In a move that has stirred quiet tension behind Bravo’s glamorous façade, sources close to the production of The Real Housewives of New Jersey have revealed that Gia Giudice — daughter of long-standing RHONJ star Teresa Giudice — was recently advised by Andy Cohen himself to “temporarily step back” from the show amid mounting internal concerns over her growing involvement in a plagiarism scandal at Rutgers University.

According to multiple insiders, the recommendation was delivered discreetly during a private call earlier this spring, just weeks after allegations emerged accusing Gia of submitting multiple university essays that were allegedly ghostwritten. While Bravo has yet to make any public statement regarding the controversy, an internal memo circulated among senior production staff expressed serious worry that Gia’s continued presence — especially as a secondary “Friend of” role gaining increased screen time — could damage the public image of the RHONJ franchise, which is already balancing years of familial feuds, legal entanglements, and shifting cast dynamics.

“Andy didn’t force her to leave,” said a Bravo executive who requested anonymity, “but he was very clear that stepping away now could save her from a storm she’s not ready to weather. It wasn’t about punishing her — it was about shielding both her and the brand.” The source also emphasized that Bravo had “no appetite” to publicly address an academic scandal tied to a cast member’s child, especially given the network’s recent efforts to distance its franchises from real-world legal controversies.

Gia, now a college upperclassman, had been gradually integrated into RHONJ in recent seasons — not only as Teresa’s daughter, but as a young adult voice navigating a legacy both privileged and controversial. Her presence has drawn admiration from some fans for her poise and maturity, particularly following her father Joe Giudice’s deportation and her mother’s prison sentence nearly a decade ago. But the recent accusations, quietly managed by Rutgers’ academic review board and further amplified by a now-deleted Reddit post, appear to have forced Bravo’s hand.

Production sources claim that although Gia was not contractually obligated to appear in the current season, her scheduled scenes have since been scaled back or postponed indefinitely. Some scenes involving Gia reportedly remain on tape but are “unlikely to air in their original form.” Others were cut entirely after post-production review.

Teresa Giudice has remained notably silent about the matter in recent press appearances. Insiders say she is “deeply frustrated” but agreed with the decision to pull back, fearing that further media coverage might derail Gia’s professional ambitions outside of reality television. A family friend close to the situation described Teresa as “torn between protecting her daughter and defending her image.”

As speculation continues to swirl across Reddit threads and fan podcasts, Bravo has taken no public action to confirm or deny the alleged withdrawal. However, longtime followers of the franchise have already noticed Gia’s noticeable absence from promotional materials and upcoming teaser footage.

While neither Gia nor Rutgers University has commented officially on the academic allegations, the timing of her sudden on-screen disappearance suggests that the network is choosing silence as its safest strategy. For now, Bravo appears more concerned with preserving the long-term integrity of RHONJ than inflaming a scandal that — if publicly confirmed — could send damaging ripples through its already fractured cast.

Whether Gia’s hiatus becomes permanent remains to be seen, but in a franchise built on high-stakes optics and generational loyalty, even a temporary retreat sends a message louder than words.