Teresa Giudice: "I Don't Hold Grudges"

USMagazine, Thursday, September 27, 2012, 7:30am (PDT)

Teresa's got some things to get off her chest.

After the dramatic finale of Real Housewives of New Jersey -- plus an epic reunion, with part one airing this Sunday -- Teresa Giudice was a surprise guest at Thursday night's NBA2K13 launch part at 40/40 Club in NYC.

The Bravo star, cookbook author and married mom of four spoke with Us Weekly on the red carpet about the blowout confrontations (as Andy Cohen referees) with sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, cousin Kathy Wakile, and former friends Caroline Manzo and Jacqueline Laurita.

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"I was definitely bullied," Gorga, 40, claimed to Us. "I hate defending myself, but if you have four women coming at you, of course I have to answer back. I was trying to take the high road, but there are only so many high roads you can take. And that's what I was trying to do."

(Gorga told Us Weekly "we all got crazy" at the rumble, taped Sept. 7 in Atlantic City, NJ.)

The Skinny Italian scribe denies that she's been dishonest about anything -- including her role in the Strippergate scandal that dominated last week's season four finale.

"I'm Italian, I'm very emotional," she told Us. "What you see with me is what you get. I don't lie and I think if you followed me from season one, you see who I really am. Anybody that's watched me from season one knows me, and you can tell if I'm lying or not."

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Regarding Strippergate -- in which 33-year-old Gorga was confronted by a former coworker at a gentleman's club (where she was a bartender, not a dancer) at the Posche Fashion Show -- Giuidice maintains she did nothing wrong.

"I think to me it's pretty black and white," she explained. "I think I was set up. I think Melissa's trying to play the victim. Hello! I think I was set up."

She continued: "why would I set her up? What would I get out of it? She's already married to my brother, they have three kids, I can't get her out of my life. Once you have kids, that’s it. What would I gain from it? Why would I want to set her up?"

Meanwhile, Giudice appeared on Anderson Live! on Wednesday addressing another feud: With former BFF Laurita, who accused Giudice of not being supportive after her son Nicholas, 3, was diagnosed with autism. In turn, Giudice claimed Laurita won't stop sending her "random text messages."

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"This whole year we haven't spoken," Giudice told Us. "I'm at a really good place right now and I've moved on . . . She always seems to text me these crazy texts. Leave me alone. I got a text the other night at one o'clock in the morning. . . it brought chills up and down my spine.

(Laurita Tweeted on Wednesday after Giudice's TV appearance: "Teresa shouldn't go on TV to say I'm threatening her unless she wants a defamation suit against her. I've tried to get her to stop and she doesn't. Let's make a deal @teresa_giudice I won't interfere in your life if you'll stop interfering in mine. Let's keep each other's name out of our mouths."

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"This is my thing," Giudice added Thursday, "I don't hold grudges, meaning Ill always forgive, but I'll never forget. Like if I see her, of course I’ll be cordial, but I'll never forget. That's how I am."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Teresa Giudice: "I Don't Hold Grudges"