality Tea
Teresa needs to turn the accusations back on the cast and ask them to elaborate: they need to be specific about what she actually said to the tabloids about them and their families that has gotten their big girl panties in such a wad or they need to drop it. I’ve seen the show and I’ve read the interviews online, and I have not seen anything negative that Teresa said about them or their families, but I’ve seen plenty of negative things that they and their husbands have said or written about her and her family.
“I feel for you…. I have read most of the comments and in my opinion you are the only one who can decide what to do. I will agree though that the magazines are out of control, you need a PR agent that will help you do some damage control. For as much as you would have begged Bravo not to show it, they did because is the climax of the show, it was the most anticipated moment, thanks to your husband. I still say that he knew he was going to get caught; your attempt to sway him into a loving moment in the vineyard was looked at as desperation, especially when you had Richie as the number one spectator and narrator of the event — not to mention the embarrassment at the winery, because deep down you knew what he was up to. It happened a year ago and possibly you have moved passed it but it will be ever so present in the media.” – ibis, August 21, 2012, Teresa’s Bravo Blog
In season 4 episode 17, Kathy makes a federal case out of Teresa giving an interview to In Touch where she said Richie gives her a hard time about spending money. Kathy complains about Teresa being petty and holding grudges, yet this is the most ridiculous and petty grudge of all! In this episode, it appears that Teresa finally snaps after taking two season of abuse from her family and friends.
Video preview here: Teresa lifts Kathy’s chin so she will look her in the eyes while’s she’s talking to her (just like Chris Laurita did to Ashlee in season 2, when the men were downstairs playing poker, and she was arguing with her mother, and then Jacqueline grabbed her and told her to get out of ‘her house’).
In season 4 episode 17, Kathy holds her phone, reads the story from In Touch about what Richie said regarding Teresa’s shopping. Teresa explains to Kathy that she was telling the truth when she said that — Richie always throw jabs at her about everything, but this is a hot button that he likes to push the most. Teresa defends her statement to the tabloid by explaining that Richie does harass her about shopping by asking her things like ‘How many times have you gone to the mall?’ (Teresa repeated it and now it’s wrong? So who’s wrong, Rich for saying it or Teresa for repeating it?) Kathy then defends Richie, saying that his digs at ‘reckless spending’ are just jokes — so she is admitting that Richie does throws jabs at Teresa about shopping — Kathy says ‘It was a joke right to your face’, and Teresa says ‘It wasn’t a joke to me.’
Kathy admitted that Rich made the statement that was quoted in the tabloids. So why are they accusing Teresa of lying when what is in the tabloids are direct quotes from cast members? And Kathy getting defensive about Teresa being upset with the shopaholic jabs is so pathetic when you reflect on the disgusting things Richie and Kathy have said about Teresa behind her back since coming onto the show. At the time, Teresa didn’t know about all the really horrible things they was saying about her on camera, which are far worse than the shopaholic jabs that Richie has been throwing at Teresa for years. Kathy should be more upset about what Melissa said on camera about Richie:
“I’ve never seen you work a day in your life. To me this is amazing to watch you actually break a sweat. This guy don’t work. He’s like, ‘Kathy, let’s take a ride to Bloomingdales’. That’s what Rich does all day. He hangs.” – Melissa Gorga on Richie Wakile, Season 4 Episode 14
Many more people watch the show than read the tabloids, so for them to make a big deal about the tabloids shows how desperate they are to find valid reasons to be so hateful toward Teresa. Teresa should be making a list of every negative thing each and every one of them has said about her over the past two seasons, just like the list they all are keeping on her. Their list will pale in comparison to the list she would have, and it is all documented on camera (and in their blogs), coming straight from their mouths — no tabloid has twisted their words or put words in their mouths. She should also make a list of the negative stories about her and her family that they have planted as ‘inside sources’ to the tabloids and bloggers (there are actual quotes from them as ‘insiders’, and it is obvious that they are the sources).
Pre-reunion interview with Caroline Manzo on Watch What Happens Live, Airing August 26, 2012 [Andy will make it look like Caroline won this round because he hates Teresa and he’s also tired of her fans harrassing him on Twitter]:
Caroline: She put my name in a tabloid in a very negative way.
