Joe and Teresa Giudice are facing jail time on fraud charges, a development that may put Bravo’s reality show Real Housewives of New Jersey in jeopardy, according to a report on Thursday. While the show thrives on confrontations, the network is apparently less than enthused about the possibility of taking cameras to jail.
According to a New York Daily News report, network executives are already thinking about the show’s future and how this could affect ratings. “Nobody wants to see their talent in this kind of a situation,” a source told the paper.
Sources told the Daily News that Teresa had been pitching a spin-off, but “They are not interested,” the source said. “Bravo only spins off happy situations — marriages, baby news. Not prison.”
On Monday, prosecutors announced that the Giudices are facing 39 counts of fraud, including not reporting information to the IRS between 2001 and 2008. Charges include tax evasion and trying to get illegal mortgages and loans from banks. Joe allegedly failed to file income tax returns for 2004 to 2008 and when they filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009, they allegedly didn’t put down income from the Bravo show.
On Tuesday, they appeared in court, posting $500,000 bond each. They will be arraigned on Aug. 14 and could face up to 50 years in prison.
“Thank you all so so much for your love and support,” Teresa tweeted. “It means the world to me and my family! TANTI BACI Xx.”
Bravo has not commented on the situation.
image: NBCUniveral