The Jersey ’Wives Have *a Lot* to Say About Luis Ruelas Wearing Nonno’s Pajamas

On the March 28 episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa Giudice’s then-fiancé and now-husband, Luis “Louie” Ruelas, made an unexpected confession.

During the brunch event at Rachel Fuda’s shore house, Louie wanted to make peace with Joe and Melissa Gorga, and in the process he shared that he wears Joe and Teresa’s late father’s pajamas to bed.

“I’m a good man,” Louie told his future in-laws at the event. “I live with your four nieces; I wear your father’s pajamas at night to make them feel safe and loving. Do you know that?”

Louie’s comment about Giacinto Gorga, aka Nonno, who passed away in 2020, seemed to catch Joe off guard, and now the rest of the Jersey ladies are reacting to the confession on the RHONJ After Show. Watch the clip above and read on.

Teresa Giudice

Louie’s bride defended him and provided more context about the clothes the entrepreneur wears to bed.

“It was brand-new pajamas that my dad did not wear,” Teresa explained. “So that was it.”

Dolores Catania

Dolores also stood by the pajamas, confirming that Teresa had a large collection of Nonno’s clothing after he passed.

“She goes, ‘My father has so many clothes.’ She donated so much to my shelter… that he never wore,” Dolores added.

Luis Ruelas and Teresa Giudice photographed together

Melissa Gorga

Several of the other ladies didn’t understand the sleepwear choice, including Melissa.

“I can’t. I cannot,” she said, jokingly adding that she “got the chills” from hearing Louie’s message again.

While Melissa has kept her late father’s flannel shirt in her closet, she questioned the pajamas because Louie “never even met [Nonno].”

Margaret Josephs

Margaret had a similar reaction to Melissa.

“It’s one thing if your children want to wear the shirt, the sweatshirt of the grandparents, but someone who didn’t know Nonno is wearing his pajamas? It’s a little Twilight Zone-y strange,” she said on the After Show.

Story continues

Melissa Gorga: “Louie’s Drastic Forms of Emotion Are Strange”

Rachel Fuda

Though Rachel was initially incredulous after hearing about the comment for the first time, she noted that when her own nonno passed away, her mom “had a pillow made out of his T-shirt.”

“It’s like a memorabilia thing,” she said before clarifying that she wouldn’t wear any deceased family member’s clothing. “I don’t want to wear his clothes, and I certainly don’t want John [Fuda] to wear them.”

Jackie Goldschneider

The attorney thought the comment was “weird.”

“I have to let this seep through my body right now,” Jackie said, laughing. “That’s weird. That’s f–king weird… Did he really say that, like, and he wasn’t joking or anything?”

Split image of Dolores Catania and Jackie Goldschneider

Jennifer Aydin

Jennifer, on the other hand, felt that the pajamas were a sweet tribute to Teresa’s dad.

“It’s probably in honor of Nonno,” Jennifer said. “It’s because I know Louie. If I didn’t know Louie, I would think it was weird.”

Jennifer said that because Louie never met Teresa’s late father, wearing his clothes might be a way to feel connected to him.

“Maybe this is the way that he can be like, ‘You know what? I love your daughter and I hope I have your blessing,’” she continued, adding that she didn’t think there was “anything wrong” with it.

Danielle Cabral

Though Danielle is close with Teresa and Louie, she admitted that the confession sounded “a little bit wacky.”

“I can [say] this because we love Louie,” she said. “Are they wacky? All right, maybe it’s a little bit wacky.”

The Jersey ‘Wives Share a Laugh About One of the Party Goers

Jennifer Fessler

The Season 13 friend was simply curious about how Louie delivered the message.

“So he offered that information unsolicited?” she asked.

Watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bravo Tuesdays at 9/8c and the next day on Peacock. Catch up on the Bravo app.