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| Caroline Manzo says Teresa Giudice's recent indictment is "unexpected." |
Though
Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice have been plagued by financial problems for
years, the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars' recent legal woes came as a
surprise to costar Caroline Manzo. Appearing on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live
on Sunday, Aug. 4, the level-headed redhead told host Andy Cohen that she
reached out to the cookbook author on Monday, July 29.
"I
texted her the day of the indictment, I did," Manzo, 51, recalled. "I
sent a message that I'll keep to myself, and she did respond back, which I'm
going to keep to myself as well."
Teresa,
41, and Joe, 43, have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire
fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy
fraud. After being released on $500,000 bond each after making initial court
appearances in Newark, N.J., July 30, the Giudices were forced to surrender
their passports and confine their travels to New Jersey and New York. Joe, a
former pizza parlor owner, could be deported to Italy if convicted because he
is not a U.S. citizen.
"I
can't even wrap my head around it," Manzo said. "It's unexpected.
This is a big deal. I think for us, the housewives, we always comment on
trivial things, and I think for me, the Manzos, our position is going to stay
quiet. It's just too big and too serious for the peanut gallery. I'm just going
to leave it at that."
Kim
Granatell, who's made frequent appearances on The Real Housewives of New Jersey
since its premiere in 2009, showed no sympathy for the Giudices, parents to
Gia, 12, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 7, and Audriana, 3. "They should have
thought about their kids," she tweeted Wednesday, July 31. Addressing
Teresa directly, she added, "Get ready for a flashlight in your face every
hour for the headcount and a communal toilet. Who will fund your
commissary?"
According
to Manzo, Granatell's Twitter rant was out of line. "I don't even know
what to say about that, because again, this is nothing to joke about," she
said. "You got these four little children, and their parents and
everything. There comes a time when you just to have to grow up and put that
aside."