RHONJ stars Teresa & Joe Giudice officially split after 20 years of marriage amid his deportation nightmare
REAL Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa and Joe Giudice have separated after 20 years of marriage, The Sun Online can confirm.
The reality TV pair’s relationship has been rocked in recent months after Joe was deported to his native Italy following his and Teresa’s convictions on various counts of fraud in 2014.
Last month, Teresa and her four daughters with Joe’s flew to Italy for an emotional reunion.
During an interview with Bravo host Andy Cohen, Teresa admitted this was a make-or-break trip for the couple.
An insider told that the reunion was not a success, and Teresa decided to end the relationship after returning to New Jersey.
The separation is said to be “amicable,” and Joe has started dating again already, a source told .
A source said: “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.”
The insider added: “She is happy for Joe, they have been very friendly with one another and are very supportive of each other’s happiness.
“They still love one another, but they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
“Neither is interested in a long distance relationship.”
The pair, who were childhood sweethearts and married in 1999, are parents to Gia, 18, 15-year-old Gabriella, Milania, 14, and 10-year-old Audriana.
A source previously confirmed to The Sun Online that the girls will be flying to Italy without their mother to spend Christmas with the exiled Joe.
In October, Joe asked to return to his native Italy ahead of a final legal decision on his latest deportation appeal.
Joe was born in Lombardy and though he emigrated to the US as a child he didn’t ever obtain American citizenship – and when he and Teresa were both convicted of various counts of fraud in 2014, he became vulnerable to being deported.
The couple served back-to-back sentences in prison, but after Joe completed his 36-month stint in prison he was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
While Joe served three years in federal prison, Teresa was inside for just over 11 months, and was released in December 2015.