Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo
Dolores Catania is setting the record straight after her ex-husband, Frank Catania, suggested their son, Frank “Frankie” Catania Jr., would not be returning to The Real Housewives of New Jersey for season 14 after being dragged into Luis Ruelas‘ drama on season 13.
While attending a party for her cover of Bella Magazine at Avenue in Long Branch, New Jersey, on Wednesday, Dolores revealed where she stands with her castmates, shared her current relationship with Frank, explained how she remains neutral amid cast feuds, and more.
“My first party in the Hamptons as a housewife was the Bella white party, and I met my stylist there, The Style Duo, and they’ve been dressing me for every reunion, every party I’ve ever been to, and they’re amazing. They’re part of Bella,” Dolores told Reality Blurb on July 12 of her affiliation with Bella.
Dolores is also a big fan of the publication’s CEO, Vanessa Coppes, saying she loves Vanessa and “everything [she] stands for.”
Although the past few seasons of RHONJ have been plagued by the family drama between Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga, with most of the cast ending up on Team Teresa or Team Melissa, Dolores, who’s been featured since season seven in 2016, has successfully remained neutral — a true feat.
“It’s the way I started, and it’s the way I’ll end,” Dolores told us of her stance. “I always stood my ground on my principles. I’ve never seen anything so egregious where I would say, ‘I can’t be your friend because of what you did to my other friend.’ That would be really bad. The things that they fight about, I think they can get by. So I kind of let it all fizz out.”
According to Dolores, she learned during a therapy session years ago that emotions “do not travel in rational channels.
“I went one time a long time ago when I was getting divorced… When people are emotional, they’re not rational. When they calm down, we’ll talk,” she shared.
And while we wanted to know all about the upcoming 14th season of RHONJ, Dolores couldn’t say much as she and her castmates have not yet officially begun.
“We’re not there yet so we’re just talking about it,” she confirmed of the show’s status.
That said, she feels good about what the new season will entail — at least for her.
“I’m okay. Listen, I always go into every season starting over. Everything’s left behind me,” she clarified, before adding, “[But] I don’t know if everybody’s gonna be like that,” possibly in reference to Teresa and Melissa’s ongoing beef.
In addition to being on good terms with all of her co-stars, saying, “I have a relationship with everyone outside the show,“ Dolores said she and Frank, who didn’t like how their dynamic shifted amid her relationship with Paul Connell, are in a good place following their reunion spat.
“We’re good. Listen, no one gets through things like me and Frank. We get mad at each other for a second — not even,” she explained.
As for the upcoming season, Dolores said she wasn’t sure if the season 13 newbies, including Danielle Cabral, Rachel Fuda, and Jennifer Fessler, would be back.
“We don’t know anything until we’re actually in front of the cameras,” she revealed.
Then, regarding Frankie’s potential exit from the show, which Frank spoke of on Tamra Judge and Teddi Mellencamp‘s podcast, claiming Frankie didn’t like the negative spin that was put on his time working alongside Luis, Dolores said we should take what he says with a grain of salt.
“Oh don’t listen to Frank. He talks too [much]. The show is part of our family, and that’s the way it’ll stay,” she confirmed.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 14 is expected to go into production in mid-August.