Why did Jacqueline leave ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey?’

The Real Housewives of New Jersey is just the gift that keeps on giving. After 13 seasons on the air, accompanying fans week after week with the perfect dose of drama, tears, and hysterical laughter, RHONJ has certainly made its dent in the reality television landscape. Even after so long, it seems difficult for fans like myself to say goodbye to some of the series’ most emblematic faces that kept me company for so long.

Naturally, as it tends to occur in reality television, we often ought to say goodbye to some of the familiar faces we are so used to seeing, leaving us longing for more. But let’s face it, a little dose of drama never hurt anyone and the season 13 reunion brought back memories of one of the favorite contestants back in the day: Jacqueline Laurita. If the details of her departure have slipped your mind, fear not, I am here to jog your memory.

What happened to Jacqueline from RHONJ?

Jacqueline had been a familiar face in the RHONJ realm since its kickstart in 2009, starting as a full-time cast member. However, her journey on the show proved to be quite unpredictable. In season 6, she was demoted to a “friend of the housewives,” but her role as a friend didn’t last long. Season 7 saw her return as a full-fledged cast member, but sadly, it was her final appearance on the show.

In April of 2017, Jacqueline announced her decision to bid farewell to RHONJ. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she revealed that she no longer felt welcome on the series. “I think the feeling [from the network] is that I no longer have an authentic connection with two of the season’s cast members,” she candidly shared. The reality star also admitted that she “no longer fit in with the group.” All in all, after seven years on the show, Jacqueline was understandably yearning for a new start to her life.

“I just felt that after being on the show for seven years and putting my time and everything into that, to not have a confirmed full-time decision, with that feeling that I had to kind of tryout again, it just didn’t feel right. We didn’t even talk money. We didn’t even get that far!”

As for the fans hoping for Jacqueline’s return, it seems unlikely to ever happen. Although she expressed her willingness to come back as a full-time cast member at the time of her departure, her feelings have since changed. “I don’t live in New Jersey. I’m not going to go be on the Housewives of OC. I’m at a different stage in my life,” she admitted. “My life is so much more peaceful… I don’t know how I lived in that world.”

Unfortunately, we may not see Jacqueline on our television anytime soon, but at least the socialite remains an active presence on social media, keeping at least some of the spark with her fans alive.