Family is a complicated, layered concept that changes more than people would like to admit, whether you're on TV or not.
And sometimes, your family - even former family - know how to push your buttons much better (or worse) than anyone.
To wit, Melissa Gorga has recently had a whole lot to say about Joe Giudice on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Melissa has also taken shots at her former co-star in multiple interviews, accusing him of using her to stay relevant.
According to her, he's just trying to profit off of their disagreements - basically trying to make money at her expense.
Well, speaking to The Hollywood Gossip exclusively, Joe himself says that this is the furthest thing from the truth.
The father of four spoke to THG earlier this month with his side of the story, and now he's back for round two.
From Italy, Giudice explains that the reality is simple: he wants Gorga to stop stressing out his wonderful daughters.
When it comes to using them for storylines, headlines, or anything else, just keep them out of your mouth, will ya?
In his mind, hearing their own aunt go on tirades about their dad on and off of TV isn't doing the girls any good.
And frankly, it's not a good look for Melissa or her husband, is it? Read on to see what Joe has to say ...
1. Joe Giudice has had enough
Despite extraordinarily unfortunate circumstances, he and his daughters and Teresa are all adjusting to their new reality. He feels like this is made so much harder when Teresa's brother and her sister-in-law dredge up some of their family's most painful moments. And they accuse HIM of using them to stay relevant!
2. There was a recent, heartwarming family reunion
Understandably, not all ex-husbands want to meet their ex-wife's new boyfriend, and that feeling is often very mutual. But when Teresa and her four beautiful daughters went to the Bahamas to meet up with Joe, Luis and his son tagged along.
3. It's important for them to see their dad
Joe was ripped from their lives by unjust circumstances beyond their control. While in many ways, he was more fortunate than many victims of deportation, the heartbreak of not being with his family throughout most of the year is unthinkable. Fortunately, the Giudice family pulls out all of the stops to make sure that the girls can spend a lot of time with their father -- while of course putting their educations first.
4. It was an extended family dinner
Family sometimes means making it work, so Joe and Teresa do what they can for their girls, even when they have their own love lives. Joe and Teresa also both posted very graciously about the dinner afterwards, with Joe giving a shoutout to Luis and to his son.
5. But every family has its troubles
In case it wasn't already clear that there is some tension between Teresa's brother and sister-in-law and the father of her children, things exploded on last week's The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
6. Teresa's feud with Jackie turned into something very different
She confronted her brother, Joe Gorga, for not defending her earlier ... which spawned a short sequence of events that led to Joe and Melissa's over-the-top explosion.
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