I remember watching an episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey years ago, probably in one of the first seasons, and absolutely hating Teresa and Joe Giudice as a couple. Teresa seemed like she would do anything for Joe, and he seemed like a short-tempered chauvinistic a–hole who treated her like a doormat. I’ve never gotten my gut-level take on their marriage out of my head, so I was surprised to see how much I’ve missed over the past five years or so. All of the Giudices’ crimes and fraud and grift took their toll. Joe and Teresa have basically been unofficially separated for about four years anyway, but now they’re making it official:
Twenty years of marriage, four kids, two prison sentences and one looming deportation later, Teresa and Joe Giudice have split. The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars “have been separated,” a source close to the family tells PEOPLE exclusively.
“They discussed their future when Teresa and the girls went to Italy in early November and they agreed that each had to move on. They are doing so amicably and very slowly,” the source says. “Joe has been out on a few dates, Teresa has not. She has been too busy with the girls, with work obligations and taking care of her father. She is happy for Joe . They have been very friendly with one another and are very supportive of each other’s happiness. They still love one another, but as Teresa told Andy Cohen on the WWHL special, they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Neither is interested in a long distance relationship.”
Still, the sources says “there are no plans for divorce” at this time, adding that “both of them are focused” on their four daughters: Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10. The source says the girls will be visiting Joe for Christmas in Italy, while Teresa is staying home in New Jersey with her father.
Teresa, 47, and Joe, 49, were childhood sweethearts and got married in October 1999. They have been living apart for nearly four years. Joe began a 41-month prison sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud in March 2016; Teresa served a little over 11 months in prison for the same crimes, and was released on Dec. 23, 2015.
People Mag goes on to describe Joe’s legal situation – after he completed his prison sentence in 2018, he was held in ICE custody because he’s an Italian citizen and he had not previously sought American citizenship. He was held in ICE custody for months and then eventually agreed to self-deport to Italy this year and wait out his third deportation appeal. It sounds like both Teresa and Joe made their peace with their separation years ago, and now they’re just making it official. I wonder why they’re not filing for divorce though? Catholic thing or legal/criminal/citizenship thing?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Probably a money thing on top of everything else. She’s not a saint but deserves better than him.
Nah, they deserve each other. They’re both grifters and crooks
I agree. They are both trash. In my opinion, she’d rather continue being a famewh*re than be married to him.
@Dani,
Sorry, I disagree with you. They deserve each other. She’s a despicable person who is only out for fame. Never thought I would say it, but I feel bad for the trash bag’s kids!
These people are garbage but I feel bad for their kids, especially Gia the oldest one. I saw a few episodes of whatever housewives show it was that focused on their family when Teresa was in prison and Gia was basically mom to her 3 younger sisters. She did a good job and seemed as well adjusted as possible.
I’m surprised Joe was deported for several reasons. They likely could have fought the charges and won but I have a feeling Joe is just fine with being in Italy.
They did fight the deportation. It was costing a small fortune. And as the article states, they’re waiting on his third appeal.
Oh yeah, I’m silly. I had read that they appealed it before too, just now remembering that. Teresa is a trump supporter because she was on the Apprentice so that’s one of the reasons why I thought they could have fought and won. Not that she has any real sway with moron in chief but it would have been one of those dumb things he loves making a spectical of.
I forgot she had gone to prison too. I’ve completely lost the thread on these two.
I’m actually happy for the three kids that Joe is out even if he can’t live in the U.S. They really seemed to miss him for the years he was in prison.
My parents were separated for 20 years (before he passed) but never divorced. I think neither of them could face the failure (especially culturally) and neither had a wish to remarry. Personally, I wish they had – they were terrible together and really deserved a clean break.
I’ve never been to Italy, but have always wanted to visit.
These two are loco and crooked.
My parents didn’t officially divorce until we were all legal adults. Divorces where there aren’t minor children involved are much simpler, and neither of them was in a rush to re-marry anyways.
The bitter irony is that so many of these RHONJ folks are Trump supporters. I don’t know definitively that Joe Guidice was a Republican but let’s just say that if you told me he voted for Fuhrer Cheeto, I would believe you. And now, because of Drumpf’s draconian immigration policies, Joe is getting the boot back to Italy.
Don’t his immigration issues pre-date the Trump presidency?
He isn’t a citizen, that’s why he was deported. Hence, he couldn’t vote. But I’m sure him and the Dotard would get along fantastically: neither pay others for their services or pay taxes and they’ve been grifting upward all their lives…
Eurgh! And now I need some more of that spiked eggnog I brought to work today
I have no idea who this is, German here, but that’s an…impressive? hairline.
I do marvel at that hairline, too.
Repulsive people
One of the funniest parts about the quoted article is where it says Teresa isn’t dating?????? She’s been dating for years now.
She has the tiniest forehead I’ve ever seen.