Andy: What did she say in the tabloid?
Caroline: They don’t support me, they talk about me, they laugh at the bankruptcy.
Note to Caroline: Is this your best shot? Teresa told the tabloids that you talk about her and don’t support her, and that you laugh at her bankruptcy. Where are the exact quotes–these are generalities and not quotes… words the tabloids put in Teresa’s mouth. And even is she had said that, what’s the big deal? You all do talk about her and you all don’t support her. In fact, you all resent her and her successful business ventures, and you all probably do laugh about her bankruptcy–you certainly have no problem talking about all her financial and legal and marital problems on camera for the world to hear.
I wish I had a list of the many, many despicable things you all have said and written about Teresa over the past two seasons, including your tabloid quotes as ‘inside sources’. If I were Teresa, I would refuse to film with each and every one of you. You use the excuse that Teresa brought up issues about herself in the tabloids to justify discussing her personal affairs on camera. You all say if she put it out there in the tabloids then she shouldn’t be shocked that you all talk about it. You all should know better than any of us that just because it’s in a tabloid doesn’t mean it’s true or that it came from her.
“When Teresa and I were talking in the RV, I thought it was hysterical! I was teasing her and she was laughing. It was perfect. I needed to explain to her that when she puts out these articles about her marriage and kids in a magazine and accepts a paycheck, then it’s no longer just her business, it is now everyone’s business.” – Melissa Gorga, August 20, 2012, ‘An Honest Mistake?’
“Well there is always some drama sprinkled in, and this episode it was of course over another tabloid. Remember, when these episodes were shot last summer, I was trying to move on from the horrible place Teresa and I had been in a couple years back. I see the In Touch magazine covers Teresa does, and yes, I don’t like that they mention me in a negative way, but I think the viewers are smart enough to realize that you can’t believe everything you read. I guess in her mind, there is a difference between what she is willing to share with the tabloids for money and what she will share with her friends and family. Please take note, if there are constantly stories in the tabloids, the show is going to address it. If you don’t want these issues to be brought up on the show, then don’t address them in the tabloids.” – Melissa Gorga, June 12, 2012, ‘A Real ‘Rockstar’
“Jacqueline, what in your mind is the difference between your show and a tabloid magazine? The show is a television version of a tabloid of the lives of five or so families. What difference does it make if it is in print versus said on the show. The comments are all the same. Every one of you disses each other. If you did not, you would not be on the show. You just get to pick and choose who you will diss but you better diss somebody or you will not provide the entertainment and drama the show needs. – mjphoenix, August 22, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog
“So Joe Gorga gets a pass for his poor behavior at the winery but Joe Giudice does not. What a surprise! And Kathy gets a pass even though she was dishonest with Teresa. And Rich gets a pass because he is Rich. And why is it okay for you all to be angry at Teresa for possibly putting things out in the tabloids that you did not like, but you, and all your posse, do just that back at her every week on national TV and continuously on the internet. Pathetic. And one last thing–real nice job piling on Teresa after the week she had. Shame on you.” – chickadeeeeee, August 22, 2012, Jacqueline’s Bravo Blog
“Has anyone visited Melissa Gorga’s website? She has a whole section dedicated to her ‘press’ which is basically her in the back of IN TOUCH and US WEEKLY! I guess that is why she is mad? Teresa always gets the cover and they stick Melissa in a sidebar in the back of the mag!” – sissygirl
Teresa should just skip the reunion altogether or film a separate segment by herself. If she films with them, she should be prepared to point out nasty things the cast has said about her to defend herself against their accusations.
