From co-stars to neighbors.
Melissa Gorga revealed that her former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” co-star Kathy Wakile and her husband Richard “Richie” Wakile recently purchased a property right “across the street” from her new home.
“She and Richie just bought the land on my street, across the street from my house, and they’re building a house diagonally from my house, across the street, on my street. Literally,” the reality star said on Monday’s episode of SiriusXM’s “Jeff Lewis Live.”
The “RHONJ” star, 45, found out about the news after her husband, Joe Gorga, was driving through the New Jersey neighborhood when he noticed a lakefront property for sale.
“(Joe) said, ‘It went up yesterday. I’m going to bid full price,’ and I was like, ‘Really Joe?’ He said, “Yes, it’s on the lake. This never happens. One of them came forward, so Joe offered full price for the property, which was quite high,” she explains.
However, Kathy had apparently already “had a relationship” with the previous owner, as she had “loved (the house) forever.” Joe offered full price for the house, but the real estate agent informed them that the house had already been picked up by Kathy and her husband.
Melissa and Joe — who is Kathy’s cousin — have been estranged from the Wakiles since Joe’s sister, Teresa Giudice, and Kathy had a falling out on Season 7 of “RHONJ.” Kathy, 58, then left the franchise and has not returned.
At the time, Joe, 49, was trying to improve his relationship with Giudice. However, they have since had a falling out and have not spoken to each other since August 2022.
“I secretly hope that Joe and Kathy will walk down the street one day and pass each other,” Melissa continued on “Jeff Lewis Live,” calling Kathy a “good” person.
“I think (Joe) regrets, you know, doing what he had to do at that time to support his sister and do what he had to do. But I really think he liked Kathy.
Melissa added that Joe also had a “great relationship” with his other cousin and Kathy’s sister Rosie.
“Growing up, these two were extremely close, Joe and Rosie, so I think it’s unfortunate that it’s a family and they’re not together… It’s sad to me all that,” a- she declared.
The Envy owner added that ultimately their relationship “has nothing to do with the show,” so she hopes her husband can focus on rebuilding his relationship with his future neighbors, his cousin and his aunt.
“That’s what I want for him, and I think deep down he wants it too. Joe is an emotional guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve,” she explained. “Him, you know, it’s hard. He comes from a place where he feels obligated to please. He felt like he had to please people his whole life and you know, you never know which people, how people grew up or what happened in life.
Melissa and Joe moved into their new home last year after Joe helped build the six-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot mansion from the ground up.
Although the Gorgas and Wakile families have not spoken or performed together on “RHONJ” since 2016, they reignited their feud in 2021 after Wakile’s son called the Gorgas “farm animals” in a comment on Page Six’s Instagram post.
“Look, I know they’re a little bitter about not being on the show anymore, and it’s unfortunate, to be honest. I wish them all the happiness; I love the Wakile kids,” she said on “Watch What Happens Live” in March 2021.
Shortly after, Kathy spoke to Bravo and shadyly explained that “some people” continued to live in the reality TV “bubble.”
“They don’t realize there’s a whole world outside the bubble. It’s sad that this happens, but yes; I came out of the bubble,” Kathy said in March 2021.
“I wish them well, but I’ve moved on,” Kathy continued. “You try to do your best in a relationship and that happens in real life. This is happening without reality TV being involved.
New York Post
