REAL Housewives Of New Jersey's Caroline Manzo claimed the show producers "try to push you" into drama, but she insisted it is "never scripted."
The former reality star was on the popular show from 2009 to 2013.
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The 59-year-old told Us Weekly: "It’s never scripted, but they try to push you. ‘Hey, by the way, did you hear this?’ and if you’re dumb enough to believe it, you’re going to give them what they want.
“It’s like playing in the schoolyard and you see the bully grabbing the quarter out of the kid’s pocket. It’s [up to] you to decide whether or not you’re going to help the bully or the kid.”
The ex Bravo star claimed she was notified of a lot of rumors which she decided not to bring up during her time on RHONJ.
She explained: "You also have the option to say no. Plenty of times producers said ‘A’ to me and I said ‘B.' Stand up for yourself and stand up for your values and what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Caroline, who has a rivalry with current housewife Teresa Giudice, also touched on a potential return to the franchise.
She said: “I get a lot of people saying we need you back to put [Teresa] in her place, but who the heck knows.
"So much time has passed. We’re all different people. Who could even say that I would fit in that equation or blend in that equation. It’s just a big ‘what if,’ and that’s fine.”
Teresa and Caroline have publicly feuded for years, as the mother of four even accused Caroline of reporting her and her Italian-born ex-husband Joe Giudice to ICE.
Caroline has consistently denied Teresa's allegations that she sold out the couple to the authorities and even called the 48-year-old "delusional."
Joe, 48, and Teresa previously found themselves behind bars in 2015 for fraud, as her ex was deported to Italy – he now lives in the Bahamas.
There is one current housewife who would like to see Caroline and Teresa cross paths again: Margaret Josephs.
The 53-year-old said while on the #NoFilter with Zack Peter podcast: "I’d get a big kick out of [Caroline returning]. I think it’d be great.
"Personally, I think after COVID-19, I don’t know if her and Teresa could ever heal — that would be amazing. And then I wouldn’t be the oldest on the show!”
Following Caroline's stint on RHONJ, Caroline would star on her own reality show titled Manzo'd with Children.
The series, which debuted in 2014, followed the lives of Caroline, her husband Albert, their sons Albie and Chris, their daughter Lauren and her sister Fran.
The reality series ran on Bravo for three seasons until it's finale in 2016.
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