“According to Jacqueline and Melissa, Teresa puts out all the stories about herself (even all the nasty ones which, to me, is crazy, but I digress), so really they are stating that the tabloids are correct and tell the truth (which, again, to me, is crazy). So, by default, does that mean all the stories that were spread about them were put out there by themselves? Is that how they ‘know’ it to be true? It seems what is good for the goose is good for the gander and, honestly, I’m really sick of their hypocrisy!” [Anonymous]
“It was Danielle that outed Teresa’s financial problems, thanks to Melissa feeding her dirt on Teresa. I never heard of Teresa having any money issues before Danielle call Teresa out on it in a S2 episode. The tabloids stories came after that. And I guess at some point Teresa decided that ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ and gave some interviews to the tabloids regarding her bankruptcy.” [Amazing Wench, August 25, 2012, Television Without Pity]
“I needed to explain to her that when she puts out these articles about her marriage and kids in a magazine and accepts a paycheck, then it’s no longer just her business, it is now everyone’s business. So she can’t get upset when people discuss it. I felt like she was listening to me, but I’m not sure, because I just saw another one yesterday. To each their own.”
Teresa explained in one of her Bravo blogs (‘Cover Girl‘, June 12, 2012) that she agrees to sit for a photo session with a tabloid and they pay her for the photos, which they can use in the future any way they choose. This means that she has no control over the covers or the headlines or the content of the articles. The tabloids find quotes by the cast from other sources, like the show itself, so it is not Teresa that they should be blaming — it’s themselves.
“It seems to me that all the Tre-hate coming from Menopausal Red and the others is down to one thing. Teresa is the star of the show. She’s the one in the headlines of the tabs and featured in all the gossip columns. Not necessarily for great reasons but there she is. Not many cover stories for Caroline. Who increasingly I see as the Jill Zarin of this situation, organizing hate-feasts and fomenting trouble where there doesn’t need to be any. Caroline is one short step away from the three-month-old voicemail kept lovingly for all occasions. I think she thinks that if Tre goes, she takes over with her wonderful charismatic successful sons (excuse me while I laugh myself sick). But I don’t see any way Andy Cohen would let a gold-mine like Tre get away.” – quaintirene, August 25, 2012, Television Without Pity
Teresa always fails to explain verbally how the tabloids works when confronted with their accusations. She needs to write out how it works, and rehearse it so that she can explain it thoroughly during the reunion if forced to address it. The other cast members have made tabloid quotes a major point of contention with her, so she needs to help the viewers understand that she is not in control over what the tabloids write. If she is paid for articles and not just the cover photos, then she needs to explain that too and why she agrees to do them (if it’s for the money, then say it!)
“Joe finally admitted the truth! They got PAID for the articles. Finally! Nobody cared if they got paid 2 put out things about themselves. [It] became a problem when she included & blamed others or faulted us 4 asking about it.” – Jacqueline Laurita, August 26, 2012, Twitter
“who cares? you get paid for the shit you promote on twitter RT@JacLaurita Joe finally admitted the truth! They got PAID for the articles.” – TheFauxMilaniaG, August 27, 2012, Twitter
Throughout this season the cast (and the tabloids) have twisted her words for their benefit, and it will continue through the reunion and afterward. An example is Jacqueline’s Bravo blog and how she changed the meaning, plus added words, to what Teresa actually said when Melissa confronted her about the tabloid articles:
“I was glad that Teresa finally somewhat admitted in the RV to Melissa that she did in fact do more than just pose for pictures in those articles in the tabloids and that she did say things about her family and friends after she had been denying it for so long.
“Teresa finally admitted that she said what she said in the articles, because it was how she felt at the time. I can respect that, but I just wish she would have been this honest and upfront to everyone (including Caroline) and just admitted this in the first place instead of denying it the way she did originally. Caroline may have been more forgiving at that point.
“It was Teresa’s denying and not taking responsibility by owning up to what she said and how she really felt at the time that was partially the reason she was upsetting everyone. Nobody thought she was being sincere. Melissa told Teresa not to trash talk her family and friends again in the tabloids and then gave her a pass for it. Melissa just wanted to move forward.
“Like Teresa said, ‘Once the article is out there, you can’t take it back! There’s no use crying over spilt milk.’ Once in a while though, people like to hear you admit to doing what you did and give an apology for it. That was my point anyway.
“I thought Teresa just should have come out with it and said, ‘Yes, Caroline, Kathy, and Melissa, I did write that stuff that was not nice about you in the book and in the tabloids because I was upset with you all at the time for X,Y and Z. I am really sorry for doing it and offending you, but I would love to move forward now, and I won’t be doing that again.’
