RHONJ: Did Caroline Manzo Really Call The FBI On Teresa And Joe Giudice?

It's hard to believe that "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo were once friends. As she told Page Six in May, "We were there for each other. We were on this journey." During the show's early days, the two seemingly had each other's back. Manzo continued, "I miss the days of Season 1 Teresa. I do ... that's what makes me so sad because we had belly laughs." However, things rapidly changed after Giudice seemingly stirred the pot when she shaded alum Manzo in her cookbook. Andy Cohen appeared to believe that their relationship rapidly deteriorated thereafter, and they were at each other's throats in the following seasons of the Bravo staple. Manzo quit "RHONJ" after Season 5, but it's evident that their rift still hasn't healed. Appearing on the "Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino" podcast in November 2022, Giudice said, "She's not even in my vision. She's definitely in my rearview mirror, she's not looking forward, [she's] in my windshield." 

While Manzo may be in Giudice's rearview mirror, "RHONJ" fans had a front-row seat to Giudice's legal troubles. Both Teresa and Joe Giudice served time in prison for the white-collar crimes of mail, wire, bank, and bankruptcy fraud. At the time, Giudice was vocal in her belief that Manzo played a role in her imprisonment. Their friendship came to a screeching halt because she then believed that Manzo betrayed her and handed her over to the feds. 

In "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Season 7 finale in 2016, Giudice confronted sisters-in-law Jacqueline Laurita and Caroline Manzo for tipping off the FBI about her and Joe Giudice's business affairs. She blasted them saying, "You or you and Caroline set me up on the government." The table-throwing housewife served 11 months in prison, later telling ABC News, "It was hell." Now, several years later, it seems as if Giudice may have been, at least partially, correct in her assumptions. 

Manzo appeared on Page Six's "Virtual Reali-Tea" podcast and told the hosts that she did not alert the FBI about Giudice's illegal activities. However, she revealed, "I know who did... PS, I was there." Manzo would not, however, name the caller. She justified protecting the whistleblower by adding, "I am not [a rat] ... It's not even about being a rat. There's this thing called collateral damage," adding that she wanted "to protect people that didn't deserve the collateral damage and the fallout once it comes out." The "Manzo'd with Children" matriarch stood firm in her decision not to disclose the person. She said, "You can believe whatever you like about me. I know I never did — I could never do that." But it seems as if her admission may be a little too late for Giudice.

Teresa Giudice addressed Caroline Manzo's admission on the May 24 episode of her own podcast, "Namaste B$tches." While speaking to her co-host Melissa Pfeister, she shared that she didn't understand Manzo's motive to revisit the past. Giudice continued, "I already know. It wasn't Caroline, 'cause I said, back then I thought it was Caroline because I didn't wanna believe other people." Giudice was, however, upset that Manzo was apparently present when the call to the authorities was made, and she said that Manzo's hands were dirty. She added, "Like if she was there when that phone call happened, why didn't she call me as a friend and tell me ... That's why we're not friends."

While the popcorn was still popping, Kim DePaola also weighed in on Manzo's claims. The former "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" alum appeared on the May 27 Behind the Velvet Rope podcast, hosted by David Yontef. DePaola said, "She was there. That's the keyword."  She then bravely asked, "Caroline Manzo, you were complicit... How do you sit there and let somebody call the FBI on a mother-of-four?" It has been a decade since the Giudices were arrested and charged in 2013, and yet the tea is still piping hot as new information trickles through. Will Manzo ever reveal who the informant was? And even more pertinent, why was she in the room when the call was made? One thing's for sure, "RHONJ" always delivers on the drama.