Courtesy of Joe Giudice/Instagram
‘RHONJ’ Star Joe Giudice Reflects His Prison Stint: ‘It Was the Worst Mistake I Made’
As New Year’s Eve approaches, Joe Giudice is taking some time to reflect. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star took to Instagram on Sunday, December 29, to share an emotional message where he opened up about what it was like for him to leave his four daughters on the day he reported to prison.
“2019 got me all sorts of 😢! The day I left over four years ago to go in is shown in this scene,” the 47-year-old wrote in the caption of a video clip featuring the scene in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air where Will Smith‘s character comes face to face with his absentee father. “It was [the] worst mistake I made hurting my babies! Today, I’m driving girls to Rome. I want you all to take this exciting ride into 2020!! It has been the best week of my life being us again! I read a quote in there which stuck with me, ‘You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.’ All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination. I’m willing to change for my girls. #motivation #life#MMXX Here’s to turning 50, new outlook and beginning!”
It’s safe to say the former New Jersey native has the support of his family as he aims to become a better person. One of Joe’s daughters, 14-year-old Milania, took to the comments to share a sweet, supportive message for her dad. “I love you so much, buddy💓💓💓💓💓,” she commented. And Joe’s estranged wife, RHONJ star Teresa Giudice, also left some love in the comments. “Enjoy Rome 😍,” the 47-year-old wrote.
As In Touch previously reported, Teresa and Joe decided to separate and split after 20 years of marriage. “Teresa and Joe have split, but everyone saw it coming. No one is really surprised,” the source exclusively told In Touch earlier this month. “Even their daughters knew it was coming and their recent trip to Italy was all about spending quality time together and discussing the real issue at hand — they were splitting up.”
Teresa, Joe and their daughters — Milania, Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15 and Audriana, 10 — reunited in November 2019, which marked the first time the whole family was together since he reported to jail in March 2016. He served a 41-month prison sentence for fraud charges, which he completed in March 2019. But since was not a United States citizen, he was found eligible for deportation after serving time for his crimes and he was immediately transferred to ICE custody after his release from prison. Joe remained in ICE custody until October 2019, when a judge granted his request to return to his native country of Italy while he awaited a verdict in his deportation appeal.
It seems like Teresa and Joe both came to the mutual decision to split during their trip in November, and Tre did not join her daughters on their second trip to Italy earlier this month. The girls are spending the holidays with Joe abroad, and their presence has inspired him to set a very positive New Year’s resolution.
“I posted this message in [the] morning but I choked up and I took it down, then I thought part of regrowth is acceptance!! This year, I have done a lot of self-reflection I now know to be happy and content with who I am and what I have: food, bed, air, girls, and family,” Joe wrote on Instagram on Saturday, December 28. “I learned in there all you have to do is love yourself and be the BEST! I’m letting go of 2019 with my beautiful girls but promising them the BEST of ME IN 2020!! They make me proud in so many ways and are my treasures. ❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
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