RHONJ: Tempers flare when Joey and Louie mix it up at the Midland Brew House

Brews and a brawl?

Joey Gorga and Louie Ruelas almost mixed it up at the Midland Brew House in Saddle Brook on the Tuesday, Feb. 21, episode “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

It's part of the Louie and Teresa Giudice's wedding drama. Joey, Teresa's brother, is upset that his wife, Melissa Gorga, is not in the bridal party. The fact that Melissa's family isn't invited does not help.

Joey just learned that fact in the lead up the boys’ night out at Midland.

“I just found out Melissa's family, they're not invited to the wedding everybody's in but anybody on my side of life (is not invited)” Joey said to Louie. “That's (blanked ) up.”

“It's a lot of past (blank),” Louie said, not mentioning that he was badmouthing Joey and Melissa to Teresa earlier in the show.

“It's really a slap in the face not to invite them,” said Joe Benigno, husband of Margaret Josephs. “This is an Italian family. I'm Italian. I know how it works.”

“There's a lot of slaps in the faces going on. You're not the only one feeling like this,” said Louie to Joey. “Your wife went public on social media this week to say that (Teresa's) kids wouldn't eat if it wasn't for you and her.”

Actually, Joey and Melissa both said, on Melissa’s “On Display” podcast in May, that they helped Teresa keep things afloat while her and ex-husband Joe Giudice served multi-month sentences in federal prison for bank fraud and other crimes from 2015 to 2019.

The F-bombs and insults came out after the “slaps in the face” exchange on Tuesday's show. Joey then banged his fist on the table.

“Stop with the theatrics, stop with the theatrics,” said Louie said while waving his arms.

Cue the background mood music. This is about Joey and Teresa, not Joey and Louie, they say.

“Let's be fair, your sister doesn't deserve to be hurt either,” Louie said. “You guys should really talk.”

“To be honest, I just don't feel comfortable,” Joey said

“Why?” Louie asked.

“I'm afraid of being hurt again,” Joey said. “Sorry!”

Sounds like the guys could use a Wake Up Warrior session on the beach — shirts optional.

Earlier in the show, Teresa asked Melissa to be a part of the bridal party after the fact.

Melissa turned her down.

“Why are you acting like you’re doing me a favor?” Melissa said. “I would never go back. It's like an ex-boyfriend saying I (blanked up), I want you back.”

The biggest surprise of this week's episode was the modern art knowledge of newbie Danielle Cabral's daughter, Valentina. The 5-year old correctly referenced the styles of Piet Mondrian, Wassily Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock during a presentation at the Cabral home.

Looks like Valentina is a budding creative spirit.

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” airs at 9 p.m. ET Tuesdays on Bravo.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: RHONJ recap: Tempers flare when Joey and Louie mix it up