‘RHONJ’ Star Rachel Fuda Says Team Melissa Gorga “Absolutely” Met The Night Before The Reunion: “When You Go Into War, You Bring Weapons”

Teresa Giudice and her husband Louie Ruelas certainly made an enemy out of Rachel Fuda and her husband John Fuda, who alleged at the Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13 reunion that Ruelas hired an investigator to contact John’s incarcerated ex-wife while Rachel was trying to adopt his son. The drama between the two couples is far from over in the Season 14 premiere, which finds both Rachel and John in a heated confrontation with Giudice at Jennifer Fessler‘s surprise birthday party.

“Tequila,” Rachel jokes after DECIDER asked how she was able to hold it together during her argument with Giudice. “Also, you have to give somebody the power to control your emotions … And I refuse to do that.”

The reality star, who is clearly gearing up for a chaotic sophomore season, also confirmed that she and the rest of Team Melissa Gorga “absolutely” met up the night before that heated Season 13 reunion was filmed to discuss their strategy —  especially since the last time they saw Ruelas, he claimed his close friend, private investigator Bo Dietl, came to him with dirt on the cast.

“When you go into war, you bring weapons. This is no different. So we were just getting our arsenal ready,” Rachel said, adding that it would be “surprising” to her if they didn’t meet up beforehand.

Cast drama aside, Rachel — whose “No. 1” priority will always be her family — also opens up in the first episode about her daughter Giuliana’s “tongue tie,” which is when a “tight band of tissue tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth,” per Mayo Clinic. The condition can cause speech problems, as Fuda points out in the show.

“I’m a very open book and I want to share my stories to help other families and show that there are things that go on that are out of our control,” she told DECIDER when asked why she decided to share Giuliana’s story, noting that the toddler is “doing amazing” these days. “She is chatting up a storm, singing songs. She’s almost putting together complete full sentences. I am so proud of her.”

DECIDER caught up with Rachel via Zoom to discuss all things Season 14, from her feud with Giudice, to whether she agrees with Andy Cohen that having two camps in reality TV is “not sustainable.” Keep reading for the full interview.

DECIDER: This first episode is a doozy. But I want to start on a light note. Nonna is adorable and hilarious. In addition to referring to Jennifer Aydin as “nose job Jennifer,” she also said she had a knot in her stomach over everyone being at Jenn Fessler’s surprise party. Does Nonna have any other hot takes about the show that you can share? 

RACHEL FUDA: I should just call her and just let her go off. I was on the phone with her this morning. She’s like, “I’m watching these old episodes. I can’t believe that these are the same people.” I’m like, “Nonna, the shade.” She would actually make a good Housewife grandma. Maybe we should see if we could get a series. The Real Housewives: Seniors.

It’s only your second season and you’re already making a splash! I noticed that you cropped Teresa out of the cast photo you posted a few weeks ago. How did your castmates react to that?

They were proud of me. And I’m proud of myself. Because we shouldn’t pretend to like people we don’t like.

How were you feeling about hosting the first full-cast event of the season? 

I am so excited for this event because Jenn and I have a really special relationship. She’s been around my family a ton, with my kids. She’s a very special person in my life. Our relationship has its ups and downs and you guys will see all that this season. But [the party] was a lot of fun because I got to pick the location and the theme and I love to party-plan. That’s my thing. I was so in my element. I was so excited about it.

Frank Catania allegedly told Teresa and Louie that everyone on your reunion couch met up beforehand to figure out how to take them down – but Dolores says pre-reunion powwows are super typical. If you did meet up, do you think Teresa and Louie are overreacting about it? And how much truth is there to the claims that you were all trying to take them down?

We absolutely met the night before the reunion because the last time we saw Louie he was saying that he hired a private investigator. So yes, we’re gonna have a powwow. You know, when you go into war, you bring weapons. This is no different. So we were just getting our arsenal ready. That’s it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. Why is that so unheard of? I don’t understand. 

I kind of feel like it would be surprising if we didn’t meet up before the reunion. Like that, to me, would be like, “Wow, you guys don’t talk before you go out there?” That would be shocking to me.

