Joe Gorga says niece Gia Giudice said he can ‘do better’ than wife Melissa in explosive RHONJ finale

Joe Gorga called out his niece Gia Giudice whom he accused of knocking down his wife Melissa Gorga in Tuesday night’s finale of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

The 43-year-old contractor said of his 22-year-old niece — who just graduated from Rutgers University — “Gia calls me up and she says, ‘You know, I heard what happened. We just think you can do better.” Mom [Teresa Giudice] thinks so, we all do.”

The call was sparked by rumors of infidelity on Melissa’s part, which was a catalyst for a heated altercation between the cast members during the final episode of the Bravo TV series.

Joe said that Gia called his sister Teresa and now-husband Luis “Louie” Ruelas invited him to their home to reveal that Melissa had cheated on him.

“They told me about this rumor, this cheating rumor, and they continue to denounce this issue. And he [Ruelas] says, ‘No, there are several men,'” Joe revealed in his confessional interview.

Hurtful: The 43-year-old contractor said of his 22-year-old niece, “Gia calls me up and she says, ‘You know, I heard what happened. We just think you can do better. Mama [Teresa Giudice] I think so, we all do”

Joe explained, “I’m sitting there when they’re basically telling me to leave Melissa.”

Elsewhere in the episode, Joe noted that Ruelas had called six months earlier and said he needed to see him “immediately” to share something “really important.”

He went on to tell the story, “So I go to [Teresa’s] house, and Luis says, “We heard Melissa cheated on you.” I go, “Guys, you got the wrong girl.”‘

Teresa and Melissa had a huge falling out while filming the season 13 finale over gossip that Melissa kissed old friend Nick Barrotta.

Their falling out caused Melissa and Joe to skip Teresa’s wedding to Luis in August 2022.

While arguing with castmate Danielle Cabral over the allegations, Melissa said during the episode, “His sister secretly called him to her house without me telling him this story behind my back.”

Melissa said to Danielle, “I’ve got a pretty screwed-up sister-in-law, don’t I?” and she called the allegation an “unfounded rumor.”

And Melissa, who has always had a tumultuous relationship with Giudice, added that Teresa “feeds off separating us.”

Before the event: Joe shared photos of him and Melissa on their way to the fancy dress party where things turned sour

Dressed to the nines: The couple pulled out their best looks for the Irish-themed soiree

Ms Gorga, who married Joe in 2004, said: ‘Half the reason he can’t look [Teresa] in the eyes because she called him to her house that day.”

Teresa and Luis both denied that Teresa influenced Ruelas to tell Joe about the rumors.

“First of all, it wasn’t his sister — it was Luis,” Teresa defended herself in her confessional, adding that Ruelas did it to give Joe a chance to “face it.”

Ruelas also told the couple that “Teresa didn’t want to call him, [so] don’t blame Teresa.’

“You guys are such losers,” Melissa said at one point, making an “L” symbol at Teresa with her hand.

She later asked Luis, “Why are you looking with your eyes like that, what’s going on?” Why are you talking like that?’ referring to his bulging eyes. “I’m the one who gets all this, thank you very much.”

The dispute turned physical when Joe charged at Ruelas, prompting the other spouses to stop them both.

“Don’t get angry like the devil in her face. I mean, who talks to a woman like that?’ Joe later reflected in his confessional.

And Melissa explained in her confessional interview, “All that [Teresa] been trying to say something about me since I was 24 – this was all she did. I don’t have to hang out with toxic people who want to put me down, even if they come in the form of your family.”

For her part, Teresa told her then-fiancé, “This has been going on for over 10 years. I’ve dealt with my ex, I’m not going to deal with it in my new chapter of my life. I’ll be ready soon.’

Promo: Teresa teased the episode in an Instagram post Tuesday as she wrote in a caption, “Tune in tonight for #RHONJ’s finale @bravoandy & @bravowwhl”

As a result of the blowout fight, The Real Housewives of New Jersey has been “put on hiatus,” according to Page six.

Sisters-in-law Giudice and Gorga are said to have been “legitimately estranged,” according to sources, with the network unsure how to proceed.

According to the publication, none of the castmates have been offered contracts for the next season, and no one has been fired at this time. There is currently no date for Season 14 to begin filming.

The two sides faced each other for the first time since the party during the filming of the reunion last month.