What’s the secret to a long-lasting marriage? If you ask Melissa Gorga, it all comes down to marrying your best friend.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey mom explained her position in a recent interview with
“I met him as a 24-year-old girl, and to think, you know, this many years later we’re still together,” she said. “I wake up every morning, [and] I’m like, ‘You’re still here. Here you are.’ No, honestly, we’re friends.”
Melissa, who celebrated her 21st wedding anniversary back in August, acknowledged that her marriage was far from perfect, but she and Joe managed to overcome their conflicts through empathy, understanding, and a shared love for life.
“I do enjoy going to dinner with Joe,” she said. “We’re both fun people, so it works. And our lives are similar and, you know, we balance each other out in such a way where he lets me be the boss where I need to be, and I let him be the boss where he needs to be.”
Melissa posts a photo of herself on August 24, 2025 to her Instagram.
Melissa said she and her hubby have also maintained a healthy banter and mutual attraction throughout the years, which has also helped them through their occasional tiffs.
“I wanna kill him sometimes, but we’re attracted to each other and we’re both fun people,” she explained. “It’s like if you can’t have fun with us, you can’t have fun with anybody because we’re lifers. We love life. We enjoy life. We don’t like the negative. We really don’t. It’s hard for us to do negative. It’s always been my struggle on the show (
She continued: “It’s never easy, a marriage. We definitely have our ups and downs… We struggle, we fight, we battle. We’re both very strong-minded people.”
Joe Gorga and Melissa Gorga attend the 27th Annual Angel Ball at Cipriani Wall Street on October 27, 2025 in New York City.
Melissa underscored her point by briefly breaking down her and Joe’s argument pattern, which apparently includes a countdown.
“When Joe and I have an argument, we have an argument, but I’d be the first one to move on with my level head, and he’ll hold that grudge for, like, five more days,” she said. “You got five [days]. I start counting down the days until he’s gonna let it go.”
Get a closer look at the Gorgas’ 21-year marriage and their recent St. Barths trip that included an unexpected crossover.
The drama surrounding Karen Huger has escalated from the courtroom to financial chaos. Sources reveal that millions in breach-of-contract fines have left the Real Housewives of Potomac star reeling, with networks reportedly refusing to work with her amid the scandal. Insiders say her once-comfortable savings are now depleted, forcing her to consider selling luxury properties just to stay afloat.
Fans remember Karen as the “Grand Dame of Potomac,” but insiders claim the past few months have been anything but glamorous. “She went from red-carpet appearances to financial panic in record time,” a source said. “The fines are crushing, and there’s no backup. Networks don’t want to touch her while the legal issues are unresolved.”
Reports suggest Huger may need to liquidate high-end homes to cover mounting debts. Friends and former cast members say she’s been agonizing over which properties to sell, revealing just how dire her financial situation has become. “It’s heartbreaking to see someone so used to the lap of luxury scrambling just to survive,” one insider said.
With the scandal and fines casting a long shadow, her reality career is reportedly on hold. Producers are allegedly wary of associating with her, fearing negative publicity could jeopardize new projects. “Her star power is still there, but networks don’t want the risk right now,” the source added.
Karen’s next moves are critical. Observers say she’ll need to negotiate settlements, downsize her lifestyle, and rebuild her public image if she hopes to survive financially and professionally. Fans are watching closely, wondering if the “Grande Dame” can reclaim her throne—or if this scandal marks the beginning of her downfall.