Who do you think is messier: the NJ housewives or the NJ househusbands and why?

If we’re talking about alcohol there’s no denying that the husbands are as messy as it gets. I cannot wait for you guys to see our Shore trip. It was so much fun, but the sloppiness that ensued at the Shore — wow. The husbands are pretty sloppy though. I will say that. They need, like, a Househusbands Ultimate Boys Trip. That’s what they need. A two or three-day quick trip, in and out, give them a bunch of tequila and let ‘em at it.

Louie reached out to your husband about meeting up, but John said he’d see him at the party. Why didn’t John want to meet up with Louie in a more intimate setting?

John’s not phony. And he’s not going to take time out of his workday or time with his family to go meet up with someone who’s insignificant in his life – and someone that also waited six months plus to reach out to him until we were all together again.

Teresa accuses John of trying to ruin Louie’s reputation – but then she wastes no time repeating the rumors she heard about John. Do you think there’s a double standard with her?

It’s the definition of hypocritical. It’s the textbook definition – you can’t do it to me but I can do it to you. It’s just so hypocritical. And Louie doesn’t need John to ruin his reputation. He did that on his own. 

We see Teresa getting really worked up during your conversation. She’s yelling about drug dealing and double-sided dildos and she’s missing the bag when she’s filling it with candy. But you were able to stay pretty calm during the whole interaction. How?

Tequila (laughs). Also, you have to give somebody the power to control your emotions. Have you ever been in an argument before where you lose it? Like, you are giving that person the power over you. And I refuse to do that. Refuse.

There’s been a lot of chatter about this season, from Jackie befriending Teresa to the Jennifer and Danielle debacle, to Melissa and Teresa not interacting at all. What do you think will be the most shocking for fans to see? 

I think it’s all really shocking, but the finale is pretty intense. I was kind of shocked. 

While Andy Cohen said this season worked, he also said that having two camps is not sustainable in the long run. What do you think about this? 

I completely agree. I think that the basis of the Real Housewives franchises is a group of friends that get together and they go for coffee and they have parties and events and all those things. And, of course, there’s going to be little rifts and tiffs here and there, but when it gets to this level, and these arguments – you don’t come back from them. It’s not progressive. So I agree with him.

We know you’re a Disney family! What is your strategy when planning vacations with the crew? Who is more excited: John, you or the kids? 

John is the most excited, always, for Disney. And then I would say Gigi, and then Giuliana then me and then Jayden. Jayden’s just excited because he doesn’t have to go to school. But I think – just being really organized. I have packing lists. I have the rides we want to go on as priority for each park. It’s a big undertaking being a Disney family. But I really feel like this is where type A personalities thrive. Like if you’re type A and you have not gone to Disney, we’re made for this. It’s in our blood.

Speaking of the kids, I love that you opened up about Giuliana and what she’s been going through. How is she doing now? And what made you decide to share that part of your life with a national audience?

My time on the show, I have been very vulnerable and honest with whatever it is I’m going through at that time. So that was what was going on in my life at that time and that is the story I chose to be open and honest with. Nothing really in my life is off limits. I’m a very open book and I want to share my stories to help other families and show that there are things that go on that are out of our control. You always want to do the best for your kids and get them the best care that they need. It’s not easy and it’s a lot of pressure on parents. So whatever struggles other parents are going through with their children – you’re not alone. We all have something – some bigger than others, some smaller than others. But in the end, it all works out. 

She’s doing amazing. She is in preschool. She is walking, running. She is chatting up a storm, singing songs. She’s almost putting together complete full sentences. I am so proud of her. It’s taken a lot of dedication from my husband and I also to get her to this point – a ton of therapy sessions. But I’m really, really proud of her. 

You’re such a good mom and John is such a good dad so watching your family really is refreshing in an otherwise chaotic show.

That’s the best compliment that I could ever receive is just being a great mom. There is nothing that I value more than my family and being a mom. There’s nothing more important to me, and my family will always be No. 1.

What else can you tease about the rest of the season?

The biggest thing is it’s not always what it seems. There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors and people that say and do different things. And I think people need to find their voice a little bit and stand on their own two feet.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.