“I think most would have respected that answer or would have thought she was being more sincere with wanting to move forward. Instead, everybody was watching their back waiting for the next hit.
“Melissa made a good point that I kept trying to make myself. Once Teresa decided to put her business on the cover of a magazine and answer all of their questions, it no longer made it just her and her husband’s business. She opened it up to the world. If I decide to do a cover for a magazine, the same rules would apply to me, and I know that. If I put it out there, you can bet I’ve discussed it with my family and friends. What hurt me was that Teresa opened up to a tabloid but never opened up to me, one of her best friends. It hurt a little. That’s all.”
Teresa didn’t admit to anything. She just, once again, failed to explain that she is paid to for the cover photo and answers questions, but she doesn’t get to preview or approve the article that they write and print. She participates by answering questions, which they can put in any context they choose. The tabloids use quotes from the show’s footage, their blogs, their interviews and other unnamed ‘inside sources’. When Teresa speaks, she does so as herself and not in secret as an ‘inside source’ as they do.
In her June 12, 2012 blog, Cover Girl, Teresa explained how the tabloids work:
“Why not get paid if you can? They’re making money selling your face, why shouldn’t you get something? Here’s how I feel about that: if the magazine is going to run a story about you anyway and you have no control about what the story will be, what will be on the cover, even how they might twist your own quotes or use ugly pictures of you, why not get paid for a professional photo shoot? If I say no, they’re going to do the story anyway, but the photos will probably not be pretty, like the recent cover of US Weekly with my arms crossed when I look all mad. Who wants that?
“They put me on the cover because apparently magazines sell really well when I’m on them. I’m not sure if that’s flattering or not since the stories aren’t typically very flattering. I’m not saying being wanted is better or somehow desirable because in most cases it isn’t, but to say that I have any control over it is false. And they know it.
“So on this episode they were all acting so shocked at the story they said I put out. First of all, they know I didn’t put it out. Yes, for that one I posed for the photos rather than have random street shots of me used. During the shoot they asked me some questions, and I answered them. Some of them, not even all of them. And I didn’t say anything bad about anyone. What did I say? They were asking all about how my friends were treating me now that I was in bankruptcy. Obviously they wanted me to say something mean or crazy, but I didn’t.
“As far as the other ladies, their quotes are from THEM, not me. Those are the things they said themselves on the show. If a writer wants to label them as “insults,” what can I do? Nothing. Just like I could do nothing about the cover headline: ‘I’m terrified of being poor.’ The editors write that I’m ‘bullied by my friends for being broke.’ Not my quote, not from me.
“What’s crazy is that Caroline acts like it is from me. As if I’m some master magazine publisher who puts these stories out. I don’t put them out. They go out with or without me. And Caroline, Jacqueline, Melissa, Kathy and their husbands KNOW THIS.
[…]
“Regardless of the photos, I can’t control what’s on the cover or when, and I usually hate what they say.”
The In Touch cover above features a photo of Teresa and her children along with sensational headlines (this photo was taken months, or perhaps almost a year, before it was used for the cover). Teresa sat for the photo that was used on the cover but she had no idea how the photo would be used in the future. However, most viewers don’t know that, and because of that, they think she posed for this cover with full cooperation and endorsement of the feature article inside. She explained in her Bravo blog how the tabloids work: that she agrees to pose for a series of photos, for which she is paid, but she does not know how and when they will use it in the future. Her mistake is including her children in these photos and justifying it by saying she got nice pictures out of it. Her children should be off limits and should never be featured on tabloid covers, especially knowing the sensational headlines they use and the lies and half truths they print. If she wants her face on the cover to help build and sell her brand, fine, but she needs to protect her children from public scrutiny and humiliation. She also needs to restrict the way in which Bravo films her children. She should have final say on what airs, or she should not allow Bravo to film them at all.
