Rachel Fuda and Danielle Cabral may be somewhat new to The Real Housewives of New Jersey, but they’ve already made a huge impact in a short time!
Since joining the show, these two have quickly become key players, stirring the pot and bringing their own flair to the Garden State drama. As we dive into season 14's recent explosive finale, Fuda and Cabral’s roles in the group have never been more relevant. From unexpected alliances to jaw-dropping fights, these Jersey ladies are proving they can hold their own in a cast known for its dramatics.
Out spoke to both of these ladies ahead of season 14's wrap, and we chatted about the current dynamics of the cast and the future of RHONJ as we know it.
Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo
With a newborn and personal challenges, the transition to The Real Housewives of New Jersey for the Fuda family wasn't easy, but it was embraced.
"Coming on the show, we were in a stressful place in our lives anyway because my youngest daughter was only three months old. So that was a huge life adjustment. And then we went on reality TV immediately after, which wasn't planned. That's just how it happened, and you just got to swing at some of the pitches that you get and make the best of it." Fuda tells Out, acknowledging the rumors and articles surrounding her husband's past. "The thing is here is that John is not ashamed of anything that he has been through, and unfortunately, his opportunity to tell his story has been taken from him time and time again. And I don't think that people necessarily walk around rattling off the horrible things that they did or things that they did that they're not necessarily proud of when they were 17, 18, 19 or 20, or even things they did a year ago. We all make mistakes and it's part of your growth. It's part of coming into your adulthood, and I think that it's made him a better person. I mean, he is an amazing father. He's created a successful business for himself. We have a beautiful life and I'm really proud of what he's accomplished."
This season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey was completely uncharted waters, and for the first time in over a decade, the cast was completely divided, making it hard for the new housewives to be neutral, especially Fuda who came on as Melissa Gorga's friend. We asked both Fuda and Cabral if they had any plans on navigating this lions den.
"So I think, so there's a couple of things here," Fuda said. "First of all, them casting Danielle and I being on the show together and Jen Fessler as well, I think them bringing three new people on was the only way that anyone was going to be able to change the dynamic at all whatsoever. I know prior they had tried to bring on Tracy and it just didn't work. I just think that this group of women, they're very strong-minded and opinionated and stuck in their ways. So that's one part of it. And the other part of it is coming in as Melissa's friend, I wasn't being welcomed with open arms on the other side. It wasn't that hard. You know what I mean? So even if you watch the show, it's actually kind of funny because the only b-roll that they have of Teresa and I ever even having a conversation is my first scene ever at the roller skating party."
Danielle Cabral had a different experience walking on to this franchise, considering she came in as a neutral party. She was given a little more leeway with getting to know the girls, but quickly learned she could not please everyone.
"The whole part of this show and the concept of Housewives is to have an opinion and vocalize and speak on it. But when you come into this group where there's so much crap already, you have to navigate that. You don't want to come in too hot and be like this annoying new chick where they're like, 'Get out of here!' I've actually filmed with some people that are like that and it's absolutely annoying. So we had to know our place. We had to figure out where we fit in with everybody, which I think we did a pretty good job in the beginning. But listen, it's not Best Friends Forever. No, it's Housewives, so you're going to be thrown into some shit that is going to make your head spin. That's what happened to me, but I have no malicious anything inside of me until you do bring that out in me. And I really didn't think that some women were capable of being so horrendous."
Two major feuds came to a head this season: Fuda vs. Giudice and Aydin vs. Cabral. Both were consistent throughout season 14 and caused massive tension on the internet. We asked Rachel Fuda what the root of the feud with Guidice might be and where its stemming from at this point, and if were being completely honest... she GAGGED us with her response.
"Her paycheck," Fuda tells Out. "I think it's that simple. It's the pecking order. She doesn't want to engage with Margaret. She doesn't want to engage with Melissa. Jen Aydin, her frien. Dolores was her friend. Danielle was her friend. I literally was her last resort. So I'm just waiting for my commission check from Teresa."
Danielle Cabral's feud with Jennifer Aydin also was a hot topic during the season, and the feud became so toxic it ended up becoming physical on multiple occasion (most recently at the Rails Steakhouse finale dinner). Cabral went after Aydin after Aydin body shamed Cabral's husband at the table. Although Cabral fought back physically when it happened, how she choose to respond with her husband Nate was incredible (a thirst-worthy social media celebrating her hubby and his physique) so we asked how the incredible body-positive response came to be.
"So now mind you, the reunion, the finale was a year ago. I didn't speak to Nate for 48 hours after that. I didn't know how to verbalize what happened, what she said about him. And for a year I was like, 'Okay, how are we going to address this?' Because this goes beyond a grown man. There are children out there that words hurt them. And I want them to see my husband who looks like this successful, really good-looking guy, got the world by the horns, but yet people still want to tear down. So I said, 'I know exactly what I'm going to do.' And my girlfriend Nicole, who owns a media company, I pitched it to her and then we had to pitch it to Nate. And I was like, 'Baby, I promise you this is a safe zone.' Everybody that was there that day made him feel so comfortable and they didn't know the extent of it until I started sending them the screenshots of the things people would say. And they were like, 'We can't even believe someone would say this about Nate.' And I remember getting the video the first cut, it was only one cut. I made no edits to it, and I got it. And I looked at Nate and I said, 'Baby, this is it!' And we loved it. And that's how you win."
Both of these ladies have made MAJOR splashes in New Jersey, and although the future of the franchise is frozen until 2025, these ladies continue to be badass bosses in their regular life. The series finally ended after a split reunion between the group, and most fans left with unanswered questions and confusion. However, the buzz around a recast is real, so we had to ask which original RHONJ star each of these ladies would bring back.
"Oh my God, that's a really hard question," Fuda said. "To be honest with you. I feel like someone did ask me this before and I'm going to have the same answer I would Dina Manzo. I know she'd never do it, from what I've heard, but I just think there's such a calm to her. I think she's beautiful. She's an interesting life. I would bring her back."
"I would actually like to have a drink with Rosie," Cabral said. "She seems like my kind of people, you know what I mean? I feel like me and Rosie would be in the corner saying, 'Do you see these lunatics?'"
This won't be the last you see of Fuda or Cabral, and if you live on the east coast you can see them this weekend! Both ladies, along with Melissa Gorga, will be hosting the Party Like a Housewife event at Starland Ballroom in New York City on August 24.
