Crime & Safety

Real Housewives Brawl Ends With Blood On The Walls

Two cast members of the Real Housewives of New Jersey are accused of assaulting a man at the grand opening of a Ridgewood business on Saturday.

Update: The cast members accused of beating Karagiorgis have filed counterclaims; a judge ruled there was sufficient probable cause to advance the case. Read the latest update here.

A Paramus man has filed charges against two cast members of the Real Housewives of New Jersey after a sink-throwing brawl left blood on the walls at the Saturday grand opening of a Ridgewood clothing boutique, Patch has learned.

More than 100 guests were at the opening of Real Housewives regular Kim DePaola's Posche 2, including the show's cast and crew, when the drama broke out.

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A fight broke out after a guest, identified as Johnny Karagiorgis, 38, of Paramus, allegedly made fun of the autistic son of cast member Jacqueline Laurita and her husband Christopher.

Posche 2 is in the same space that houses Moxie Salon's second location, which is under construction.

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Joe Gorga and Albie Manzo came to Christopher Laurita's aid during the confrontation and it led to a brawl between the Housewives men and Karagioris, Dunn said.

"It was a huge brawl. Three of Kim D's clothes racks were destroyed and three of our custom sinks were broken," said Moxie Salon co-owner Jennifer Dunn. "There was blood on the walls."

One of the fight participants threw one of the sinks during the fight, Dunn said. Bravo's cameras were rolling and captured the tumult.

Ridgewood police confirmed a brawl took place Saturday night and said Karagiorgis filed a citizen's complaint alleging that three individuals assaulted him.

Sources tell Patch two of the three named in Karagiorgis's complaint are cast members Gorga and Christopher Laurita. Manzo was not named in the complaint, sources said.

Police said the investigation into the brawl remains active. Ridgewood Municipal Court Judge David Pfund will conduct a probable cause hearing to determine if charges are filed against the alleged aggressors.

"There was a report of a dispute that led to an assault," Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward said. "We cannot confirm or deny it involved any cast members."

Ward declined further comment, but said he was unaware if any cross-complaints had been filed against Karagiorgis or other parties.

Dunn estimated the damage to the sinks and the wall to be more than $15,000. Kim D's clothing damage was also said to have represented tens of thousands in losses. 

The Housewives were remorseful the brawl broke out on Saturday night, Dunn said.

"They felt really awful about it. I want people to know they're so much nicer than they're made out to be."


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