In case you haven't heard Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice are in big time trouble and face a mounting 41-count federal indictment for several different types of fraud.
In light of her legal woes, the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, whose troubles will be featured on the upcoming season, insists she's staying strong and trying to make the best of a bad situation for the time being. “I can’t just be upset and crawl up in a ball and just go in a room and — and lock the door. I can’t. I’m a mom. I have four daughters,” Teresa tells ABC News.
Teresa does admit that it's hard to get through the day, however, and in private she is falling apart. "I would be lying to say I didn’t, you know, that’s not happening,” she shares. The hardest part, she says, is "my kids going through this." Should have thought of that BEFORE, you know, lying and defrauding! "I'm a role model for them," Teresa explains. A role model of what NOT to do!
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“My oldest does know something’s going on," Teresa confesses of Gia, 13, being aware. "But — you know, we say, you know, ‘Mommy and daddy, you know, have a legal team that’s handling it.'"
As for why she's kept quiet in the media about the intricacies of the case, Teresa says she's not permitted to discuss the details just yet! “I would love to answer all your questions and one day I will. But, you know, out of respect of the process, I’m going to let, you know, the legal matters play out in court.”
Interestingly Teresa claims the show did not "pressure" her to exaggerate her wealth. "I don't try to keep up with the Joneses," she states. Nope, only the Gorgas! In real life, Teresa insists, "I'm very low-key. I try to put my best foot forward; I try to be who I am."
Teresa also says the situation is making her marriage better than ever – despite newly emerging rumors of Joe cheating! “No rumor is ever going to come between us,” Teresa maintains. “And, you know, if anything, through all this it’s made us stronger. I’m grateful for that.”
Joe is also adamant that the couple will fight this together – and he is sticking to his story that Teresa was uninvolved in the fraudulent dealings.
"You have to. You know, you really have to… I mean, you’ve got to be strong-minded, number one," Joe shares. "If you’re weak, you’re not going to make it." And Joe emphasizes, "One day at a time." Despite all the heartache the couple is enduring, Joe remains "proud" of Teresa for how she has flourished in her career as a reality star and really built a business for herself. Indeed, Teresa is currently working on her fifth cookbook.
Both Teresa and Joe claim the Fabulicious empire is what they hope will be their legacy. "The reason why we're doing it is for our daughters," Teresa says. "So they can think about their futures and what choices they wanna make in their lives."
As for what we'll see of the legal process on the upcoming season of RHONJ, Teresa admits – not much! "I can't answer any legal questions while filming. And I have to say everyone's been very respectful of that." Teresa also shares that "everything's good" with Joe and Melissa Gorga. "At the end of the day you just bury the hatchet and move on."
I must say, Teresa is looking FAB in the video – new makeup and hair looking flawless. I'm glad she's ditched the Jersey excess where looks are concerned – I guess her crisis PR manager taught her something!
[Photo Credit: Instagram]
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