RHONJ Drama: Rachel Fuda Claps Back at Teresa Giudice's Accusations

Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey is shaping up to be a showdown between Teresa Giudice and the Fudas. Rachel Fuda made it clear that she's not afraid to stand up to the OG.

In an exclusive interview with Us on May 15, Rachel, 33, pointed out that Teresa, 51, may be targeting her and husband John Fuda to stay relevant and secure her paycheck. She mentioned that other cast members like Melissa and Margaret are out of the picture, and Teresa isn't likely to clash with Dolores or Jen. Rachel believes she was Teresa's last option for drama.

At the season 13 reunion, tensions rose between Teresa and her costars Rachel and Margaret. It was claimed that Teresa's husband, Louie, had hired a private investigator to look into the cast. Teresa also continued to have a strained relationship with her sister-in-law Melissa. In the premiere episode earlier this month, Teresa made accusations at Jen Fessler's birthday party, stating that John, 37, was the "biggest drug dealer in Bergen County."

Rachel shared with Us that the day before Jen Fessler's surprise party, information was leaked on social media about the cast. This served as a warning for Rachel, who said, "So going into it, I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, here we go. So that was really my heads-up.'"

'RHONJ' Star Rachel Fuda Says Teresa Giudice Came After Her Family for 'Relevancy' and a 'Paycheck'

Rachel Fuda.

She later added: “They couldn’t find anything on me. So they went after him.”

Rachel said on the show that John was arrested for pot possession when he was 17.

Rachel expressed her frustration, mentioning that everyone makes mistakes as kids and that pulling up someone's past to use against them is unfair. She emphasized that John is not ashamed of his past and should have the opportunity to share his own story without it being manipulated and weaponized against him.

During the second episode, Teresa tried to minimize the accusations by stating that she was talking about John's past and now believes he is a good father. Rachel and John share daughters Giannella, 4, and Giuliana, 2, and she also adopted his son Jaiden, 17, from his previous marriage.

"He is a fantastic father, husband, and successful businessman," Rachel shared with Us. "However, what she is doing is manipulation and gaslighting at its worst. She manipulates our fans and twists our stories."

Rachel recalled how she used to view Fessler as her closest friend on the show: "I even threw Jen Fessler a surprise party. We were incredibly close, talking on the phone up to 14 times a day."

Rachel suggests that there are some "changes" happening during the season. She also mentions that both she and Margaret are finding it difficult to see Fessler becoming friends with Teresa. Meanwhile, Louie and Teresa are still denying the allegations against the P.I., such as the claim that he reached out to Margaret's son, who has never appeared on the show before.

'RHONJ' Star Rachel Fuda Says Teresa Giudice Came After Her Family for 'Relevancy' and a 'Paycheck'

Rachel Fuda, Teresa Giudice. Andrew Eccles/Bravo; Art Streiber/E! Entertainment

Rachel shared with Us that she currently does not have a relationship with Fessler, as they have not spoken in over five months. She expressed that there is no animosity between them at the moment. However, Rachel expressed her disappointment in their relationship. She found it sad to witness Fessler not supporting their friends when asked about a certain situation involving Margaret's son. Rachel emphasized that Fessler's actions were hurtful, especially when she questioned Margaret's honesty and loyalty. Rachel recalled a specific incident where Margaret was in distress and needed support, but Fessler failed to stand by her friend.

Rachel expressed her concern by stating that she has a problem not only with Jen Fessler but with everyone. She believes that honesty is key in friendships. If you like someone, be upfront about it instead of pretending to agree with her. It's important to communicate openly. The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming season of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" promises to be a clash of the titans as Teresa Giudice faces off against Rachel Fuda. Rachel has made it clear that she is not afraid to stand up to the show's OG and believes Teresa is targeting her and her husband, John, for the sake of staying relevant. The accusations and counteraccusations between Teresa and the Fudas have already escalated, with Teresa claiming that John is a drug dealer and Rachel suggesting that Teresa's husband hired a private investigator to spy on the cast.

Rachel's frustration stems from the fact that Teresa is using John's past against him, something she believes is unfair and manipulative. She also expresses disappointment in her former friend Jen Fessler, who she believes has sided with Teresa over her. Rachel emphasizes the importance of honesty and loyalty in friendships, something she feels is lacking in the current dynamic between the cast members. As the season unfolds, it remains to be seen how this feud will play out and whether or not Teresa and the Fudas can resolve their differences.