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Old-time fans of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey will remember the dramatic mother-daughter duo of Caroline Manzo and Lauren Manzo. The latter first appeared in RHONJ in 2009 and was a regular feature for the show’s first five seasons. Caroline married Italian-American chef Vito Scalia in 2015 and has since been settled in New York.
Vito owns an Italian restaurant, “The Best of Little Italy” in New York, and has a 6-year-old daughter named Marchesa with Lauren. The two had been happily married for nearly eight years but recently announced a divorce, which surprised fans.
RHONJ star Lauren Manzo’s husband, Vito Scalia, submits divorce documents in court
Initially, speculation about a separation had emerged after Lauren Manzo was spotted in public without her wedding ring. When asked, she claimed that she had every right to keep some things in her life private:
"First of all, I truly give zero f**ks if you admire me or not... I am allowed to keep aspects of my life private, especially after having a child. If you don’t like it, then stay away from my page. It’s very simple."
The response made it clear that the couple was undergoing trouble, although such a speedy divorce was unexpected. Vito Scalia recently submitted divorce documents in court citing “irreconcilable differences" between him and the RHONJ star. The document stated that the couple had been experiencing trouble for around six months, and there was no hope of reconciliation:
"The parties have experienced irreconcilable differences for a period of at least six months, which has caused the breakdown of their marriage, and it is apparent that the marriage should be dissolved as there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation."
Born in Italy, Vito met Manzo in high school through a mutual friend. The two have been dating ever since, with Vito choosing to work in his family restaurant for much of his youth. He has since taken over and was recently said to be looking to expand the business.
Scalia seems to live a reserved life and might not even have an Instagram account. The divorce document currently appears to be the only source of information regarding the couple's separation. Lauren Manzo has been tight-lipped about the relationship, with Vito also preferring to stay away from the public eye.
Who is RHONJ star Lauren Manzo?
The fact that Lauren’s mother, Caroline, was one of the major cast members on RHONJ right from the start meant that she was also in the public eye. Lauren slowly became one of the prominent members of the show's initial seasons and was seen in a committed relationship with Vito right from the start.
Lauren's brothers Albie and Chris Manzo also became regular fixtures on RHONJ. While the divorce proceedings state that Lauren and Vito have not been together for at least six months, the two still share a house in New Jersey due to Marchesa.
While her wedding was not a part of RHONJ, it was filmed by Bravo for the spinoff Manzo'd With Children, which ran for three seasons. While the couple has been publicly scrutinized, with rumors of separation regularly cropping up in recent years, the court submission makes the separation official.
Regardless, Lauren has had her fair share of struggles. She was initially seen on RHONJ struggling with her weight and had a transformative journey post-2015. Laurent lost around 80 pounds in months and often shares her journey on social media. Earlier in 2023, she said the following about her weight loss:
“I’ve had a ton of DM’s asking me about my weight loss experience. From surgery, functional medicine (which changed my life) giving up gluten & dairy 😭 I still miss it but it’s been worth it! And of course, my experience with Mounjaro to lose my last 30lbs."
While the couple is divorcing, they have a daughter together and appear intent to be co-parents. They still share a house in New Jersey, which is expected to be a challenge, considering Vito’s work requires him to be in New York most days of the week.
