'Real Housewife' Caroline Manzo: 'My Children Didn't Sign Up For This'

Reality star Caroline Manzo tells me she is still trying to recover after Bravo aired "The Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion, Part 2" Sunday night. And although she makes it very clear that she has no intention of fighting back against fellow castmember Teresa Giudice, she does reveal what has really been going on behind the scenes.

"I noticed a change [in Teresa] when other ladies joined the cast," Caroline told me and the hosts of "New York Live" Monday. "We were acquaintances, not friends. Off camera, there was nothing -- no interaction. It has been an unbelievable experience. A growing experience, a learning experience, but I've had a lot of heartbreak because of it."

And what hurts Caroline the most is that her children have been attacked by Teresa and her friends -- something that visibly haunts the reality star.

"My children didn't sign up for this. We put ourselves out there and have no idea. I watch the news," Caroline says, explaining how little she knew about reality shows before signing up to star in one. "So much I won't say, because I don't want to hurt anyone. I'm not going to blame the network. For a TV show, I'm not going to hurt someone. I'm not going to do it."

Caroline refused to talk about her damaged relationship with sister Dina, who quit the show after the first season, telling friends she doesn't want to hurt her parents. It seems enough hurt has been handed out already.

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Comments

[Christina Himes]

01:57 AM on 10/28/2011

Wow, what a sad bunch. They do play the blame game rather well, and I love how they blame the incident on Teresa when she had nothing to do with it, and they know that.

Caroline's hair just looks so nasty to. She needs to get that mop cut. Her kids didn't sign up for this, but they sure are making money from it. They wouldn't be doing anything now if it wasn't for Caroline's spot on the show.

[Chirper Lady]

11:13 PM on 10/27/2011

So the general concensus is that Caroline has failed at trying to spin this. Sweet, because even reading the headline I what nonesense. She has tried to fill the show and the media w/ all Manzo all the time. I doubt she even cared about the cookbook, it just gave her a excuse to be mean. I think she was most unprepared for the world to see through the charade going on between Albert Jr and Greg. I think she thought that no one would realize they are a couple. That's what she didnt sign up for!

[Christina Himes]

02:15 AM on 10/28/2011

Is this for real? I've seen it mentioned a couple of times, but is Greg Bennett and Albie Manzo Jr. really a couple? What about Chris? They never seem to have girlfriends and act so awkward around women.

[Chirper Lady]

10:07 AM on 10/28/2011

Agreed. But now remember the whole Alexa Jole thing. Chris was much more comfortable around her... where as Albert appeared as if he were going to gag at any moment dispite the fact that Caroline was trying to push him on Alex.

I DO think that Albert and Greg are a couple. Where as Chris is just used to being the ugly duckling next to his brother. (For whatever reason Albert is pinned as the handsomeone)

[Vee73]

03:23 PM on 10/26/2011

Ok so let me get this straight: you can go on TV and be outspoken about everybody ELSE on the show and how everybody ELSE raises their kids: but as soon as somone mentions YOUR kids, its hurtful? Really? They call that karma, Dear. I haven't liked Caroline since someone asked her about Oprah's success & she said that its not Oprah, its the people around her who make her successful. Which is largely true. But I wonder: if someone gives Caroline a compliment does she deserve it, or does her husband--since he's the one who works so hard to provide for her?? She HATES to give anyone credit for anything, and is then surprised when people retaliate against her. These (not at all) Real Housewives shows are sickening. ALL of them: because they put fame and money in the pockets of women who don't need or deserve it. Yet those of us who work everyday and would actually have something decent to say to the public can't catch a break. Go figure...

[Susie Kosmicki]

02:32 PM on 10/26/2011

I come from a large family. I can promise you that if Caroline were my sister I would stop talking to her too. She is a judgmental bully. She thinks everything her immediate family does is right and everyone else is wrong. She ruined the show for me. Her kids would be taking out the trash at the Brownstone if it weren't for the show. You have to take the good with the bad. There is no person on earth that could talk me into not speaking to my sister, so she had to of done something to deserve Dana not talking to her. She can't own it. And the other two... if it weren't for the Queen Bully Caroline, they would be fine with Teresa. Caroline stop doing the show. Please. You aren't even interesting. You definitely are not a victim.

[livsmom74]

08:30 AM on 10/26/2011

Her kids are adults...THEY SIGNED THEMSELVES UP FOR THIS! All they had to do was refuse and they would have been left out. Just like the first season when Dina's husband refused to be a part of it and was not in any episodes. They chose the spotlight so not they have to deal with it whether it is good or bad!

