
Nino Munoz/Bravo
Nino Munoz/Bravo
We know Caroline Manzo is leaving the Real Housewives of New Jersey, but exactly why she's departing the popular reality series hasn't really been made clear.
While the obvious answer would be that Manzo's decision stems from the fact that she has filmed a spinoff pilot for Bravo tentatively titled Manzo'd With Children (though it has yet to be picked up), a source close to the show reveals something very different.
"Caroline wants out because she knows if she stays on the show, it's only a matter of time before rumors of [husband] Al's cheating becomes a storyline this season," the source tells E! News. "The new girl, Penny, made allegations during filming this past season that Al had a history of cheating, but they were cut."
The source adds, "Bravo is very protective of Caroline and wants to keep her happy. So, they're letting her leave RHONJ and give her a spinoff attempt. The spinoff will be light-hearted and family-oriented, which is the image Caroline wants to protect. But if she stayed on RHONJ, there's no way she'd be able to keep the rumors about Al cheating quiet and she knows it."
Manzo has been with RHONJ since its debut in 2009. Bravo has no comment on her departure.
Meanwhile, the season-five finale of the show airs this Sunday, Sept. 29 on Bravo.
(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our US edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our Canadian edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our UK edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our Australian edition?
Dieser Inhalt ist für internationale Besucher verfügbar. Möchtest du ihn in der deutschen Version anschauen?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our German edition?
Une version adaptée de ce contenu est disponible pour notre public international. Souhaitez-vous voir ça dans notre édition française ?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Would you like to view this in our French edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Switch to US edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Switch to Canadian edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Switch to UK edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Switch to Australian edition?
Möchtest du zur deutschen Version wechseln?
Do you want to go to the German edition?
Souhaitez-vous vous rendre sur l'édition française ?
Do you want to go to the French edition?
This content is available customized for our international audience. Switch to US edition?
¡Hemos especializado nuestro sitio para tu región! ¿Quieres ir a E! Online Latino?
We have specialized our website for your region. Would you like to switch to our Latino edition?
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Ja ! Yes! Oui! Yes! Yes! Yes! ¡Si! Yes!