Dolores Catania is opening up about what led to the pause of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” — and the warning she says she gave her castmates before things reached that point.
After the most recent season of RHONJ, the series was put on pause, with questions swirling about what comes next for the long-running franchise.
Now, Dolores is shedding light on the environment surrounding the show, pointing to the growing influence of off-camera dynamics.
Dolores Says Outside Noise Became an Issue
GettySpeaking about the state of RHONJ, Dolores suggested that outside voices began to impact the show in a way that ultimately hurt it.
“People have learned their lesson, I would hope, with talking to outside influence, trolls, and things like that, and using outside influence to go after the Housewives on the cast,” she said on the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast with Page Six.
According to Dolores, that shift made it harder for the show to function the way it traditionally has.
“I think basically NBC was like, ‘All your fighting’s gone off camera. Why are we going to even bother with the reunion at this point?’” she added.
Dolores Teases Potential Across Multiple Franchises
GettyDolores’ comments come as she’s already expanding her presence within the franchise.
The RHONJ star is currently appearing as a friend of on the first season of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” where she’s begun to connect with the new cast.
During a recent conversation, Dolores acknowledged the idea of continuing to appear across multiple shows.
“You’re not going back. You’re going to New Jersey,” she was told, referencing the logistics of filming.
“Well, they’re not filming at the same time,” Dolores responded.
When the idea of appearing on two shows was questioned, she didn’t hesitate.
“Who cares, yeah. I think it’s a great idea.”
What’s Next for RHONJ?
RHONJ is officially moving forward with Season 15, and Dolores is one of three confirmed returning cast members.
Bravo confirmed in March that Dolores, Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga will return for the new season, with production expected to begin this spring. Additional cast members have not yet been officially announced.
That makes Dolores’ comments even more relevant. As RHONJ prepares for its next chapter, she is making it clear that she believes the cast has to protect what made the show work in the first place.
It also comes as Dolores is already expanding her place in the Bravo universe. She is appearing as a “friend of” on the first season of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” but based on her own comments, she is open to doing both.
The future of RHONJ is no longer uncertain. The bigger question now is what Season 15 will look like when cameras go back up.
