Real Housewives of New Jersey fans are all abuzz after news broke Tuesday that Teresa and Joe Giudice have split after 20 years of marriage. A source close to the family told PEOPLE that the couple has “been separated” since shortly after Joe was ordered to leave the U.S. for his native Italy following his 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud, although the couple has “no plans for divorce” at this time.
After news broke, RHONJ fans generally fell into one of two camps — relieved or devastated for the couple’s four daughters, Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10.
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Others were not surprised at all after the couple’s discussion of possible divorce on an October Watch What Happens Live special with Andy Cohen.
Me finding out my queen @Teresa_Giudice and juicy are divorcing #RHONJ pic.twitter.com/mSAW4aTXw6
— Jerseyprincess86 (@Jerseyprinces16) December 17, 2019
#RHONJ It’s official Teresa and Joe are done. I don’t blame them it’s time.
— diannelea (@diannelea1958) December 17, 2019
Teresa and Joe have finally divorced.
My heart goes out to their daughters, I hope this is a step in the right direction for the family. #RHONJ pic.twitter.com/lzRYLLXs7g
— housewives culture. ℍ (@HWCulture) December 17, 2019
“Yeahhh pretty sure the writing was on the wall when he talked about the kind of guy she should be dating, and their general energy of contempt via Skype,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another wrote, “In the most unsurprising news of the day… #RHONJ,” while still another brought up rumors that Teresa had been stepping out on Joe for a long time, “Sooo can she finally admit she’s ‘dating’ her pool guy and/or her bodyguard?”
PEOPLE‘s source said of the former couple, “They discussed their future when Teresa and the girls went to Italy in early November and they agreed that each had to move on. They are doing so amicably and very slowly.”
“Joe has been out on a few dates, Teresa has not. She has been too busy with the girls, with work obligations and taking care of her father. She is happy for Joe,” the continued. “They have been very friendly with one another and are very supportive of each other’s happiness. They still love one another, but as Teresa told Andy Cohen on the [Watch What Happens Live] special, they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Neither is interested in a long distance relationship.”
Regardless of this news, all four of the Giudice daughters will be visiting Joe for Christmas in his new home of Italy, but Teresa will stay in New Jersey with her father.
Photo credit: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images
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NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
