Former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Manzo is speaking out once again, for the last time according to her, about the recent drama on the show. In a blog posted on her personal website on Sunday night, Dina appears to be taking sides and hint: it ain’t her sister’s.
Dina, found herself the topic of conversation on part II of the RHONJ reunion when her fake BFF Teresa Giudice made certain to bring up her rift with her sister Caroline Manzo.
On the reunion show, Caroline blamed Teresa for coming between her and Dina. “[Dina] was led to believe a lot of things that are not true. She has a good friend that likes to talk and she says things to her that aren’t true against me and Jacqueline [Laurita],” Caroline stated while looking directly at Teresa. “[Dina] claims I never supported her, and Teresa’s a big part of it. When you get into this world, the fame, your mind isn’t right. You drink the Kool-Aid.”
In her blog, Dina tries to come off as neutral though it’s pretty clear where she stands when she refutes Caroline’s claims that Teresa is to blame for their feud and even strongly insinuates that Caroline, Jacqueline Laurita, and their costars have been ganging up on Teresa.
Dina also confirmed what our sources told us weeks ago which is that she and Teresa are no longer close these days, and are pretty much using each other for press and publicity. Melissa Gorga confirmed the same on the reunion last night when she stated Dina and Teresa went 6 months without speaking.
Below Dina reveals she rekindled her friendship with Teresa after Teresa came crying to her following a confrontation with Caroline and Jacqueline during season 4 filming. Dina also points out that Teresa supports all of her charity and TV endeavors… Unlike Caroline?
“It wasn’t until VERY recently that Teresa showed up at my doorstep in tears…apparently Caroline & Jacqueline had a sit down with her on camera (for season 4) and she felt attacked. All I did was console a friend who was obviously shaken. I felt bad for her..even though I had distanced myself from her a bit I was still her friend and she needed me. I did miss my God daughter and the rest of her girls and I’m not proud to say that in staying away from her I had stayed away from them too. Within a few weeks I went to Teresa’s house to spend Audriana’s 2nd birthday with Teresa and her family. No camera’s, no drama just a nice family night the way things used to be…Teresa has been nothing but supportive of Project Ladybug through the years and is extremely supportive of my new show on HGTV. She tweets about it all the time AND watches when she can as a friend should.”
Dina goes on to confirm something else our source told us, which is that she did indeed film with Teresa for the upcoming 4th season despite her claims of wanting nothing to do with the show and all the drama it brings. But get this, Dina claims she filmed with Teresa by accident. Riiiight.
“Teresa then asked me to come to the launch of a new product that’s very important to her. I said yes of course but when I heard camera’s were going to be there I got a bit afraid. I had not attended any other events that were being filmed just to stay away from any potential drama that might go down. I wasn’t invited to any of them either but that’s besides the point lol. Anyway..I was so relieved when I saw on my schedule that I had an HGTV shoot that day and I would have to go late. I thought for sure the camera’s would be gone by then BUT they were not… Teresa and I briefly spoke about her broken relationship with her brother on camera. I gave her my best advice and told her to focus on all the good in her life and if her brother is meant to be a part of her life again he will be one day.”
When it comes to Teresa’s diss of her sister Caroline in her cookbook, Dina claims Teresa only meant it as a joke –
“She mentioned the drama with her and Caroline and I told her that if this is all about a joke in a book (and she assured me it was) that’s not enough for me to hate the mother of my God daughter and a friend of 15 years. Was it necessary to write that stuff in her book? probably not but I don’t think it was written with malice either. We are all guilty of joking a little too much now & then…”
As for her strained relationship with not only Caroline, but also Caroline’s kids, Dina states –
“I feel bad that my relationship with my sister and her family is strained, but I can assure you that one day it will be back to the way it was. I don’t like fighting, I don’t like drama, I don’t like confrontation, I don’t agree with ganging up on someone (one of the other reasons why I left season 2) and I don’t need to share anymore than that. I am not on this show anymore, I didn’t sign on for opening up every aspect of my life to the world for the rest of my life when I signed that Bravo contract.”
Our source insists to us that Dina has called Teresa a troublemaker on more than one occasion but refuses to let go of her friendship with Teresa due to all the press and publicity she gets from Teresa attending her events. In fact, Dina has privately mentioned that she hopes Teresa picks her Lady Bug charity as her official charity during her upcoming stint on Celebrity Apprentice.
And I must say I find it extremely ironic that Dina’s (who claims to be all about peace and no drama) only friend on the show is none other than Teresa Giudice! Let that sink in for a minute!
Photo credit: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON DINA’S LATEST BLOG? DO YOU THINK SHE’S SIDING WITH TERESA?
