Teresa Giudice Shuts Down Claims She ‘Abandoned’ Gia on Special Forces

Teresa Giudice is no stranger to challenges, from navigating intense drama on The Real Housewives of New Jersey to enduring real-life hardships, she’s done it all in the public eye. But when it came to her daughter Gia, nothing else mattered, not even finishing the grueling competition on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

Teresa Giudice Shuts Down Claims She ‘Abandoned’ Gia on Special Forces 3

After her emotional exit from the series, some critics accused Teresa of “abandoning” Gia, who also appeared on the show. But Teresa is setting the record straight.

“I have not abandoned my daughter,” she told TooFab in an interview. “My daughter knows I did not abandon her and we both understand each other. She knows why I left. I would never be able to stand to see that. I knew she was going to be just fine.”

The emotional turning point came when Teresa learned that Gia would be participating in a brutal challenge called “milling,” where contestants are forced to punch each other until told to stop. That’s when the longtime reality star made the decision to bow out.

“I’m always a mom first,” Teresa emphasized. “I’m always thinking about my kids. I would have definitely stepped in if I saw anybody punching my child and I didn’t want to show her that and I didn’t want her to see me fighting either. I just didn’t like that challenge. The whole hitting. I wouldn’t be able to sit there and watch my child get hit.”

Watching from home later, Teresa recalled her visceral reaction to the first episode when Gia was dunked underwater by one of the DS (Directing Staff) instructors. “I was yelling at the TV. If I was there, that would have not been good,” she said.

Still, Teresa made it clear that Gia handled the intense physical challenge with strength and grace. “She did amazing. She did great. She did amazing and I know my child, she’s very strong. I raised her that way.”

For Teresa, the decision to leave wasn’t about weakness, it was about setting an example. “I was trying to think as a mom, ‘What’s the best example? What could I teach my daughter through this?’ And that’s what I wanted to show her. G and I totally understand each other.”

Teresa Giudice Shuts Down Claims She ‘Abandoned’ Gia on Special Forces 4

The RHONJ veteran, who has been on the show since 2009, also drew parallels between Special Forces and her reality TV experience. “I’ve been fighting on TV for the past 10 years, trying to always defend myself. If you watched The Real Housewives of New Jersey, I’m just tired of fighting. There’s a lot of things that reminded me of that — defending myself, fighting — it’s just I didn’t want that.”

Despite walking away from the competition, Teresa made it clear this experience tested her like no other.

“This was no comparison, this is the toughest situation I’ve ever been in,” she admitted. “I’m not kidding. This was the toughest, this is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

She didn’t sugarcoat the conditions either: “It was disgusting, absolutely disgusting, mud in my hair. Disgusting conditions, disgusting,” she said — although she did find a bit of humor in it, laughing, “Nobody s–ts the first day. They were all like, ‘You’re so lucky you got [toilet duty] the first day!’”