“Teresa, as for being real, I don’t think that is working too well for you guys anymore. Real is good when it’s funny, moving or refreshing (as it has been in the past), not when it’s extremely uncomfortable to watch (as it has been A LOT lately). Maybe you and Joe should get your ‘fake’ on a little…everyone else on the show does and they seem to have a much easier time of it.” – LanaS, August 24, 2012, Teresa’s Bravo Blog
9/18/2012 UPDATE: Teresa Giudice had a ten cover deal with In Touch over the past two years. He contract began in September of 2010 and ended in September of 2012… read the full story at Tamara Tattles.
In Touch Issues with Teresa Giudice on the Cover
A Baby Boy for Teresa
How I Blew $11 Million
I’m Terrified of Being Poor
Teresa Talks Split
My Kids Saved Me
Fame Destroyed My Family
I’m Sorry I Was Selfish
A Wedding to Save the Relationship
It’s Worse Than Anyone Knows
My Life Without Joe
For magazine covers with Teresa Giudice, click here.
RealHouseKnife said on July 18, 2012 at StoopidHousewives:
The truth is obvious for all of us to see without having to “read between the lines”. Ok here are my two cents…
1) Teresa didn’t sabotage no one (double negative intentional) but apparently it’s ok for Don Caro to sabotage Dina’s business, Kathy to sabotage Teresa’s books (saying she stole her mom’s recipes), the Whorga’s to sabotage their sister (s-i-l)’s show (by going on there to bad mouth her and make her “fall down” so the “angel from God” could build her back up), yet none of the cast members call each other out on this vile behavior. EVERYONE but Teresa gets a free pass on back stabbing and bad mouthing except her.
2) Ms. SH had a story on how the producers have developed relationships with the cast members, particularly the Manzos/Lauritas- as evident on twitter.
Is it possible that the producers feed the others information about what is going on in Teresa’s life to sabotage her/make her look bad per instructions from Mz. Ann-dee??? Think about it, I never read in any tabloid that Teresa and Joe slept in separate rooms (and I doubt she would disclose that if it were true), and I’m not sure Teresa would say that to Jacqueline since she has said they sleep together but Joe has a room downstairs for closet and bathroom purposes (which we all agree is common amongst married couples that have the space to do so). Yet Milania happened to say something about it and it was caught on camera (therefore heard by the producers) and what do you know, all of a sudden WackyJacky is commenting about it in her talking head interview. Hmmm????
Also, notice Teresa’s surprise when WackJack mentions the garage/apartment/closet (which she did not have correct info for… no closest) that the Guidice’s are building and then all of a sudden it’s in the tabloids and WackJack is again commenting about it in the talking head, there too production had first access to what was taking place, maybe they leaked it to Jack and the Whorga brother to comment on. I wouldn’t put it past them.
In addition to the cast sabotaging Tre, I think production (under the instruction of Mz. Ann-dee) have also attempted to sabotage her to make her and her family appear in the worst light possible. Remember when the pyschic told WackJack that Teresa would have daggers coming from every direction? Boy, that was an understatement.
But God is good, and Teresa (although far from perfect), is a woman of faith who deep down is a person of morals, values, and a good heart — as are her parents — and we as viewers see that and that’s why we see right through everyone else’s intentions.
I’m done with Bravo. This is the only show I watch on the network, and I do that reluctantly, and I’m looking forward to the end of this dreadful season. I hate the mob mentality of the cast, but I’m losing patience with Teresa Giudice and her flippant way of dealing with the false accusations against her, and her failure to protect her children and marriage from Bravo and their malevolent intent.
“Every single person who has ever been on the Real Housewives is a horror: liars, cheats, thieves, bankruptors, hypocrites, surgery addicts, drunks, druggies, lowlifes, losers, closet cases and delusionalists. All of them. All. Of. Them. That said, love reading about their antics. I enjoy their stupidity, but I do not watch the show. I read blogs like yours and wait for the news of the divorces, prison terms, rehabs, etc. They all asked for it. All of them. And their kids…well, the little ones are victims. The Manzos? You will be reading about their jailhouse antics along with Juicy soon enough. Cheers!” – Barry, August 20, 2012, Keeping It Real with Ilana Angel
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