Entertainment
Former 'RHONJ' Star Danielle Staub Created Controversy Even After Leaving the Show
Not a day goes by when I don't think to myself, "Gee, I wonder what Danielle Staub is doing right now." It's been nearly four years since Staub made her final appearance on The Real Housewives of New Jersey during Season 2's reunion special, and although the reality series has been nothing short of drama-filled in her absence, every now and then, you really do miss the particular brand of crazy that Staub brought to the show.
Now on Season 6, RHONJ just welcomed back Dina Manzo, who had left the series before Staub during Season 2. Does that mean there's a possibility that Staub's return might not be far behind as well? Just in case it comes up soon, you're going to need to update yourself on Staub ASAP. Here's what your favorite ex-housewife has been up to.
Staub's Ex-Husband Denied Her Allegations... Again
Remember Cop Without a Badge, that book that revealed, as Teresa Giudice infamously referred to it, Staub’s “prostitution whore” past? Well that book focused on Kevin Maher, Staub’s ex-husband and former police informant, who filed a lawsuit against Staub for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. That case was eventually settled, but when Staub penned her autobiography The Naked Truth, Maher filed a lawsuit against the book’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, for $10 million, citing defamation for Staub claiming in the book that Maher beat her and he went to prison. Cop Without a Badge is going to haunt Staub forever, isn’t it?
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
She Briefly Returned to Stripping
Staub was very open about her past as a stripper on RHONJ, even doing her thing on the pole in one episode. In 2011, Staub signed a deal to appear at the New York gentleman’s club Scores and on its website. However, after her photos appeared online, Staub “walked away” from the deal and sought help for her “addictions with love and low self-esteem.” She also reached out to Dr. Drew Pinksy of Celebrity Rehab fame.
She was on 'Famous Food'
After RHONJ, Staub’s next reality show appearance was on Famous Food where she competed against such “celebrities” as Heidi Montag, The Bachelor’s Jake Pavelka, and high-profile sex worker Ashley Dupre to earn a spot as a partner at a hip, new restaurant on the Sunset Strip. Staub ended up being one of two winners, along with DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia. Sadly, the eatery they had a stake in, Lemon Basket, closed after only five months in operation.
Image: VH1
You Could Have Called her
In 2012, Staub was part of a new service called Dial-a-Star.com where you could reportedly phone your favorite Z-list celebrities and have a chat with them — for a price. TMZ reported that Staub earned $18 per minute, raking in $6,000 since the site launched, which made her the top earner among the other “famous” people on call, such as Dina Lohan, Tila Tequila, and Nadya “Octomom” Suleman. But before you pick up that phone, we’ve got bad news. It looks like Dial-a-star.com is currently under construction, and there’s no telling when it’ll be up and running again. Now you’ll just have to hope extra hard that Staub replies to your tweets.
Image: Getty Images
She's Been Doing Yoga
Staub has posted many photos on her Instagram page that show her getting her yoga on. So now we know how she gets so much “love and light” into her life.
Image: danielle_staub/Instagram
She Went Bankrupt
Staub filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012 and had $1.9 million in liabilities. This is still an ongoing battle for Staub, who was reportedly recently excused more than $200,000 in debt in bankruptcy court.
She's Friends With La Toya Jackson
Yes, this is as weird as it sounds. Jackson helped found the entertainment company Ja-Tail Enterprises, which represented Staub. Staub also appeared on Jackson’s OWN reality show Life With La Toya, so you know their friendship runs deep.
She Was on 'Watch What Happens Live'
So maybe Staub hasn’t been on an actual episode of RHONJ in a while, but she did do the next best thing. Staub appeared on Watch What Happens Live in September 2013 to fill us in on what she thinks of the show since she left. Well, Staub revealed that she actually hasn’t watched RHONJ since she left the show, even going so far to say she doesn’t even watch Bravo. She is really crazy. Staub also said she “felt bad” for the Giudice’s legal woes. ”They’re people. They’re a family. Things that are very bad are happening to them,” Staub said. “It would be real wrong of anyone to enjoy that.” See? She isn’t that bad after all.
Image: Charles Sykes/Bravo
She Still Hates the Other 'Housewives'
Though a good amount of time has passed since Staub was on RHONJ, she’s still pretty spiteful toward her former cast mates. On Twitter, she has repeatedly attacked Dina Manzo and called out her former cast mates for their supposed plastic surgery, just to name a couple of her recent messages for the ladies. With all of the resentment Staub has built up toward the Housewives, how could Bravo not bring her back for another round?
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
She Threw Her Daughter a Super Sweet 16
Staub’s daughter Jillian, who was just a kid when she appeared on RHONJ, is now all grown up. Well, she’s now 16 years old at least. Staub threw her daughter a “Diamonds in the Dark”-themed Sweet 16 bash at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange, New Jersey in May of this year. The Staubs seemed to be all smiles at the event, so there was probably no table-flipping or hair-pulling in sight.
Image: danielle_staub/Instagram
She Wants to Return to 'RHONJ'
Before Season 5 of RHONJ premiered in 2013, rumors circulated that Staub would be returning to the series. However, Bravo’s Andy Cohen put those rumors to rest and simultaneously smashed all of our hopes and dreams by confirming that Staub would not be on the show. Cohen later confirmed that Bravo had asked Staub to return for Season 5 and the reunion, both of which she declined. Now, however, it looks like Staub is ready to make a comeback, and fans are so ready for that, too.
Image: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
She's Coming Back to TV
In case you can’t get enough Staub, and who can really, you can get even more updates on her life after RHONJ when she appears on Oprah: Where Are They Now? on Aug. 10. We all knew Staub wouldn’t stay away from the small screen for long.
Image: George Burns/Harpo, Inc.