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23 comments

AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark October 9, 2025 - 3:31 pm
Special Forces isn't for sissies and I've got mad respect for anyone who even makes it past the first day (even for a slimeball like Jussie Smellit). For those here here displaying their usual blind hatred for Teresa, I'm guessing you've never even seen the show, let alone this episode where the recruits participated in the notorious "milling exercise", a high-intensity combat drill where they have to punch the sh out of each other in the head (to test "endurance"). Gia was matched up with forced to fight former U.S. soccer player Christie Pearce Rampone in the drill, and watching it was nothing short of just uncomfortable and gross. Unlike most reality shows, Special Forces pays a flat rate up front (est. between $100-$500K) based on one's "celebrity", so Teresa most likely snatched a $500K check for about a week's worth of work plus a free trip to Morocco, although for me, visiting that sh hole would be punishment in itself. Did Teresa "take the money and run"? Not exactly, but sort of. So what ... the sleazy reality TV business will survive. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/16024120897c240cb5982bcf10af7f1b83606515e8669b00d6631365dd628375.png
michers October 9, 2025 - 5:08 pm
Well said !
michers October 9, 2025 - 5:08 pm
Well said !
Zap It October 10, 2025 - 10:19 am
OMG...I would flip out if I saw my kid being beaten like this. Total BS. Just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt which is why they're paying so much money to get celebs to go on.
Zap It October 10, 2025 - 10:19 am
OMG...I would flip out if I saw my kid being beaten like this. Total BS. Just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt which is why they're paying so much money to get celebs to go on.
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark October 10, 2025 - 3:22 pm
I totally agree ... the blood is flying, teeth are loosened, and breast implants are collapsed. There's a reason "staff" pulled Eva Marcelle from the show right before the drill, because a model/actress wasn't about to get her face smashed up, but no one is giving her shit. Also, because she was on the verge of a freaking mental break since day 1.
AnEnigmaWrappedInSnark October 10, 2025 - 3:22 pm
I totally agree ... the blood is flying, teeth are loosened, and breast implants are collapsed. There's a reason "staff" pulled Eva Marcelle from the show right before the drill, because a model/actress wasn't about to get her face smashed up, but no one is giving her shit. Also, because she was on the verge of a freaking mental break since day 1.
Shayvoe October 9, 2025 - 12:32 pm
Like always, she ran away. She let Gia down and didn't think twice about it. She has been letting those kids down since they were born. She is a POS and like most bullies, she is all talk, no action. Yes, you are a quitter, and a terrible mother, whose kids have to take care of you, not the other way around.
Lisa's lost ring October 9, 2025 - 1:37 pm
Very well stated.
Shayvoe October 9, 2025 - 1:39 pm
TY!! SO sick of her BS!!
Lisa's lost ring October 9, 2025 - 4:09 pm
Same. I do feel bad for her children tho.
Lisa's lost ring October 9, 2025 - 4:09 pm
Same. I do feel bad for her children tho.
MontanaBoy3 October 9, 2025 - 4:31 pm
So she decided the best example of Strength she could show her dorter was to Quit, and that the best way to support her daughter fully was to leave her in the dust, alone, to continue her SF journey - the one they signed up for together, as a team - all by herself? Interesting...
MontanaBoy3 October 9, 2025 - 4:31 pm
So she decided the best example of Strength she could show her dorter was to Quit, and that the best way to support her daughter fully was to leave her in the dust, alone, to continue her SF journey - the one they signed up for together, as a team - all by herself? Interesting...
book7175 October 9, 2025 - 11:10 am
She did abandon her daughter, using the phony excuse she didn't want to see her get hit. Quitting was not setting an example, it was saying I am unable to control my emotions and restrain myself so I need to leave. Gia was going to fight and get hit whether Teresa was there or not so the mature, role model mother would have stayed to support and comfort her not run away. And Gia watched her father fight and didn't seem to be negatively affected, so seeing her mother fight, especially under the circumstances, would probably not have bothered Gia. All lame excuses from a quitter who couldn't cut the mustard.
book7175 October 9, 2025 - 11:10 am
She did abandon her daughter, using the phony excuse she didn't want to see her get hit. Quitting was not setting an example, it was saying I am unable to control my emotions and restrain myself so I need to leave. Gia was going to fight and get hit whether Teresa was there or not so the mature, role model mother would have stayed to support and comfort her not run away. And Gia watched her father fight and didn't seem to be negatively affected, so seeing her mother fight, especially under the circumstances, would probably not have bothered Gia. All lame excuses from a quitter who couldn't cut the mustard.
Lisa's lost ring October 9, 2025 - 11:35 am
Comment of the day. Facts!
Zap It October 9, 2025 - 9:49 am
I have no idea why anyone would sign up for this show. I wouldn't want to see my daughter physically punched either. What kind of a show tells contestants to punch each other? That's what POWs experience. I'll pass...thanks.
Zap It October 9, 2025 - 9:49 am
I have no idea why anyone would sign up for this show. I wouldn't want to see my daughter physically punched either. What kind of a show tells contestants to punch each other? That's what POWs experience. I'll pass...thanks.
michers October 9, 2025 - 5:07 pm
Same ; idk how I would hold myself back from not jumping in to hit someone hitting my child either lol! And honestly , I get it’s a physical endurance show but fighting others? Nah lol..
RyNy83 October 9, 2025 - 8:43 am
I was oddly rooting for the both of them, was sad to see Teresa go, I wish she would have lasted longer. The Bravolebs are dropping like on Traitors lol.
RyNy83 October 9, 2025 - 8:43 am
I was oddly rooting for the both of them, was sad to see Teresa go, I wish she would have lasted longer. The Bravolebs are dropping like on Traitors lol.
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