Teresa Giudice Says Her 1 Word to Describe New ‘RHONJ’ Season Is ‘Vindication’

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The ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ Cast Tease ‘Absolutely Crazy’ Season 14 with Lots of ‘Twists and Turns’

Drama in the Garden State! Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey will be a game-changer with tons of twists and turns, the cast — Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda — tell Us in this week’s issue of Us Weekly. The reality series’ latest installment follows the explosive season 13 finale where Teresa stormed off set after facing off with her brother, Joe Gorga, and her sister-in-law once again. After years spent clashing over family issues, Teresa and Melissa have since vowed to cut ties with one another. (The pair have stayed true to their word: In January, the Envy Boutique owner noted during an episode of her podcast that she and Teresa “don’t even speak to each other.”) Though loyal fans wondered what that would mean for the reality series, Dolores tells Us the women’s division benefited the group this season. “The separation made the group dynamic easier,” she explained. “We didn’t have to worry about the anticipation of what fight was coming next.” The Turning the Tables author, 51, and husband Luis “Louie” Ruelas also found themselves at odds with Rachel and her husband John Fuda during the reunion over Louis, 41, allegedly launching an investigation into their family. The couples continue to butt heads in season 14 — and Teresa tells Us she has no plans to make amends. “When they take accountability for their actions, then we can talk about reconciling,” she shared, “but for now, we’re not friends.” [ami-related id=”2401623″ url=”https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/rhonjs-teresa-giudices-biggest-fights-with-joe-melissa-gorga/” title=”Teresa Giudice and Joe and Melissa Gorga’s Biggest Fights, Shadiest Moments” target=”” thumb=”false” imgsrc=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/rhonjs-teresa-giudices-biggest-fights-with-joe-melissa-gorga-Reunion-Preparations.jpg?quality=86&strip=all” imgid=”3277496″ format=”gallery” flag=”” channel=”1″] As longtime viewers know, sit-downs with the women, usually organized with the intention to smooth things over, don’t always go according to plan. One dinner — “what I would call the ‘last supper,” Dolores said — proves to follow suit. It’s not all wine glass-throwing, however. The ladies play ball for their charity softball game and Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Fessler — who return as friends — help shake things up. Scroll down to find out what fans can expect when season 14 premieres on Bravo Sunday, May 5, at 8 p.m. ET.

Credit: Bravo

The ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ Cast Tease ‘Absolutely Crazy’ Season 14 with Lots of ‘Twists and Turns’

Drama in the Garden State! Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey will be a game-changer with tons of twists and turns, the cast — Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda — tell Us in this week’s issue of Us Weekly. The reality series’ latest installment follows the explosive season 13 finale where Teresa stormed off set after facing off with her brother, Joe Gorga, and her sister-in-law once again. After years spent clashing over family issues, Teresa and Melissa have since vowed to cut ties with one another. (The pair have stayed true to their word: In January, the Envy Boutique owner noted during an episode of her podcast that she and Teresa “don’t even speak to each other.”) Though loyal fans wondered what that would mean for the reality series, Dolores tells Us the women’s division benefited the group this season. “The separation made the group dynamic easier,” she explained. “We didn’t have to worry about the anticipation of what fight was coming next.” The Turning the Tables author, 51, and husband Luis “Louie” Ruelas also found themselves at odds with Rachel and her husband John Fuda during the reunion over Louis, 41, allegedly launching an investigation into their family. The couples continue to butt heads in season 14 — and Teresa tells Us she has no plans to make amends. “When they take accountability for their actions, then we can talk about reconciling,” she shared, “but for now, we’re not friends.” [ami-related id=”2401623″ url=”https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/rhonjs-teresa-giudices-biggest-fights-with-joe-melissa-gorga/” title=”Teresa Giudice and Joe and Melissa Gorga’s Biggest Fights, Shadiest Moments” target=”” thumb=”false” imgsrc=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/rhonjs-teresa-giudices-biggest-fights-with-joe-melissa-gorga-Reunion-Preparations.jpg?quality=86&strip=all” imgid=”3277496″ format=”gallery” flag=”” channel=”1″] As longtime viewers know, sit-downs with the women, usually organized with the intention to smooth things over, don’t always go according to plan. One dinner — “what I would call the ‘last supper,” Dolores said — proves to follow suit. It’s not all wine glass-throwing, however. The ladies play ball for their charity softball game and Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Fessler — who return as friends — help shake things up. Scroll down to find out what fans can expect when season 14 premieres on Bravo Sunday, May 5, at 8 p.m. ET.

Credit: Andrew Eccles/Bravo

Teresa Giudice

The RHONJ OG has one word to describe her 14th chapter: “Vindication,” she tells Us. “There wasn’t a low point for me, just people showing their true colors.” As for the highlights, the mom of four — who shares a glimpse into watching daughter, Gabrielle, head off to college — sparked up some new connections (“I was really pleased with my newfound friendships with Jackie and Jennifer Fessler,” she explains) while continuing to grow closer to Jennifer A. “She’s my girl, and forever my sister from another mister!”

Meanwhile, Teresa’s rivalry with the Fudas hits a breaking point this season. But she and Louie remain in their love bubble, despite critics who continue to take aim at their marriage: “We don’t give it any energy and laugh about it,” she tells Us.

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Melissa Gorga

Despite being on the outs with her sister-in-law, season 14 was “refreshing,” Melissa tells Us. “[The] true highlight for me was not having to deal with Joe’s family.” 

