Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesDina Manzo is coming clean.
In an extended blog post labeled "The Truth!" the former Real Housewives of New Jersey star explains why she left the show...and why she is feuding with her sister and former castmate Caroline.
"I debated on if I should even do this but maybe this will put this all to rest," Dina wrote. "Just so you know I've been offered a SERIOUS amount of money to sell this to many outlets BUT I chose to do it for free here. So all of you who have something to say can shove it."
So what's she saying about all the drama?
Dina explains that once she decided to leave RHONJ, she began to distance herself from all the ladies on the show because all the drama between them became too "toxic" for her.
"I really wanted to walk away from all of the toxic behavior, I was not into ganging up on anyone and I was no longer obligated to talk about Daniele so the best thing for me to do was stay away...I guess some of the Housewives may have taken that as I think I'm better than them...that couldn't be further from the truth."
She then explains that through her children's chairty, Project Ladybug, she began to see that the bickering on the show seemed "so silly" and that she discovered what is really important in life—for her that no longer included reality television.
"I'm not proud of what went down season one and I entered into season two with a heavy heart, not really into it at all," she wrote. "Once I left I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I finally felt a sense of peace."
Dina says distancing herself from the show and cast did include not being as close as she once was to Teresa Giudice, but that the duo were still occasionally speaking. At the time she also had a falling out with her sister Caroline.
"Feelings did get hurt," Dina said of her family battle. "I won't get into them because I have no desire to rehash the past that can only hurt my parents whom I adore...There is no side here, this is a private matter there are 3 sides to every story remember...it depends on who you ask."
Dina added that she loves all her brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and wants the best for them all.
"If any of them needed me I would be there for them in a heartbeat," Dina wrote. "There are 11 of us, 5 are girls, there is always someone fighting with someone at some point, that's just the way it is with a big family."
On the topic of her friendship with Teresa and if she was the cause of her rift with Caroline, Dina says all she did was console Teresa after she felt attacked on the show.
"I felt bad for her...even though I had distanced myself from her a bit I was still her friend and she needed me," she wrote, saying she also went to a party that Teresa invited her to, but the Bravo cameras were there and she was unhappy.
On camera, Teresa talked about her own drama with Caroline and explained that her Olive Garden crack about Caroline in her cookbook was a joke. Dina agreed, saying one harmless comment wasn't enough for her to dump a friend of 15 years.
"Was it necessary for her to write that stuff in her book? Probably not, but I don't think it was written with malice either," Dina said. "So there you have it, Teresa had nothing to do with me staying away from everyone, I even stayed away from her too...I feel bad that my relationship with my sister is strained, but I can assure you that one day it will be back to the way it was."
Dina ended the revealing entry by saying that she doesn't like the drama and that she wishes everyone the best—and that this is the "last I will discuss any of this."
Then, she plugged her show, Dina's Party on HGTV—just like any savvy Housewife would do.