Dolores Catania claims her 'proud' partner Paulie Connell broke off their engagement 💔 — "He took me from having everything to having nothing" 😢
Dolores Catania has finally spoken out about her tumultuous relationship with Irish businessman Paulie Connell – whom she once called “the love of my life”. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star shocked fans by revealing that it was Paulie who ended their engagement, after months of leading the public to believe the pair were happily preparing for a wedding.
In an emotional interview, Dolores shared: “I believed we were going to be together forever. He made me feel like I had it all – love, faith, a future. And then in the blink of an eye, it was all gone. He took it all away from me, from my heart, and from the dreams I had.”
Dolores, 53, once proudly showed off her sparkling engagement ring and called Paulie “the kindest, most caring man I have ever met”. The couple, who started dating in 2022, quickly became the focus of RHONJ fans thanks to Paulie’s sweet moments and compliments for Dolores on the show. However, in recent months, viewers have noticed signs of a rift: the two have been seen less together, Dolores has avoided mentioning the wedding, and their joint social media posts have gradually disappeared.
A source close to the couple revealed that Paulie “has a very proud and strong ego,” which has made their relationship challenging. “Dolores has always been the one to try to keep it together and do everything to make it work. But Paulie probably needs to feel in control. He’s a confident person, but he can get hurt when things don’t go his way,” the source shared.
When asked about her current feelings, Dolores could not hide her pain: “I used to have it all – love, a companion, faith in the future. And now, I have nothing left. It feels like I just lost a part of myself.”
Fans immediately expressed sympathy for Dolores, praising her for her strength and honesty. “Dolores has always been a woman with a big heart. She deserves someone who truly loves her,” one comment read. On social media, the hashtag #TeamDolores quickly went viral, with many fans calling on her to “stand up and shine like a queen”.
Meanwhile, Paulie Connell’s side has remained silent, not making any official statements about the breakup. Some of his friends said that Paulie still “respects and cares for Dolores”, but said “they both need time apart to think about the future”.
Despite her heartbreak, Dolores insists she won’t let the pain get her down. “I’ve been through worse. I know I’ll get back up, but that doesn’t mean the pain is gone. I still love him, I still miss him, and I still thank him for what we had.”
For Real Housewives fans, this isn’t just a heartbreak story, it’s also a story of a strong woman facing loss, but still maintaining her dignity and belief in herself. Dolores Catania once had it all – and now, she’s learning to pick herself up again, from the ashes of love.
‘RHOP’ Star Wendy Osefo’s Husband Eddie ‘At Risk’ of Losing His Law License After Fraud Arrest
The Real Housewives of Potomac star Wendy Osefo’s husband, Eddie Osefo, could lose his license to practice law.
Us Weekly spoke exclusively to two attorneys, who warned that Eddie’s “at risk” of no longer being able to serve as an active lawyer in D.C. if he’s convicted of insurance fraud, conspiracy insurance fraud and making a false statement to a police officer in connection to his October 9 arrest, which saw both him and Wendy behind bars last week.
“Most States, including D.C., do institute discipline for attorneys convicted of fraud or other crimes of moral turpitude. Typically, they wait until resolution of [the] criminal case but in extreme cases they may ask criminal court to make not practicing law a condition of bond,” Texas criminal defense attorney Sam Bassett, who is not representing either Wendy or Eddie and does not have any connection to the case, told Us.
“Eddie Osefo is at risk of losing his license. A state bar agency could definitely revoke his law license, especially upon conviction,” he continued, noting that “generally, a license is always subject to review or revocation upon a felony arrest or conviction.”
Criminal defense attorney John W. Day, who also has no connection to the case, echoed his viewpoint.
“Just being charged with a felony does not automatically mean Eddie Osefo will lose his law license, but if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony — or a ‘serious crime’ which could include a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude — the Washington D.C. disciplinary board can seek to impose discipline on him, which might include disbarment,” Day told Us.
Wendy, 41, and Eddie, 41, were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, October 9, according to court documents obtained by Us. The reality TV couple were booked in Westminster, Maryland, and spent the night in jail until posting their bail, which was set at $50,000 each.
The charges stem from a reported burglary that allegedly happened at their home in April 2024. According to law enforcement, Wendy and Eddie claimed that several high-priced items, including designer bags and jewelry, were missing from their bedroom after the alleged incident.
However, Wendy was seen wearing one of the allegedly stolen rings on social media.
Upon further investigation, police determined that several other items the Osefos claimed were taken in the alleged robbery had been returned to their respective stores, “where a full refund was provided prior to the alleged burglary.”
Prosecutors also alleged that Wendy and Eddie claimed $450,000 in personal property loss through an insurance company.
Following their release, the RHOP stars issued statements through their representative.
“Dr. Wendy Osefo and her husband, Edward Osefo, are back home safely with their family and in good spirits. They are grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from friends, fans and colleagues,” their rep told Us on Friday, October 10. “The Osefos, alongside their legal team, look forward to their day in court. At this time, they respectfully ask for privacy as they focus on their family and the legal process ahead.”
Wendy joined the Bravo cast in 2020 during season 5 and often boasted about holding four degrees.
In the debut of season 10, which premiered on October 5, fans saw Wendy and Eddie making new additions to their home and bragging about how well his weed company, Happy Eddie, was doing.
The lawyer opened the cannabis company in 2023, capitalizing on a viral moment from the reality series in 2022 which showed how Eddie’s cheerful demeanor landed him the nickname “Happy Eddie.”
In January 2024, Wendy’s husband confirmed he was still a practicing attorney despite his cannabis company’s success, but admitted that his new venture “takes time away from work.”
Us also confirmed that the D.C. bar shows Eddie’s law license has been active since 2014.
Both Andy Cohen and fellow RHOP star Candiace Dillard Bassett reacted to Wendy and Eddie’s arrests.
“I know nothing of the charges more than you guys do,” Cohen, 57, said on his SiriusXM show, Andy Cohen Live, on Monday. “I’m sad about this.”
Dillard Bassett, 38, shared she was “shocked” and “sad” about the news. She also questioned if her RHOP costars were being “targeted.”
“We don’t know what the charges are for but we know that the Osefos have a very successful marijuana business,” she said last week. “They are providing jobs and opportunities for people of color in the area, in the DMV. My first thought is, ‘Are they being targeted, is this something that we should be thinking about?’”
