Family loyalty was on full display when Gia Giudice stood firmly behind her mother, Teresa Giudice, after the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star made headlines for abruptly ending a live television interview when asked about her family’s tax history. The 24-year-old Next Gen NYC star shared her perspective during the July 8 episode of “The Viall Files” podcast, offering insight into the viral moment that sparked widespread discussion.
“Honestly, I thought she handled it perfectly,” Gia told hosts Nick Viall and Natalie Joy. “She’s just… she’s over it because people have this whole narrative that we just don’t pay our taxes.”
The controversial interview took place on June 20, when Teresa appeared on Chicago’s WGN Morning News to promote her upcoming appearances. During the live broadcast, anchor Larry Potash asked a pointed question about the family’s financial history: “How is it that a family doesn’t pay their taxes for years?”
When Teresa responded by asking, “What family are you talking about?” Potash clarified that he was referring to her family specifically, connecting the question to fraud charges from her past. Teresa immediately declared she was “hanging up” and ended the video call, prompting Potash to quip: “She didn’t like that question.”
Gia’s Thoughts on Media Treatment
Gia expressed her belief that the line of questioning was inappropriate for the context of her mother’s appearance. “She was going on there to promote the appearances that she had coming up and, overall, it was just so unprofessional,” she explained to the podcast hosts.
The Rutgers University graduate found the journalist’s approach particularly problematic given the purpose of Teresa’s media appearance. Gia described the question as “so insulting and so unprofessional,” emphasizing that her mother wasn’t expecting such personal inquiries during what was supposed to be a promotional interview.
“I think, for her, she was just so insulted by it because people think they know, still to this day, and they don’t,” Gia continued.
Gia acknowledged that while she personally finds some of the ongoing speculation “comical,” she empathizes with her mother’s frustration over persistent questions about their family’s financial matters. “I honestly feel bad for my mom. I just feel so bad for her because she’s been busting her [expletive] and paying everything since she got out [of prison],” she told the podcast hosts.
The young reality star also brought some humor to the situation by commenting on her mother’s technical difficulties during the hangup moment. Gia noted that Teresa got “frazzled” while trying to end the call, joking that her mother “barely knows how to film her Cameos” and is “not tech savvy in any way.”
Family’s Financial Journey and Current Status
Teresa’s legal troubles date back to 2014 when a court convicted her and her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, on 39 counts of fraud, including mail, wire, and bankruptcy charges. Teresa served 11 months of her 15-month sentence in 2015, while Joe later served 41 months before authorities deported him to Italy in 2019.
Following their legal troubles and Joe’s deportation, Teresa and Joe separated after 20 years of marriage. Teresa has since moved forward with her life, marrying Luis “Louie” Ruelas in August 2022.
However, financial challenges have continued for the family. Earlier this year, People reported that authorities issued Teresa and Louie tax liens totaling $3 million
Specific documents obtained by Page Six revealed that Teresa owes $303,889.20, while Ruelas allegedly owes more than $2.6 million.
Despite these ongoing financial matters, Gia has consistently defended her family’s efforts to resolve their obligations. During an episode of her podcast “Casual Chaos,” she reassured listeners about their situation: “My mom has everything under control and there’s nothing to worry about.”
“My mom has been the sole provider for my sisters and I since the minute my father left for prison,” Gia explained, highlighting Teresa’s dedication to supporting her four daughters. She described her mother as “working her [expletive] off to make sure that my sisters and I live a stable life and that my family is financially stable.”
Gia also praised her stepfather’s involvement in addressing the family’s financial challenges, calling Louie the “most amazing stepfather” and noting that he was “also working on getting everything resolved.”
The young woman maintains that while people may want her mother to “set the record straight” about their finances, she believes it’s ultimately “nobody else’s business.”
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Gia Giudice Defends Mom Teresa After Viral Interview Walkout