Melissa Gorga says she was ‘prepared’ to leave ‘RHONJ’ amid casting rumors

While rumors are swirling about the fate of The Real Housewives of New Jersey for season 15, Melissa Gorga struggles with the possibility of moving on.

“I’m prepared for anything right now, obviously because of all the rumors that are out there,” 45-year-old Melissa said in the Thursday, August 22 episode. “Two T’s in a Pod” podcast. “I am prepared for anything.”

Melissa and her sister-in-law, Teresa Giudicedidn’t speak all the time RHONJ season 14, and was even in separate rooms during the finale recap at Rails. The drama led to speculation that both women might have their Bravo show canceled if they declined to participate. (Of course, the network won’t comment on the casting until official news is shared.)

“I think I would realize that she and I are two extremely different characters, so to speak, on the show,” Melissa told podcast hosts Tamra Judge And Teddi Mellencamp. “So if Bravo decides to go that route and sort of, like, the darker route, then I have to say that this is not a show I want to be on anyway.”

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Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey is making headlines for their reunion – or lack thereof. Multiple sources confirmed to Us Weekly in June that the Bravo show will not be getting the traditional reunion treatment later this year. An insider explained that Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga are “holding the show hostage” and […]

While Melissa still wants to be there RHONJshe’s over the drama.

“I don’t want to get into that toxic situation. As long as you know she’s there and that whole thing comes back, I wouldn’t consider it a loss,” she explained. “I also want to say, I’ve had a fourteen-year run… You can’t do this forever. You don’t sit on a TV show before you’re fifty [or] 20 years. I mean, I’ve been at it for fourteen years.”

Melissa continued, “So I want to come back? Do I hope they do something fresh and new? Of course I’m not going to lie to everyone. I really hope that some changes happen, and I don’t know if I’ll be a part of that. I don’t think anyone knows.”

If Bravo chooses to move on with Teresa, 52, instead of Melissa, then she has made peace with that outcome. “[I’ll] feeling like it’s a good time to say, ‘It’s time,'” she concluded.

Teresa and Melissa have long had a troubled history, which reached a fever pitch when Melissa and husband Joe Gorga (Teresa’s younger brother) opted to skip Teresa’s 2022 wedding to Luis “Louie” Ruelas. At the time, the Gorgas believed Teresa was spreading rumors that Melissa was cheating on 49-year-old Joe. Both Melissa and Joe repeatedly denied the allegations.

Related: Teresa Giudice and Joe and Melissa Gorga’s biggest fights, shadiest moments

No one wins when the family fights. Teresa Giudice’s relationship with brother Joe Gorga and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga may be damaged beyond repair after skipping her August 2022 wedding to Luis Ruelas. “Joe and Melissa made a last-minute decision not to attend Teresa’s wedding after an argument,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly. […]

Since then, Melissa and Teresa have stopped communicating.

“It’s time to move on,” Melissa said Thursday. “It’s unhealthy and it’s okay, it’s okay. I wish nothing but the best, [and for] everyone [to] enjoy life, enjoy this moment in their lives.”