[driverstest]

08:15 AM on 10/26/2011

Enough already! These reality shows are a vast wasteland. It destroys everyone that appear on them. It is obvious that the premise of the shows is to have one bad guy that the rest fight with on a weekly basis. Caroline appears to be smart enough to have realized long before now that appearing on this show is not worth it! Pretty sure that the whole cookbook debacle was scripted to add drama.

[rowdiman]

06:16 PM on 10/25/2011

She signed on for her kids to appear on camera, but not to be judged in a "Cook Book".

[Rob Shuter]

05:53 PM on 10/25/2011

Saw Caroline's son Christopher on Monday. Not sure he would have a job if it wasn't for reality TV. tricky

[mushimom]

07:06 PM on 10/25/2011

Rob, I thought he worked at the Brownstone?...those boys seem so immature, and socially awkward....

[Chirper Lady]

11:05 PM on 10/27/2011

And closeted!!

[dmm1047]

05:30 PM on 10/25/2011

Caroline was the fraud stomping around like she was "Don Corleone."

[gvnn688]

05:23 PM on 10/25/2011

This is unreal. What a poor reporter to display such bias even if it is on an entertainer. First I watched eached episode of the RHONJ and all three women, Teresa, Melissa, and Kathy, along with their three husbands were horrible. I am insulted by Caroline, Melissa, and Kathy's billing of being the victims as if the viewers cannot decern or remember how each of these ladies and their husbands behaved. I am disgusted by the way they have ganged up against Teresa and because of that, I am on Teresa's side.

The fact that Caroline need this type of allgence and the fact she implied Teresa was the blame for her rift between herself and her sister demostrates what type of person she is. I was not a fan of Danielle but I did not like how they ganged up against her. As a matter of fact, Teresa stated in the first epiosode of the reunion she now knew how Danielle felt.

[bentnoodle]

05:21 PM on 10/25/2011

Oh Please! Her children are in almost every episode. Caroline didn't even encourage her poor daughter while exercising with her, Caroline acted bored and exhausted knowing her daughter just told national television about her trouble with weight while Caroline is going through her glam wear that is too big and still has tags on it. She slammed Teresa for a song that her child sang. I think Caroline should think twice before she speaks. I changed my opinion of Caroline when she said her children are from a family of privilege. I love her explanation of her husband being forced off the North Jersey Water Supply Commission. I don't think he told the complete truth of his actual residence (he falls asleep at his desk 5 nights a week} and the Mom and Dad of the "family of privilege", had free health care from the commission , oops I mean taxpayers. Caroline, my mom always told me not to throw stones if I live in a glass house, just saying. :] Get off your high horse.

[smp65]

04:56 PM on 10/25/2011

Oh Lord forgive me for commenting but....This woman signed up for this and allowed her children (grown ups, btw) ifinite amount of press to advertise their latest endevours, (car wash stripping, make-up artist etc....). When her one son couldn't cut it in law school, she tried to plead his case on the show and railed against the school. If she wanted private then why were her adult children constantly filmed? Even in their own homes/ apartments?
Suck it up and realize all of this is your fault because you signed up for it. Money and fame but at what a price.

[hugatree]

04:42 PM on 10/25/2011

You put yourself and your whole family on camera. You invited public ridicule. You chose to come back for season after season of it, and now you're trying to make everyone feel sorry for you and your kids? I can't feel sorry for you. All of you have benefited financially from this show. Your sister was smart enough to get out. You need to do the same. Yes, Teresa is a total basket case. But so are the rest of you. I was intrigued at first, laughed with my friends over the bling and the over-decorated houses, and the indulgence of kids; but I've finally had enough. The behavior of ALL of you is disgusting.

[Cranmer1549]

04:34 PM on 10/25/2011

'My Children Didn't Sign Up For This'

Uh, but you signed them up for this! Please - why don't you, Kate Gosselin and all of the other hy.p0.crites just go away.

[Cammie Nolan]

02:54 PM on 10/25/2011

are these women SERIOUS? WHAT did Teresa say that was so insulting? Her BROTHER called her garbage at his son's christening for god's sakes! Her sister in law dragged out a cell phone LIST of supposed bad things that Teresa said-good thing Tre didn't keep score too cuz MELISSA and the sainted KATHY and CAROLINE both talked a lot of smack this season about Tre. Caroline is nothing but a hypocrite-she says she won't not be friends with someone because Teresa tells her not to, however, SHE forbid anyone to speak to Danielle! She is the capo in that mob and do not cross her or ELSE! She's not speaking to her own sister Dina because Dina remains friends with Tre. I think Melissa is the cause of all the issues in that family and better own up to it fast before everyone catches on and she is left behind. Eventually Don Caro will find something she don't like about her too and then she'll need her family. Caroline, stop believing your own press and get REAL. You are a bossy know it all who is always accusing others of meddling, meanwhile you are stirring so many pots you can barely keep up.