Melissa and Joe Gorga’s hope to return to the world of reality TV may have been dashed by the Borough of Franklin Lakes, when they allegedly failed to swiftly approve their permit to film Wife Swap in Franklin Lakes, NJ.
According to a legal letter, The Real Housewives of New Jersey couple requested a permit to film Wife Swap at their home in Franklin Lakes on June 6, 2025.
As of May 21st, Joe and Melissa felt that the county was “wrongfully withholding and/or delaying the issuance” of the required permit, which needed to be filed with the clark by May 30th in order for them film the show at their home in early June.
Check out the letter below!
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsLook who sued their county for not processing their filming permit fast enough so that they could film wife swap. 👀👀 Desperate times call for desperate measures. #RHONJ pic.twitter.com/QX58ya7O8n
— Real Housewife Junkie (@HWjunkie1) June 28, 2025
No word on whether or not the filming permit was approved or not.
Rumors of Melissa appearing on a reboot of Wife Swap dubbed Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition first emerged back in early May.
According to RHONJ alum Kim DePaola, Bravo retained 3 New Jersey Housewives to film the show. I mean it makes sense considering they have nothing else to do since RHONJ is on hiatus.
“A few months ago, I said that three of the women from RHONJ were given promise letters to show the network was still interested in them,” Kim explained to OK! Magazine. “I can tell you, officially, they executed on one of those letters by giving Melissa a spot on Wife Swap.”
She also claimed that Melissa received $125,000 for the gig but insisted she’d never stoop so low to appear on a show like Wife Swap.
“As far as Wife Swap goes, good for Melissa, but you couldn’t pay me enough money to do that,” she said. “I wouldn’t leave my dogs to go live in somebody else’s home.”
Tell us – Are you surprised Joe and Melissa are suing Bergen County? Would you like to see Melissa and Joe on Wife Swap?
Follow Reality Deets:
Reality Deets 
Leave a Reply