Though Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice have been plagued by financial problems for years, the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars' recent legal woes came as a surprise to costar Caroline Manzo. Appearing on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live on Sunday, Aug. 4, the level-headed redhead told host Andy Cohen that she reached out to the cookbook author on Monday, July 29.
"I texted her the day of the indictment, I did," Manzo, 51, recalled. "I sent a message that I'll keep to myself, and she did respond back, which I'm going to keep to myself as well."
Teresa, 41, and Joe, 43, have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. After being released on $500,000 bond each after making initial court appearances in Newark, N.J., July 30, the Giudices were forced to surrender their passports and confine their travels to New Jersey and New York. Joe, a former pizza parlor owner, could be deported to Italy if convicted because he is not a U.S. citizen.
"I can't even wrap my head around it," Manzo said. "It's unexpected. This is a big deal. I think for us, the housewives, we always comment on trivial things, and I think for me, the Manzos, our position is going to stay quiet. It's just too big and too serious for the peanut gallery. I'm just going to leave it at that."
Kim Granatell, who's made frequent appearances on The Real Housewives of New Jersey since its premiere in 2009, showed no sympathy for the Giudices, parents to Gia, 12, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 7, and Audriana, 3. "They should have thought about their kids," she tweeted Wednesday, July 31. Addressing Teresa directly, she added, "Get ready for a flashlight in your face every hour for the headcount and a communal toilet. Who will fund your commissary?"
According to Manzo, Granatell's Twitter rant was out of line. "I don't even know what to say about that, because again, this is nothing to joke about," she said. "You got these four little children, and their parents and everything. There comes a time when you just to have to grow up and put that aside."
