The drama in the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" seemed to have escalated since rumor that Rino Aprea cheated on his wife Teresa, with her mother Santa broke. And despite the fact that it was Victoria Gotti who actually spilled the incestuous gossip on national TV, Jim Marchese suddenly found himself in the middle of the chaos.
Probably sick of being blamed for the whole revelation, Marchese is now challenging the Napolitano twins (Teresa and Nicole) to sue him so that more dirty secrets would finally be revealed.
"We need to set the record straight. My mother is ready to have a lawsuit against Jim for slander," Teresa Aprea told Us Weekly Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Jim told Radar Online on Friday, "I'm shocked and outraged by Santa's slanderous remarks that I am the origin of the 'Rino, Teresa and Santa love triangle!' OK not really ... This is exactly what I expect from someone [who] Rino bragged about sleeping with to Victoria Gotti, while trying to work his way into the family at the time Santa's husband was in prison."
"Seriously, who brags about having sex with their mother-law and tells people he had a painting of a stripper in is house?" he continued. "Did they not see the episode? Blaming or suing me will not change the video or the truth of what was said."
Jim also said he will embrace the lawsuit, as depositions could force the Rino, Santa and the twins to disclose what they really know about the illicit sexual relationship.
"I keep falling off my chair when I consider having VIDEO DEPOSITIONS of SANTA, TWINS and RINO recounting what happened," he said. "First question? 'Santa did you have sex with Rino?'"
"Then after deposing Rino, I will depose all of their friends and the countless millions who heard Victoria Gotti say, 'Rino told me [Gotti] in a restaurant full of people....and he wasn't kidding,'" he alleged. "I hope she does file, as the video-taped depositions will be worth millions!"
The president and CEO of MortgageNow, Inc. then went to insist that he is not to be blamed for the swirling rumors as it was Gotti who revealed the gossip on television in the first place.
"Santa and Rino's affair was public information via Victoria Gotti. I merely commented that in my opinion it is 90% true. Given the fact that they are not suing Victoria Gotti, I now believe it is 100% true," he said.
As for the issue that he was the one who told Gotti of Rino and Santa's affair, Jim reportedly told BuzzTV, "I don't know Victoria Gotti - never met her, never talked to her. I was as shocked as everyone else was. I found out that night when my wife came home from Victoria's house."
He continued: "At first we really thought that they were playing with us. Honestly. I was like, 'This is just too over the top.' After doing a little digging, I'm sad to say I feel it is true."
Nonetheless, Marchese claimed it doesn't matter who revealed the affair since the "RHONJ" casts have signed a contract banning them from filing lawsuits against each other.
"The sad part is Santa did not read her release and the twins did not read the contract they signed with me," he told Radar.
"The release says Santa cannot sue anyone for defamation and the twins, on March 13, 2013, signed a contract specifically indemnifying me against any civil action (including defamation) with legal fees paid at 150%. If they do bring a suit, the twins would end up paying my legal fees as well as any potential damage."
It was previously reported that the twins were disgusted by the comments Jim made on the alleged affair while on the cast trip to Miami, that they refused to film with him after the trip.
Marchese was ultimately banned from filming the finale episode and there is reportedly a big possibility he will no longer be included in the reunion filming.
