Teresa Giudice is getting candid about her complicated relationship with ex-husband Joe Giudice, admitting that while she wishes things were different, she still feels frustrated by having to carry the financial and parenting responsibilities for their four daughters without his physical presence in the United States.
During a recent episode of her daughter Gia Giudice’s Casual Chaos podcast, the Real Housewives of New Jersey star opened up about the reality of co-parenting with Joe following his deportation, revealing that their conversations can quickly turn into arguments.
And according to Gia, even a simple phone call between her parents can become tense.
The conversation began when Gia recalled moments when she would be speaking to her father on the phone and immediately sense that Teresa was in no mood to deal with him.
“And I walk into the house and my dad’s on the phone, and I literally could tell just by her demeanor, and I’ll be like, ‘Okay, Dad, I’ll call you back because she’s just gonna start yelling at you,’” Gia recalled.
Gia explained that she would end the call to avoid another disagreement between her parents.
Both Teresa and Gia laughed about the familiar situation, with Teresa admitting that Joe still knows how to get under her skin.
“He just irks me. He does,” Teresa confessed.
Gia pointed out that despite their divorce, her parents still interact in a way that reminds her of siblings constantly bickering.
As strange as it might sound, Gia explained that their dynamic sometimes feels more like a brother and sister arguing than two people who were once married.
However, Teresa quickly explained that her frustration with Joe comes from something much deeper than their occasional disagreements.
“No, this is the thing, and I hate to say this, but it’s the truth, and I don’t know if people know this,” Teresa began.
“But, like, I hate — not that I hate. I mean, obviously he has no control over this. I wish things were different. You know, I wish he was helping more. You know, everything’s on me.”
Teresa’s admission offered a more vulnerable look at how Joe’s absence has affected her life since he was deported from the United States in 2019.
Although Teresa and Joe are no longer married, they continue to share four daughters: Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana.
While Joe remains involved in their lives from abroad, Teresa explained that the responsibilities of raising their children have largely fallen on her.
Gia acknowledged that her father’s inability to live in the United States has placed an enormous burden on her mother.
“Well, even just him being in a different country, his presence not being in the States and not being around just puts all the parenting on you,” Gia explained.
Teresa agreed but revealed that her frustration extends beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of motherhood.
“Yeah, that and financially. It’s a double whammy. Like Teresa all the way around, you know?” she said.
“So it’s like that’s why it irks me because, yeah, everything’s on me.”
However, Teresa clarified that she doesn’t resent taking care of her daughters.
In fact, she admitted that she hadn’t even initially considered the parenting responsibilities when explaining why the situation bothers her.
“Parenting-wise, you’re right. I didn’t even think about the parenting because the parenting I have no problem doing that because you’re my girls. I love you girls,” Teresa told Gia.
Her comments suggest that while Teresa is happy to be the parent her daughters can depend on, she wishes Joe were in a position to contribute more financially and physically.
Gia, however, was quick to defend her father, emphasizing that he does make an effort to remain involved despite the limitations of living in another country.
“And he tries his best. Again, it’s hard. There’s only so much you can do over the phone, and he knows that,” Gia explained.
“That’s why he gets frustrated. It’s all very frustrating.”
Gia also pointed out that if Joe were permitted to return to the United States, the family’s situation would likely look very different.
“But obviously if he was able to be in the States, it would be a lot different and it would help you out a lot more,” she added.
Teresa agreed, returning to the frustration she feels about shouldering so much responsibility.
“Yeah, that’s why everything’s on me, so, you know,” Teresa said.
But Gia ended the conversation with a pointed observation about her father’s immigration situation.
“This is why you should have made your citizenship,” Gia remarked.
The exchange highlights a longstanding issue that has affected the Giudice family for years.
Joe was born in Italy and moved to the United States as a child, but he never became an American citizen.
After serving a federal prison sentence related to fraud convictions, Joe was deported to Italy in 2019.
He has since lived outside the United States, including in the Bahamas, where his daughters have traveled to visit him.
His deportation significantly changed the family’s dynamic, leaving Teresa to raise their daughters primarily on her own while also navigating the end of their marriage.
Teresa and Joe officially divorced in 2020 after approximately two decades of marriage.
Despite their separation, the former couple has maintained a relationship centered on their children.
Teresa has previously expressed that she doesn’t want her daughters to have a strained relationship with their father and has supported their efforts to spend time with him.
Gia, in particular, has been outspoken about wanting Joe to return to the United States.
She has repeatedly argued that her father deserves another opportunity to live near his family, especially considering how long he lived in America before his deportation.
Her advocacy has become even more personal as her younger sisters have grown older and experienced important milestones without their father physically present.
In recent interviews, Gia has discussed how Joe’s absence has affected her sister Milania, who has been open about experiencing emotional challenges.
Gia has suggested that having their father nearby could make a meaningful difference in Milania’s life.
The family’s hope for Joe’s return has also received some unexpected support from Teresa’s brother, Joe Gorga.
During a recent interview with Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea, Joe Gorga said he believes his former brother-in-law should be allowed to return to the United States.
“They need him home. They want him home. The kids want him home. Those girls really want their dad, and he deserves to come back,” Joe Gorga said.
He also acknowledged the impact Joe Giudice’s deportation has had on the entire family.
“I mean, he was here his whole life. I mean, what had happened is a shame. It affected everybody, but he should be back with his family.”
When asked whether Joe Giudice’s return could help Milania, Joe Gorga agreed.
“100%. It’ll help her out,” he said.
Joe Gorga even suggested that his former brother-in-law could help with Gia’s Italian restaurant, Il Vero, if he were allowed to return.
“Joe with the restaurant would be in there cooking. I think it would work for the entire family, and I think it would be great,” he explained.
The comments reflect how much the family’s circumstances have changed since Joe Giudice was deported.
At the time, Teresa and Joe were already dealing with the breakdown of their marriage, and their daughters were forced to adjust to having their father live thousands of miles away.
Although Teresa has since moved forward with her life and married Louie Ruelas, Joe’s absence continues to affect the family.
And despite their occasional arguments, Teresa’s latest comments suggest that her frustration isn’t simply about her relationship with her ex-husband.
Instead, she appears upset about the reality that his immigration status has left her responsible for so much of their daughters’ everyday lives.