Joe Giudice is standing by his daughter, Milania Giudice, amid a “very difficult” time in her life.
“Milania is a good girl. She has a big heart, she loves deeply, and she cares enormously about the people in her life,” Joe, 54, said in a Thursday, September 24, statement to Page Six after video footage emerged of Milania in a tense airport exchange with mom Teresa Giudice and sister Gia Giudice earlier this week.
Joe said, “She is also young and going through a very difficult period right now.”
According to the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum, Milania, 20, is still in mourning over the sudden death of her best friend, Victoria Zardoya. Zardoya, who was 20, died in July after falling from the ruins of Fort Dade on Egmont Key, Florida.
“Losing someone you love is incredibly painful, and grief does not have a timeline. She has been trying to process that loss while also dealing with the pressures that come with growing up in the public eye,” Joe said.
“I know my daughter. I know her heart, and I know that what people may see from the outside does not tell the whole story of what someone is experiencing privately,” he continued. “There have been difficult moments, but those moments do not define who Milania is as a person.”
Joe concluded, “I love my daughter, and I will always stand beside her.”
As well as Milania and Gia, 25, Joe shares daughters Gabriella, 21, and Audriana, 17, with ex-wife Teresa, also 54. (Joe and Teresa divorced in 2020 and Teresa got remarried to Luis “Louie” Ruelas in 2022.)
On Thursday, Milania’s representative told TMZ that the young reality star was receiving professional care following the incident at Tampa International Airport.
“She is currently surrounded by people who love her and is under the care of professionals who are working with her and her family,” rep Marina DeSantis said.
“Milania is deeply loved by her family and friends, and all of us are doing everything we can to support her as she navigates an incredibly difficult time in her life, particularly following the devastating loss of her best friend, Victoria,” the statement continued.
“Milania is a good-hearted and caring young woman who has been going through a very challenging period, and our focus right now is simply on her health, healing and well-being,” DeSantis said. “In time, she hopes that being open about her experiences may help other young people facing their own struggles, but for now, we ask for compassion and privacy as she and her family continue to navigate this together.”
In May, Milania was arrested over an alleged domestic violence incident at her mother’s home in Montville Township, New Jersey. She pleaded not guilty to simple assault and purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury. Her next hearing is set for Tuesday, September 29.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
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