Joe Gorga Shows Support to Wife Melissa After ‘Real Housewives’ Star’s WWHL Comments

Joe Gorga defended his wife Melissa Gorga after stars from a rival “Real Housewives” show accused her of buying Instagram followers.

During an appearance on Melissa’s “On Display” podcast, Joe Gorga said the newer Housewives should be grateful to his wife. Melissa Gorga has been a cast member on RHONJ since season 3 in 2011.

“They should really, these Housewives should really appreciate the path that you created for them,” Joe said on “On Display.” “I mean, you look at what you have done on Instagram and social media. It’s helping them. It’s helping everybody. I mean, really, you’re self-made. You did this all on your own. You achieved everything on your own, and you killed it. So, you know, just like the show, you are who you are on social media, and that’s why people love you.”

Melissa posted a couple of seemingly related Instagram posts in the days following the podcast episode.

“Thank you [Joe Gorga] for always being there and supporting my hard work,” she captioned a series of photos of her and her husband as well as pics from her boutique Envy. “And thank you to everyone out there always cheering me on [and] rooting for me. I see you and I [love you].”

In another post she wrote, “Be humble, be hungry and always be the hardest worker in the room.”

‘Real Housewives of Miami’ Star Kiki Barth Claimed Melissa Gorga Bought Her Instagram Followers

Joe Gorga’s supportive statement to his wife came days after “Real Housewives of Miami” star Kiki Barth threw shade her way during a special episode of “Watch What Happens Live.”

During a game with host Andy Cohen, Barth was asked to name Bravolebrity who she thinks has paid for followers on social media. “You know, that lady. I’ve seen it myself. Not Teresa, the other one,” Barth replied.

After Cohen asked if she was referring to Melissa, Barth replied, “Yes, Melissa. I’ve seen it myself.”

Cohen noted that Barth’s co-star Alexia Nepola once accused Melissa of the same thing. In 2023, Cohen noted that Teresa Giudice had 2.3 million Instagram followers to Melissa’s 2.7 million. A stunned Nepola claimed, “She bought them! She bought them!”

On her podcast, Melissa admitted it’s “disheartening” to hear such comments from other Housewives stars. “Sometimes I’m just like, ‘Come on girls like let’s support each other.’ Let’s not say ‘Oh she’s doing so well so like she buys it, and it can’t be real,’” she said. “Like what is this? I would never call someone out especially someone I’ve never met and don’t know and accuse them. …I just think it’s rotten for someone to do who has no proof. It’s absolutely untrue. She’s seen it, but she doesn’t know how to say my name or what my name is?”

Melissa Gorga Explained Her High Social Media Following

As of this writing, Melissa Gorga has 2.9 million Instagram followers.

She explained that some of her followers spill over from her businesses. “First of all, Envy has 200 and over 250,000 followers. Envy by itself. Okay?” she said. “I don’t know. Maybe listen to this podcast. Maybe they’re big fans of ‘On Display’, so they follow me. …I have multiple brand partnerships. Right? I don’t know.”

She added, “Maybe my followers just like, they like my singing. They follow me because I sing ‘On Display.’ Yeah. Well, I mean, you definitely know they love sprinkle cookies, so they’re definitely following me because of that. It must be the great recipes I’ve been posting they’re following me for the great recipes. I mean, I could give there’s so many reasons so just like, watch and learn girls!”