Teresa Giudice “Devastated” After Leaving ‘Special Forces,’ Leaving Daughter Gia Behind: “I Wept Until Gia Returned Home”

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice may excel in verbal disputes, but she prefers to stay out of physical altercations—especially when her daughter, Gia Giudice, is involved.

The two decided to take on an exciting challenge by joining the fourth season of FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. This show pushes celebrities through both physically and mentally tough military-style trials. Just before Gia was set to face off against soccer star Christie Pearce Rampone in a recent episode, Teresa withdrew from the competition, becoming the second participant to do so.

“I didn’t want to witness my child getting hit. I would have definitely intervened,” Teresa explained in a Zoom interview with Decider. “And I didn’t want her to see me in a fight either… With everything that’s happened on Real Housewives, I felt like, ‘I don’t want to show my child that side of me.’”

Teresa’s quick decision to exit the competition didn’t deter Gia, who chose to stay and continue with the remaining recruits. While Teresa was confident Gia would handle everything well in her absence, she couldn’t stop worrying about her daughter.

“I cried until Gia returned home,” Teresa admitted. “My husband Louie kept asking, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ He noticed a change in me and said, ‘You’re acting differently. What’s going on?’ I told him, ‘I just miss my child and want to know she’s okay.’ I was unsettled until she got back.”

During a conversation with Decider, Teresa discussed her experiences on Special Forces, including her unique title of “bathroom whisperer,” and whether the challenges felt more intense than a RHONJ dinner at Rails Steakhouse. You can read more from the full interview below.

DECIDER: I was so excited to hear that you’d be on Special Forces. What made you want to sign up for the show?

TERESA GIUDICE: At first, I was so terrified. They asked me first, and I was just like, “Oh my God.” I saw that it was no joke. The thing that was making me nervous was the water. I saw a lot of water activities, and I don’t know how to swim. I was like, “Oh my gosh.” I was really scared. But then they came back to me and said, “I think we want to do you and Gia, a mother-daughter duo.” And then that’s when I was like, “I can’t pass this up.” And then Gia found out about it, and Gia’s like, “Mom, we have to do this together.” She motivated me, and of course, I wanted to do it with her. I was like, “I have to do this with her.”

You embarked on this journey with your daughter, Gia. The other day, Gia posted a video of you taking swimming lessons in your pool to prepare for Special Forces. What other prep did the two of you do before you flew to Morocco? 

They sent our boots to us ahead of time, and they said to break them in. And then they said to walk around with a weighted vest. I didn’t do that part. I should’ve done that part because our backpacks weighed 30 pounds. It was no joke. Our backpacks were 30 pounds heavy. 

You’re not the first Real Housewife to go on this show. Kenya Moore and Denise Richards had also done seasons. Did you reach out to them for any advice?

Yes, I asked them. They were telling me it’s so hard. It was no joke. I mean, Denise Richards popped her implant, she told me. And I know Kenya is so strong because I did Ultimate Girls Trip with her. We did tug of war. Oh man, when she pulled that rope, I was like, “What?” She was so strong. I would not want to get into a fight with Kenya Moore. I think I’m pretty tough, but she would definitely whoop my ass. She’s strong. And I think I’m pretty strong. I go to the gym and lift a lot of weight. But, let me tell you, the way she pulled that rope when we went on Ultimate Girls Trip, we went flying. I’ll never forget it. I was like, “I got this.” Oh, my God. I was like, “Damn, she’s strong.”

In one of the first scenes, you had your head bagged and shoved into mud, then the DS called you stupid. Was it hard for you not to go full New Jersey on them? 

I felt like I had to say something to him because I thought that was a little rude. So I just said, “That’s not nice.” I had to say something to him. 

You said something, but you were very calm.

Yeah, I didn’t want to be disrespectful because I had respect for [him] being in the military. But I just had to give him a piece of my mind. That’s not nice. It’s rude, you know? He was trying to push my buttons. But, you know, it’s all good. 

When you first got to camp, you were designated as the bathroom whisperer. Can you tell me a bit about that experience? 

Everyone said to me that was the best day I could have gotten bathroom duty because no one goes to the bathroom the first day. I was kind of happy about that. I used all the cleaning products the first day. I was just pouring it in there so it would smell good.

Listen, you’re a mom of four. I’m sure you’ve cleaned a bathroom or two in your day. 

Exactly, yes. I didn’t know if they were watching us, so I was like, “Did you see me? I was pouring the cleaning products in the toilet.” There were cameras everywhere, so I was like, “I know they’re probably watching me to make sure I do my job.” It was Eva [Marcille] and I, but they showed me. Of course they showed me. 

Just before Gia was about to fight Christie Pearce Rampone, you ripped off your armband and withdrew from the course. We could see on your face during the whole fighting scene that you were thinking about a lot. What was going through your mind leading up to that moment? 

A lot of things. I didn’t want to see my child get hit. I would have definitely jumped in. I would’ve definitely jumped in for that. I didn’t even want her to see me getting hit. No fighting. I don’t know. I feel like I’ve been defending myself for a long time in the whole Housewife thing. I was just like, “I don’t want to show my child that.” It was all about Gia and being a mom first and what was the best example I could teach my daughter. 

What was it like once you left, knowing that Gia was still there without you? Was that stressful for you as a mom?

Yes, it was. I cried that whole night in the hotel [and] the next day going to the airport. I was going to wait for her, but I was like, “Let me just get home to my other kids.” My youngest was 15 at the time. I knew she missed me. We were there days before. Gia and I went earlier, so I cried until Gia came home. I cried. Louie was like, “What’s wrong with you?” He was like, “You’re so different. What happened?” I was like, “I miss my child. I just want to make sure she’s okay.” I was upset until she came home. 

In last week’s episode, we saw Gia’s mirror room scene, where the DS speculated that a part of her might’ve been relieved to see you go. How did you feel hearing that?

She even said I was not holding her back, and she knows that. My child knows me really well. We both know each other really well. But I knew, if I left, she would be totally fine. She’s my child. She’s strong. She’s got this. So I knew she was going to be good. 

She’s a tough cookie, that’s for sure.

Yes she is. Like her mama. All my daughters are really tough. They really are. 

What gave you more PTSD: the DS or a Housewives dinner at Rails?

That’s so funny. I would say neither, because I’ve been through a lot in my life, so I would say neither. 

If you could nominate any of your Real Housewives of New Jersey co-stars from over the years, or anyone from the Bravo universe, who do you think should go on future seasons of Special Forces and why? 

I would say Whitney Rose from Salt Lake City. I think she would do well. On my show, I would say Jennifer [Aydin] or Dolores [Catania].

It seems like everyone who does this show leaves somewhat changed. How would you say your time on Special Forces changed you? What was the biggest thing you learned about yourself?

That is true. I feel like I could conquer anything now after doing Special Forces … Now, physically even more so. Special Forces is mental and physical. I would say more physical because I am mentally strong. So I would say more physical.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.