Margaret Josephs is officially stepping away from The Real Housewives of New Jersey after seven seasons. but behind the scenes, the decision may not have been entirely hers.
In an Instagram video posted March 24, Margaret confirmed she will not be returning following Season 14, telling fans the choice had been in the works for months.
“I’ve been thinking about a lot of different things and I am moving on from the Housewives of New Jersey — sorry I don’t look a little more glamorous for you,” she said while filming from a beach.
Margaret revealed she had been in conversations with Bravo and Andy Cohen since late last year.
“I’ve been in the talks with the network and Andy since December, we’ve discussed it, and I think the timing is right,” she said.
She explained that changes in her personal and professional life played a role in the decision.
“A lot of things have changed in my life. I’ve been blessed to work on a different project, I’m on the set right now, and I realized I have to spend more time with my family, work on my designing and just take a break and move on.”
Margaret also thanked the network and her castmates.
“The good and the bad, I really do love you all,” she said.
She made it clear, however, that this isn’t the last fans will see of her.
“This will not be the last you guys see of me on television — that’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”
But according to sources close to production, there’s more to the story behind her exit.
Insiders tell us exclusively that the decision ultimately came from Bravo, with Margaret understanding and accepting the outcome.
“She no longer had a place on the show,” a source claimed.
The reasoning reportedly ties back to the ongoing issues that have plagued RHONJ in recent seasons.
“The whole reason the show was on pause was because of the same toxic drama with no reconciliation to be had,” the source said.
During test filming, it was allegedly clear that Margaret was still holding onto the same feud — particularly involving Teresa Giudice — which made moving the show forward difficult.
Sources also noted that her lack of support for a reconciliation between Teresa and her brother Joe Gorga didn’t help matters.
Andy Cohen recently confirmed that meetings have taken place to finalize the future of RHONJ and Margaret’s exit was the first big announcement.