Joe Giudice detailed his uncomfortable reunion with ex-wife Teresa Giudice for the first time since finalizing their divorce in September after 21 years of marriage.
While vacationing together in the Bahamas, the 48-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey star introduced Joe to her new man Luis Ruelas over dinner in the Bahamas.
Despite sharing smiling photos and videos with Teresa and their four daughters on Wednesday night, Joe admitted he had trouble seeing his childhood sweetheart with a new boyfriend.
Honest: Joe Giudice detailed his uncomfortable reunion with ex-wife Teresa Giudice for the first time since finalizing their divorce in September after 21 years of marriage
‘You can all imagine how I felt when they walked in the room. It was awkward to see my ex after a lifetime together with someone else,’ Joe told Us Weekly on Thursday.
Regardless, Joe clarified he is ‘genuinely happy for both Teresa and Luis’ and wishes ‘them the best.’
As for his and Teresa’s co-parenting style, he said they ‘decided to be honest and remain friends with one another for the girls.’
Moved on: While vacationing together in the Bahamas, the 48-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey introduced Joe to her new boyfriend Luis Ruelas over dinner in the Bahamas
‘Parenting should always be about giving your children the best outcomes for every situation,’ Joe, who was deported to Italy after spending 41 months behind bars for fraud in 2019, added. ‘I believe we deserve to all be happy and our children will thank us for it.’
He is also in a new relationship with a lawyer named Daniela Fittipaldi, who made their romance Instagram official on Valentine’s Day.
They have been dating since the summer, which Us Weekly confirmed in December 2020.
Family first: Teresa and her new boyfriend enjoyed a family dinner with her ex-husband and their four kids in the Bahamas on Wednesday
Joe and Teresa sparked headlines after they were seen sharing a meal together with their children Gia, 20, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11 as well as Luis.
In footage shared by Milania, which were reposted by her mother, Teresa and Ruelas were seated directly across from Joe, 48, in a pretty awkward setting.
‘I truly appreciate & hope I will continue to be present in my best friend life. A great person, mom, and confident individual,’ Joe captioned a sweet photo with his ex-wife and children at Graycliff Restaurant.
Surprising: Fans were stunned to Teresa and Joe sharing a meal with Joe
Happy: Footage on Milania’s account of the night showed Teresa blowing a kiss at the camera, Ruelas smiling and Joe looking a bit more reserved
Additionally, the father-of-four wrote he had a ‘great meeting’ with the New York Times bestselling author and her ‘boy.’
Meanwhile his eldest gushed that they ‘stick together no matter what’ in their family on her Instagram Story.
Videos on Milania’s account of the night showed Teresa blowing a kiss at the camera, Ruelas smiling and Joe looking a bit more reserved.
Dinner: In videos shared by Milania, which were reposted by her mother, Teresa and Ruelas were seated directly across from Joe (Ruelas pictuerd in pink)
Teresa was dressed in a skintight patterned jumpsuit, while Milania wore a baby blue dress and sister Gia stunned in a plunging striped minidress.
Joe cut a more stylish figure in a black button-down and grey trousers as he stood next to Gabriella, who wore a white bandana top and beige pants for the fun night.
Teresa also shared a snap from the evening, on the same night Wednesday’s episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which showed her facing off with her brother Joe Gorga.
Family: Joe was reunited with his four daughters in the Bahamas where he recently relocated
‘Tonight’s episode is hard for my girls and I. Joe is the father to my children & even though we split I respect his relationship with my daughters so it’s hard for them to see my brother disparage him, for the sake of my daughters who have already been through so much loss,’ she wrote.
The doting mother continued: ‘My mother adored Joe & that’s what my girls saw & remember. I hope from this point we can all move forward on a more positive note for the sake of our family.’
Teresa seems unfazed by any awkwardness as she soaked up some quality time with her man on vacation, including a romantic dinner.
‘Everyday is another day in paradise with you,’ she captioned a photo from one of their date nights in a thigh-skimming blue floral dress.
Getting serious: Teresa has moved on with boyfriend Luis ‘Louie’ Ruelas
Happier than ever: Teresa seems unfazed by any awkwardness as she soaked up some quality time with her man, including a romantic dinner
Joe, 48, recently moved to the Caribbean from Italy and hasn’t been able to spend time with all his daughters since December 2019, shortly after he was forced to move to Italy from his home in New Jersey.
Then after the lockdowns hit last year, Joe didn’t get to see his kids again until November when Gia and Milania visited him in Italy where they met Joe’s new girlfriend Daniela Fittipaldi.
According to Teresa, Joe is in the Bahamas to train for a boxing match.
Moving on: The childhood sweetheart wed in 1999 and officially divorced after 20 years of marriage last year; seen in 2016
‘He’s living in the Bahamas right now and I know he’s going to be fighting. He’s doing a celebrity fight,’ Teresa told Extra last month of her ex, who is set to compete in a Celebrity Boxing match.
Teresa has moved on with Ruelas after ending things with her ex, who she wed in 1999 and officially divorced after 20 years of marriage last year.
The couple reportedly moved in together earlier this year, according to Teresa’s sister-in-law Melissa Gorga.