Gia Giudice is coming out swinging in defense of her mom Teresa Giudice after Bethenny Frankel publicly slammed the Real Housewives of New Jersey star over her mounting tax troubles.
Teresa, 52, and husband Luis Ruelas, 49, were slapped with a staggering $3 million in federal and state tax liens in March—marking another financial scandal nearly a decade after Teresa served prison time for fraud while married to her ex Joe Giudice.
Bethenny, 54, wasted no time weighing in, using TikTok to blast Teresa for getting involved in ‘another marriage with financial legal issues’ and dragging Gia into the fray by criticizing her support of her mother’s decision not to sign a prenup with Ruelas back in 2022.
‘One of the daughters did say that she didn’t like that the father made the mother sign a prenup,’ Bethenny said, referencing Gia’s past comments about Joe and Teresa’s former relationship. ‘She’s just ill-advised and not educated on this topic. She just doesn’t know.’
Now, Gia, 24, is clapping back—and she’s not holding back.
‘[Frankel] was honestly trying to gaslight me,’ Gia told People on Thursday. ‘I didn’t say half of the things that she made in her statement. I was never recommending financial advice or anything along those lines.’
Gia Giudice is coming out swinging in defense of her mom Teresa Giudice after Bethenny Frankel publicly slammed the Real Housewives of New Jersey star over her mounting tax troubles; (seen in 2023)
Bethenny, 54, wasted no time weighing in, using TikTok to blast Teresa for getting involved in ‘another marriage with financial legal issues’ and dragging Gia into the fray by criticizing her support of her mother’s decision not to sign a prenup with Ruelas back in 2022; (seen in 2024)
Gia also said her family was ‘not happy’ about the Skinnygirl mogul’s remarks.
She also took a moment to thank those who’ve come to her and her family’s defense, including former Real Housewives of Miami star Ana Quincoces, as well as RHONJ castmates Jennifer Fessler and Dolores Catania.
Read More Fans fear for Teresa Giudice’s marriage over her $3M financial nightmare
Frankel later issued a clarification on TikTok, insisting she never accused Gia of giving financial advice and blaming a fake quote—allegedly generated by AI—for the confusion.
‘It’s actually a well-written quote because AI wrote it, I just can’t claim it,’ Frankel explained. ‘It’s not a read I can claim, I didn’t say it. It’s kind of going around and people are reporting on it. I don’t care in this case, I mean, what do I care?’
‘I know that she’s an adult, but she’s someone’s kid and that’s weird, and I don’t get into that at all,’ she concluded.
Gia’s interview comes after she insisted that she’s not worried amid her mom and stepdad’s outstanding tax bills, despite them both owing millions.
According to the New Jersey Courts website, Teresa owes $303,889.20 in unpaid taxes in a judgement that was entered on March 20.
Luis owes several times that amount, after a judgment saying he owes $2,569,842.06 was entered on March 6.
‘[Frankel] was honestly trying to gaslight me,’ Gia told People on Thursday. ‘I didn’t say half of the things that she made in her statement. I was never recommending financial advice or anything along those lines,’ (seen in 2023)
The 52-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey fixture and her 49-year-old husband had over $3 million in New Jersey state tax liens placed on them; (seen in 2023)
That amount is on top of an earlier lien issued on December 12, 2024, for $163,523.94 in unpaid taxes.
Speaking on the March 30 episode of Casual Chaos, Gia revealed she is not panicked, saying, ‘My mom has been the sole provider for my sisters and I since the minute my father left for prison.’
She went on to stress that mom Teresa has been ‘working her a** off to make sure that my sisters and I live a stable life and that my family is financially stable’ since she was freed from prison in December 2015.
‘I can’t stress enough how much my mom has worked,’ Gia said.
‘Everything will be resolved. My mom has everything under control and there’s nothing to worry about.’
‘My stepdad, Louis, is the most amazing stepfather,’ Gia continued. ‘He treats my sisters and I like we are his own. He is also working on getting everything resolved as well.’
Teresa and Joe are proud parents of four daughters – Gia, Gabriella, 20; Milania, 19; and Audriana, 15.
Her praise for Luis comes as scrutiny persists over Teresa’s long-running financial troubles following her split from Joe.
Teresa originally met Luis on the Jersey shore in September 2020 – the same exact month she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Joe Giudice (L, pictured in 2014) after 20 years of marriage
The tax-evading pair were originally sentenced in 2014 (pictured) for bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud
Joe was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to 41 counts of bank, mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud.
He also admitted to failing to file tax returns between 2004 and 2008. Following his release, he was ordered to return to Italy amid ongoing deportation proceedings.
Teresa served 15 months in federal prison for her role in the crimes.
She later met Luis during a vacation at the Jersey Shore in 2020.