'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' Season 5's Jacqueline Laurita Talks Penny's Autism Comment on 'Watch What Happens Live' (VIDEO)
Jacqueline Laurita appeared on Sunday's Watch What Happens Live after episode 17 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey season 5 aired and commented on an allegedly rumor spread about her son.
Laurita discussed her on-screen confrontation with Penny Drossos, which played out in the episode an hour before her live interview with host Andy Cohen. Live with Kelly & Michael host Kelly Ripa also appeared on the late night talk show.
Cohen played a short clip from Sunday's episode in which Laurita asked Drossos if the latter spread rumors saying she doesn't believe Laurita's son, Nicholas, has autism.
"I love autistic children. Love them to death," Drossos replied, as means to deny the allegations, "I taught autism."
'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' Season 5 Episode 17 VIDEO: Jacqueline Laurita Confronts Penny
Laurita, Cohen and Ripa all laughed about Drossos' comment after the clip played. Cohen joked that he didn't know that there is a "course" in autism. Ripa commended Laurita and said she wouldn't have been able to calmly walk away from Drossos following the confrontation.
Laurita said she thinks Drossos and her husband, who are guests on TRHONJ, are spreading rumors to increase their chances of staying on the show permanently. She called the couple "definitely media whores, trying to get on the show."
Cohen asked Laurita if the two women are on good terms now and she replied, "not yet."
When asked about her relationship status with Teresa Giudice, she said they're on good term but their busy schedules have kept them from seeing each other.
"Our lives have changed since we were friends before. Since we've stopped filming, we have texted each other here and there," she said. "Because our lives are different now, so it's different but we're in a good place."
When asked how her son is doing, Laurita said he's doing "really well."
"He's progressing. His vocabulary has increased a lot," Laurita explained. "He's learning to put words together. He's spelling on his own. He's reading, more eye contact, focusing more on others. It's positive."
Cohen showed a teaser for an upcoming Watch What Happens Live episode with Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice as his guests. The clip showed Cohen address the legal trouble Giudice and her husband, Joe Giudice, face. The couple was indicted on July 29 for 39 charges related to financial fraud.
Cohen asks a teary-eyed Teresa: "What have you told your kids about the charges?" He then tells her, "I think anyone who watches the show wonders if you would consider letting your brother and Melissa take care of them if it came to that."
He also asks Teresa in the preview, "Do you think you could survive in jail?"
Watch What Happens Live airs Sundays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. EST on Bravo.
Watch Laurita and Ripa's appearance on Watch What Happens Live.
