Despite his deportation drama, Joe Giudice is smiling … and, for the record, looking slimmer!
The 47-year-old, who’s married to Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, gave fans an update from Italy in a video posted by Bravo’s The Daily Dish on Monday, October 21, after he spent months in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody following his release from prison.
“Life, it’s always better to look through the windshield and not through the rearview mirror, you know?” he said. “It’s a much bigger picture when you’re looking through the windshield.”
He continued: “But at the end of the day, people make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. I’ve learned a valuable lesson from all this, and I know my family is the most important thing to me, but it’s better that I’m out here than in there.”
Joe also expressed his thanks to his family members, including the four daughters he shares with his 47-year-old wife: Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10. “I just want to let you know that I love you, and I’m always here for you,” he said. “You know that.”
The restaurateur was taken into ICE custody in March immediately after he completed a 41-month prison sentence from his and Teresa’s 2014 fraud conviction. In October 2018, a judge ordered Joe to be deported to his native Italy, and earlier this month, he flew to Italy to earn money for his family while he continues his deportation battle.
Teresa declared in January that she and her husband would go their “separate ways” if he were deported to Italy, but a source told Us Weekly in October that the reality star “already has a trip to Italy planned” along with the couple’s children.
“She’ll be taking all her girls,” the source said. “Teresa and all the girls will be visiting sooner rather than later. It’s fast approaching.”
On November 6, Us confirmed that Teresa and the couple’s four daughters — Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 13, and Audriana, 10 — traveled to Italy to be reunited with Joe. Upon returning to the U.S. on November 10, the reality star said that the trip was “pretty amazing” until they had to say goodbye.
The girls don’t have to wait too long before they’ll be back in Italy, however, since on November 21, Joe confirmed on Instagram that his daughters would be spending Christmas overseas with him. “Can’t wait till my girls come back to show them Salerno during Christmas,” he wrote at the time. Teresa said during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on November 20, that she likely won’t see her husband again till the middle of next year.
Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!
In the meantime, scroll down to see photos of Joe’s transformation over the last several years — including pics from his current life in Italy.
