The Real Reason Why Melissa & Joe Gorga Skipped Teresa Giudice’s Wedding Revealed in ‘RHONJ’ Season 13 Finale

Fans of The Real Housewives of New Jersey are finally getting answers.

Back in August 2022, it was revealed that Melissa and Joe Gorga were skipping his sister Teresa Giudice‘s wedding to Louie Ruelas after an explosive argument that was all filmed during the season 13 finale episode.

Well, the RHONJ season 13 finale aired on Tuesday night (May 16), and we now what went down to result in Melissa and Joe skipping Teresa‘s wedding.

In the beginning of the episode, Melissa revealed that she’s been keeping a “big secret” for the last six months in hopes to keep the family together and at peace.

“For the last six months, I’ve been trying to keep this big secret, because I was doing everything in my power to keep the family together,” Melissa said in a confessional.

“I didn’t want to say anything, because I was scared that they were going to ruin my wedding,” Teresa shared in her own confessional.

The episode then flashes back to the night of Dolores Cantania‘s Irish-themed, 1920s, “prohibition” party, where everything is revealed.

At the party, Danielle Cabral breaks the news to Melissa that Margaret Josephs‘ former friend, Laura Jensen, told Teresa and Jennifer Aydin that Margaret had dirt on Melissa, claiming that Melissa was caught making out with a guy in the back of car.

Melissa then tells Danielle to stop talking, because Joe already told her about this rumor.

“You wanna know how I heard it through my husband? ‘Cause his sister called him over to her house secretly without me to tell him this story behind my back,” Melissa fired back. “Pretty f–ked up sister-in-law I have, isn’t it?”

In a confessional, Melissa explained more, saying that the rumor was “baseless.”

“Six months ago, Teresa called Joe over with Louie, because she heard a rumor about me, and she believes it so much, that she had to call her brother over,” Melissa recalled. “How dare you tell my husband that I would cheat on him?”

She continued, “You’re saying this off a baseless rumor, from some woman who wants to hurt Margaret with no facts. No anything. Did she think he was just going to pack his bags and leave? Like, what the f–k are you doing?”

Back at the party, Melissa tells Danielle that she should have had this conversation with both Melissa and Teresa. Danielle admits to being confused as to why Teresa would want this cheating rumor to be true.

“Are you kidding me? Doll face, look at me. I have been accused of being a stripper. I have been accused of doing stuff in parking lots before,” Melissa says to Danielle. “[Teresa]‘s said multiple times, ‘Your wife will leave you for a richer man.’ She’s said multiple things that we have let go in our life.”

Melissa goes on to say that she originally had no intention on confronting Teresa about the rumor or the meeting with Joe, because Joe doesn’t believe the rumor to be true at all.

“It’s bulls–t and because I wanted to let her have a peaceful six months leading up to her wedding,” Melissa says in a confessional. “And look what ends up happening: she has her minion make me look bad in front of everyone, so everyone can hear the words ‘Melissa’s a cheater,’ and I am done.”

Melissa then confronts Teresa, demanding to know why she called Joe over to her house to discuss this rumor.

“First of all, it wasn’t his sister. It was Louie. He was like, ‘I wanna tell your brother that all this is coming from Margaret, so your brother can get in front of it,’” Teresa claims in a confessional. “So, he was looking out for my brother. And I never repeated it to anymore.”

Things at party quickly get heated with everyone fighting, and after things start to cool down, Melissa tells Joe about what just happened.

“I get a call from Louie, ‘What are ya doin’? I need to see you right away. It’s very important,’” Joe recalls in a confessional. “So, I go to her house and Louie says, ‘We heard that Melissa cheated on you.’ I go, ‘Guys, you got the wrong girl.’”

Joe also claims that Teresa and Louie told him that Melissa cheated on him with “multiple men,” but Joe doesn’t believe any of it.

A few days later, Joe claims that Teresa‘s eldest daughter Gia Giudice called him to say “we just think you can do better” than Melissa.

Later, Margaret admits that she didn’t think that the cheating rumor would spread without Teresa‘s help – regardless of what Teresa or Louie said.

“Jennifer and Danielle wouldn’t do anything behind Teresa’s back,” Margaret says in a confessional. “I think Teresa knew it was gonna happen. I think Teresa looks extremely nervous. I think that’s why she was late tonight.”

Margaret ends up being somewhat correct with Teresa revealing in a confessional that Jennifer told her that she shared the rumor with Danielle – even though Jennifer previously promised she wouldn’t tell anyone.

“I told them not to say it,” Teresa explained, shrugging. “But I can’t tell people what to do.”

The morning after, Dolores calls Melissa to ask if she and Joe still planned on attending Teresa‘s wedding.

“How can I go and celebrate somebody else’s marriage when they are the people constantly trying to destroy mine?” Melissa said. “I don’t need to deal with toxic people that wanna bring me down, even if they come in the shape of your family.”

Dolores reminds Melissa that if they don’t go to the wedding, then they should know their relationship with Teresa is “over.”

“It’s been over,” Melissa responded.

Dolores then arrives at Teresa‘s house to discuss everything that happened at the party with Teresa, Louie, and Jennifer.

In the middle of their conversation, Louie gets up and starts bragging about how he hired his best friend – a private investigator – to dig up information on “everyone in the group.”

Dolores is shocked and confused by Louie‘s revelation, and privately, Teresa insisted she knew no additional information and publicly concluded she’s just “so done.”

“This is what Melissa’s been trying to do for over 10 years. She’s wanted to get my brother away from me all the time,” Teresa shared in a confessional. “She got her wish.”

The Teresa Gets Married special is set to air next week on Tuesday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo before the explosive season 13 reunion begins on May 30.

In a new interview, Melissa addressed her future on RHONJ.