Teresa Giudice and daughters are driven to tears as Joe calls from prison during Easter in RHONJ clip.... months before the couple's split after 20 years
Joe Giudice's imprisonment definitely took its toll on his family.
The 47-year-old reality star's wife Teresa, daughters, and rest of his family were brought to tears as he called in the middle of their Easter dinner in a Real Housewives Of New jersey exclusive clip released by E! on Wednesday.
At the time, Joe was in the midst of serving a three-and-a-half year prison sentence and was before he was taken into custody by ICE and deported back to his native Italy.
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Sad: Teresa Giudice and rest of her family were brought to tears as husband Joe called in the middle of their Easter dinner in a Real Housewives Of New jersey exclusive clip released by E! on Wednesday
In addition to the Teresa, 47, and the kids, his brother-in-law Joe Gorga and his wife Melissa were at the dinner table.
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Joe, 40, grabs the phone to chat with his brother and gets emotional as he says: 'You still got your sense of humor.
'Listen, I f***king love you, bro. I miss you. That's why I don't like to talk to you, bro, because you really break my f***king heart.
Family fun: The 47-year-old reality star and the rest of her family were having a good laugh early in the call
'You really break my f***ing heart': Teresa's brother Joe, 40, grabs the phone to chat and gets emotional as he says: 'You still got your sense of humor
'I miss you bro, and you got to stay strong. Alright?' Joe looked dejected as he handed the phone back to his sister
'I miss you bro, and you got to stay strong. Alright?'
Teresa and fellow RHONJ castmate Melissa, 40, each grabbed a napkins and wiped tears from their eyes as eldest daughter Gia, 18, also got very emotional.
Joe also gets emotional (he later admits to fighting to hold back tears) as he says: 'Bro, I'm doing everything I could, man. Enough is enough of this s***, man.'
It was a very emotional time at the dinner table as Gia joked: 'you're making the whole room cry dad!'
Tough: Teresa and fellow RHONJ castmate Melissa, 40, each grabbed a napkins and wiped tears from their eyes as eldest daughter Gia, 18, also got very emotional
Ouch: Joe looked very upset after handing the phone back
Upset: No doubt there is plenty of support in the family as they embraced each other during the tough phone call as the eldest daughter wrapped her arms around 10-year-old sister Audriana who began bawling after saying goodbye to her father before taking her on a walk
Transparency: In a confessional Teresa said: 'What's so painful to me is the past five years, like, our family being ripped apart, we haven't been together on holidays. Joe has missed the girls growing up, and that's something that we can't get back'
No doubt there is plenty of support in the family as they embraced each other during the tough phone call as the eldest daughter wrapped her arms around 10-year-old sister Audriana who began bawling after saying goodbye to her father before taking her on a walk to get fresh air.
In a confessional Teresa said: 'What's so painful to me is the past five years, like, our family being ripped apart, we haven't been together on holidays. Joe has missed the girls growing up, and that's something that we can't get back.'
The clip was released at an interesting time as Joe has just broken his silence over his split from wife of 20 years, Teresa.
Writing on Instagram, the former Real Housewives Of New Jersey star admitted: 'It's time to let go.'
He then shared a second post, which read: 'Every next level of your life will demand a different you.'
Moving on: The clip was released at an interesting time as Joe has just broken his silence over his split from wife of 20 years, Teresa
'It's time to let go': The reality star shared his thoughts publicly
The couple decided to go their separate ways after their recent family reunion in Italy, a source told People.
But while the exes are no longer together, sources tell the site there 'are no plans for a divorce.'
'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,' the insider said.
It's over: Joe is seen with Teresa in 2016; the couple were married for 20 years
Moving on: Joe, seen on Instagram, has started a new life in Italy as a single man
Joe has reportedly already begun meeting new people, however Teresa has remained focused on her own busy life.
'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 source said.
'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 WWHL special, they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Neither is interested in a long distance relationship.'
For now, the couple, who married in 1999, remain committed to raising their daughters Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10, together.
Moving on: Joe has already begun meeting new people, however Teresa has remained focused on her own busy life; the couple are seen in 2013
Their daughters will be visiting Joe in Italy this Christmas, though recently Teresa said she wasn't so sure what their plans were.
'We're still deciding. We have a lot going on,' she told Us Weekly.
The couple's decision to separate may not come as a surprise to fans who have been following their lives post-prison.
Both Teresa and Joe were sent to prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges in 2014, and were allowed to serve their sentences in succession for the sake of their children.
Joe served his sentence after Teresa, but his legal battle continued even after he was released.
Legal battle: The two served time in prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges in 2014
Joe, who came to America from Italy as an infant, was placed in ICE detention for five months following his prison release.
He was eventually released to Italy, where he awaits the final decision in his deportation case after his green card was revoked following his prison release in March.
The legal battle took a toll on their marriage, and Teresa expressed doubts about the future of their relationship during an interview with Good Morning America.
The reality star, who had just visited Joe in Italy with their daughters at the time, said she did not plan on filing for divorce soon.
Family man: Joe was visited by Teresa and their four daughters in Italy after his deportation
'Not anytime...,' she started to say, before answering firmly: 'No.'
As for their future together, she was less certain.
'I don't know. Imagine he lived in Italy and you lived here? I don't know if that's a feasible relationship.'
Asked if she believed she would find happiness and love with her husband again, she replied, 'To be determined!', adding that they were 'taking it day by day'.
Teresa also insisted she had been 'completely' faithful to him the entire time, but gave pause when asked if he had been loyal to her.
'I never caught him, it was like hearsay.'
The reality star said she was open to finding love again with someone else if her marriage ended.
'I'm still young. If it does go that path, I want the same for Joe... if that's the path we choose, yes.
'We only really want the best for each other, we really do. I'll start crying because we both do. I kept crying on the trip because of that.
'I do want happiness again, I want Joe to be happy, my daughters, well they are happy,' she said.
