Teresa Giudice released her first statement on the “psychological trauma” daughter Milania Giudice is navigating nearly one week after their viral airport clash.
“The past few months have been incredibly difficult for our family, and I feel it is important to say something while also protecting my daughter during an extremely vulnerable time in her life,” the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star wrote via Instagram Stories on Monday.
“Milania has experienced tremendous heartbreak and significant psychological trauma after losing two of her best friends,” she continued.
The 20-year-old’s BFF, Victoria Zardoya, notably, died in July after a fatal fall. It is unclear who else Teresa, 54, was referring to.
“Grief affects everyone differently, and watching your child try to process that kind of loss is something no parent can ever truly prepare for,” the Bravolebrity added.
She noted that her “only focus is making sure [Milania] is surrounded by love, family, support and the care she needs” during “an incredibly difficult and deeply personal time.”
The reality star told her followers the University of Tampa student “deserves the opportunity to heal without every moment of her pain being analyzed publicly,” asking for “compassion and kindness.”
Teresa — who is also the mother of daughters Gia, 25, Gabriella, 21, and Audriana, 17 — concluded, “Give Milania and our entire family the privacy and space we need as we navigate this together. Thank you.”
Her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, similar told Page Six in an exclusive statement last week that Milania is “young and going through a very difficult period.”
The 54-year-old said, “Losing someone you love is incredibly painful, and grief does not have a timeline,” he said of the “tremendous” effect Zardoya’s death had on Milania. “She has been trying to process that loss while also dealing with the pressures that come with growing up in the public eye.”
He added that recent headlines “do not define who Milania is as a person,” telling us, “Milania is a good girl. She has a big heart, she loves deeply, and she cares enormously about the people in her life.”
Milania’s rep, meanwhile, exclusively told Page Six on Thursday that she is “under the care of professionals.”
The statement, in part, read, “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. … In time, she hopes that being open about her experiences may help other young people facing their own struggles.”
Milania has had a tumultuous year, beginning with her domestic violence arrest in May and subsequent enrollment in anger management classes. Her next hearing in the case is Tuesday.
She sparked concern Wednesday by posting and deleting a video lashing out at Teresa and Gia while at the Tampa International Airport surrounded by cops.
The moment was captured in bodycam footage obtained by Page Six on Monday, which also showed Teresa telling Milania she “wants to save [her] life” and letting officials know her daughter “had fentanyl in her system.”
Milania replied that she “was laced” — and went on to ask her mom whether she’d put her “back in the psych ward.”
The college student, per an incident report, had recently been released from a hospital when she went missing at the airport, running away from Teresa, Gia and a counselor before being found approximately 45 minutes later and boarding her flight with her family.
While Gia has yet to speak out on the incident, she did reply to a TikTok comment about the “job” of an older sibling being the “calm peacemaker” role.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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