Dolores Catania is opening up about the upcoming shakeup on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and she’s making it clear the new girls have a lot to live up to.
While appearing on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live alongside Liz McGraw, Dolores reacted to the casting changes and admitted she’s just as in the dark as everyone else when it comes to who’s joining Season 15.
“I don’t know any of them. One speculation, I maybe know one of them. The other ones I don’t know that like has been put out there. No one tells me anything,” she said. “I think Melissa and Teresa know, but they didn’t tell me.”
Even so, she didn’t hold back when it came to expectations.
“Listen, how could you beat that? These girls have some big shoes to fill, whoever they are.”
Dolores also acknowledged just how savvy new cast members have become after years of watching the show.
“Listen to me. It’s true. People are too smart now. They’re coming on the show. They’ve seen things,” she explained. “The show’s been around too long to know if you come for one of the OGs, it doesn’t always work for you.”
As for when filming begins, Dolores confirmed things haven’t started just yet.
“No, we haven’t started yet.”
She also shared that even she tries to get answers — but isn’t given much.
“I’ve seen Andy. I’ve saw, you know, some bosses and I’m like, you know, who’s coming back? I don’t know. I’m always on the back burner,” she said, adding, “But then sometimes it’s good because if it gets leaked, I can’t get blamed for it.”
The conversation also touched on the cast changes fans are already reacting to — including Margaret Josephs’ exit and Jennifer Fessler not returning.
Dolores admitted even she questioned it.
“So I asked them, they said, ‘It’s just the way the business goes.’ You know, it like in other businesses, you don’t get let go for doing your job too much… there’s not always a fair reason why things happen. They just do.”
Despite the shakeup, Dolores made it clear there’s no bad blood on her end.
“Listen, I’ll have something and everybody’s always welcome to everything I have.”