Dolores Catania: ‘There was no good reason’ for Teresa’s engagement party snub

Dolores Catania asserts that “there was no good reason” that she wasn’t invited to Teresa Giudice’s engagement party. 

“I would be lying to say it didn’t [hurt] on some level,” the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star, 51, exclusively tells Page Six. “Not being invited to somewhere shouldn’t hurt me, OK? So I’m going to remind myself of that when these things happen. I am human, but I shake it off and I’m, like, OK.” 

It was previously stated on part one of the “RHONJ” Season 12 reunion that Catania did not score an invite to the December 2021 fête because she and now-ex-boyfriend David Principe had not been on a “double date” with Giudice, 49, and Giudice’s fiancé, Luis “Louie” Ruelas.

But during a recent interview on “The Slut Pig Podcast,” Giudice revealed that Catania — who has moved on with Irish businessman Paul Connell after splitting from Principe last year — was not invited because of the latter Bravolebrity’s apparent feud with “New Jersey” alum Dina Manzo.

Dolores Catania shares her thoughts on Teresa Giudice’s engagement party snub in an exclusive interview with Page Six.Page Six

Manzo, 51, was present at the party, as were Giudice’s current castmates Jennifer Aydin and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga.

“I spoke to Teresa about it and she was like, ‘You know, I don’t why I said that.’ Whatever the reason is, should there be a reason? No,” she says. “To me, there was no good reason — whether it was Dina or whether it was we didn’t go out for couples.”

Though she and Manzo, 50, no longer speak, Catania insists they “never had a fight or a falling out.”

Giudice celebrated her engagement to Luis “Louie” Ruelas in December 2021. teresagiudice/Instagram

“Sometimes friendships have expiration dates. There’s no rhyme or reason why two people have to always stay in each other’s lives. You don’t need to get in a fight to go separate ways,” she explains. 

“She moved to California, I’m here on the show, she’s not. Long before she moved to California, she was on the show and I wasn’t and I was doing different things. I was on a different journey than she was and our friendship didn’t stay together. But we didn’t have a fight.”

Catania believes Manzo cut her out of her life when she fled the Garden State for the West Coast years ago. 

Giudice has remained close with Dina Manzo, while Catania maintains friendships with Caroline Manzo and Jacqueline Laurita. WireImage

“I was a part of Dina’s life that she was here, so that was something I feel like she wanted to leave, which she did. That’s my guess,” she continues. “She moved on from a life that she had and I was a part of that. Understood and understandable. Again, I’m not offended!”

Still, Catania doesn’t seem interested in reestablishing a friendship with Manzo. 

“I think we’re different,” she says. “I’m not saying that I wouldn’t say hello to her and her husband, Dave [Cantin]. I saw them at Teresa’s mom’s funeral. I saw them at her niece’s wedding,” she says. “We spoke. I met Dave.”

Giudice and Catania have been friends for decades. Getty Images

Next, Catania will see Manzo and Cantin at Giudice’s late summer wedding to Ruelas, 46, where she plans to keep things cordial: “It’s not like either one of us did anything to each other that’s so egregious that we can never speak if we saw each other in the same room.”

The “RHONJ” women have long dealt with complicated dynamics. Giudice confirmed on the “Slut Pig” podcast that Manzo is in her bridal party, while Catania and Gorga, 42, were not asked.

Meanwhile, Catania is friendly with Dina’s sister and former co-star Caroline Manzo, who famously doesn’t get along with Giudice. As for the Manzo sisters, they are presently estranged.

Catania is currently dating Irish businessman Paul Connell. dolorescatania/Instagram

“It’s kind of like diplomatic immunity. [Teresa] and I have a vested friendship from a very long time ago that these things will not get in the way,” Catania tells Page Six. “We made a pact that they won’t. Sometimes we can fight and have it out and we’re fine the next day. That’s how we are as friends.”

Part two of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” Season 12 reunion airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.