Though she’s content with the company she’s keeping — “I want to surround myself and my family with people that truly appreciate and love us,” she explained — Melissa finds herself in a “confusing place” with former pal Jackie this season: “I thought she was real and true, but now I’m second guessing her motives.”

After spending much of season 13 protecting her 19-year marriage, Melissa is taking the high road when it comes to naysayers now. “We are starting to get used to certain cast members and family members trying to twist the truth and make our marriage look like something it is not,” she says, noting she thinks fans have caught onto certain cast’s “vindictive ways.”

“Real love always shines through!” Melissa adds.

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Dolores Catania

Things get “absolutely crazy” this time around, the Paterson native teases, noting one particular moment — which played out in a teaser released on May 2 — had a domino effect. “The lowest point was the last dinner we had,’” she tells Us, noting it was “the hardest moment for me.” Though her future with boyfriend Paul Connell seemed precarious while filming, the pair are “very happy,” Dolores shared. “I am at peace where our relationship stands.”

Dolores admits that while she was “surprised” by Teresa’s friendship with Jackie, she isn’t picking sides in the rift between her longtime pal and Melissa: “I’ve always been a part of both their lives and it will remain that way, no matter the status of their relationship.”

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Margaret Josephs

Cameras rolled as Margaret encountered a particularly challenging time in her life: The one-year anniversary of the death of ex-husband Jan. “It has affected our family greatly,” she tells Us. “I was not myself, and grief manifests itself in different ways. I’m very lucky that my husband, Joe, is a very patient man.”

Of course, Margaret doesn’t shy away from confrontation this season — however, she’s no longer at odds with Teresa: “Her fixation on me is her issue, not mine.” Still, there is one particular rift that stands out. “Jackie, unfortunately, surprised me the most in a negative way,” she says. “I’ve only ever wanted good things for her and have been in her corner for 6 years.”

Margaret is eager for loyal fans to see the “shift in dynamics” unfold. “There are a lot of twists and turns this season, and I’m very much looking forward to watching the fans experience it in real time.”

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Jennifer Aydin

For Jennifer, the show’s latest installment — which includes “some uncomfortable moments” — ebbed and flowed. “[There were] a lot of shocking revelations, betrayal, friendship break ups as well as some other friendships flourishing,” she tells Us. “The demise of multiple certain friendships really shocked me.” One situation that proved particularly difficult for the mom of five showed Jennifer who was really in her corner — and who wasn’t: “I really needed my friends to speak up and I was disappointed.”

There were a few silver linings for Jennifer in season 14. “The charity softball game shows all of us coming together for the greater good, which is beautiful,” she tells Us. “And I was really glad that Jackie and I were able to be closer this season.”

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Danielle Cabral

She may have been blindsided during last year’s reunion, but Danielle entered her second season “very open,” she tells Us. “My guard doesn’t come up to mid-season along with every hair on the back of my neck.” The Boujie Kidz owner — who, as Us Weekly previously reported, got into a physical altercation with Jennifer A. last September — eventually saw “people and situations for who and what they are,” which was “eye-opening for me in so many ways.”

“Not everyone views friendships like I do,” she adds. 

Despite struggles with the other ladies, Danielle had an empowering year, personally: “I go through a ton of growth with my business and how I view certain situations and people. My high point was creating my own line and relaunching my brand.” 

As for whether she has made amends with her brother — the siblings’ estrangement was at the forefront of season 13 — she tells Us they haven’t: “I’ve learned to just live with the pain.” 

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Rachel Fuda

Rachel focuses on her family of five in season 14, devoting time to navigating her daughter’s speech and physical delays. Though it was difficult, “This is our reality, and a big part of our daily lives,” she tells Us. “There are so many families going through similar experiences, and if I can use this platform to help others, it fulfills a greater purpose for being here.”

Meanwhile, fans should prepare for surprising shakeups, teases Rachel, who notes season 14 revolves around “shifting alliances and fractured friendships” — including her own, which were “incredibly disappointing.” After she and her husband faced off with Teresa and Louis at the season 13 reunion — “Certain people play dirty, and we know their tricks,” she notes — the couples continue to find themselves at odds with Teresa: “It’s ultimately a conflict of character.”

Still, Rachel kept her game face on while filming: “I avoided any low points by sailing through the storms of this season with my head held high and staying true to my values.”

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Jackie Goldschneider

The The Weight of Beautiful author, who is also a “friend,” went into filming with a different POV than her previous seasons. “I decided not to blindly follow the pack anymore,” she tells Us. “Certain friendships started to feel toxic, and I’m strong enough now to walk away from relationships that don’t serve me any longer.”

The mom of four is standing firm in her decision to befriend Teresa, despite their past differences. “Teresa and I are different people than we both were a few years ago.  We’ve both worked on ourselves a lot,” she shared. “The simple truth is, we have fun together and we like each other.”

 And she has no regrets about how her new friendship with Teresa came at the expense of her friendship with Melissa: “Melissa backed away from me as Teresa and I got closer,” she added. “If someone can’t deal with me moving forward, they’re welcome to step aside.”  

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Jennifer Fessler

Jennifer, who returns as a friend, has learned one thing from her time on the reality series: “Sometimes in this group, separation is key, literally and figuratively,” she tells Us, noting Margaret and Jackie’s rivalry stood out. “I’m surprised at the lengths this friend group will go to when emotions run high.” 

Overall, Jennifer had a fun time re-joining the ladies for a second time — “The season started out on a high with Rachel Fuda throwing me an epic surprise birthday party,” she shared — even if it did end up chaotic. Still, she made the most of her time filming: “It was amazing to realize how much laughing Jennifer Aydin and I could do over a couple of margaritas.”