Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Kim DePaola lifts the lid on growing up in the mafia, marrying a mobster and filming reality TV
As I delve deeper into Kim D’s captivating story, I am left in awe of her resilience and strength. Born into a world ruled by the mob, she managed to break free from the chains that bound her and create a life for herself filled with love, success, and personal growth.
In a potential last hurrah for The Real Housewives of New Jersey, one of the show’s most infamous troublemakers is dishing out behind-the-scenes tales and sharing an astonishing account of her extraordinary life prior to stepping into the spotlight of reality television.
Known to Bravo viewers as Kim ‘D’, Kim DePaola has revealed her background in the Italian mafia and her transformation into a mob wife in her candid autobiography titled “My Life Among the Big Guys”.
For quite some time, Kim has played a role as a secondary character on the popular series, frequently finding herself inserted into situations to provoke conflicts among the prominent personalities such as Teresa Guidice and Melissa Gorga. However, she’s never had the chance to share her own narrative – until now.
In conversation with DailyMail.com, the woman aged 63 explains that she felt motivated to pen her autobiography following a resurgence of interest in her life, sparked by viewers re-encountering her on RHONJ during the pandemic-induced lockdowns. This memoir, she notes, is more reminiscent of The Sopranos than the Real Housewives series.
She excitedly replied, “They commented that they are watching reruns again and they think you did an excellent job! It wasn’t just that you played a villain, but rather, you posed questions everyone was curious about!”
Among her memorable phrases from the show, one that stands out is what she said during a heated argument at the curb with Joe Gorga. While somewhat unsteady in her platform shoes and clearly tired, Kim assertively declared, “I can handle big challenges! Don’t underestimate me!”
Ultimately, Kim clarifies that the influential figures she refers to in her book are politicians, judges, and members of organized crime. She adds that she is acquainted with many men who hold significant positions.
Growing up, Kim encountered struggles far greater than her disputes on Real Housewives of New Jersey, tracing back to her stepfather, Frank ‘Butch’ Micelli.
Following her parents’ divorce while still an infant, Kim’s mother Dorothy wed Butch, a well-known gangster and suspected high-ranking member of the Gambino crime syndicate.
“Kim states that we were aware he was deeply involved with organized crime, yet her mother remained unaware of his specific role. However, she understood it was significant since she received an invitation to the Gambino family’s wedding.”
Despite the risks that came with marrying into the mafia, Kim and her mother found themselves immersed in a luxurious lifestyle filled with abundance and the enjoyment of high-end amenities that New York City provided.
Frequently, the family spent leisure time at the Copacabana club, an environment that brought together Kim, still young, with both gangsters and famous personalities.
“She excitedly shared, ‘We’d have prime seats, just like the Goodfellas! When I was four, I met Jimmy Durante. Tom Jones drank from my glass when I was ten. I even took photos with Diana Ross. My stepfather was close friends with Frank Sinatra.'”
But then, things took a disturbing turn when Kim’s babysitter, connected with her stepfather’s circle, mysteriously vanished.
According to Kim, her mother was near the stove when she overheard her stepfather reassuring someone, “Don’t worry, he’s a good man. He won’t cause any trouble.” Another person then advised him, “We can’t take another risk. We had to act as we did.” As a result, they took action against Kim’s babysitter, as she alleged.
She shared that her mom experienced a severe emotional crisis upon hearing the news, which led her to be admitted to the hospital. Later, she made a decision to completely break away from Butch and the underworld lifestyle forever.
Remarkably, the head of the criminal organization allowed Dorothy to end her marriage, and surprisingly, Kim managed to maintain a friendly relationship with Butch despite this situation.
Regrettably, just like her mother, Kim ended up repeating the same mistake in maturity by tying the knot with a mobster.
In an eerie twist, husband Frank shared the same first name as her mobster stepfather.
She clarified that her spouse, Frank, had ties with the Genovese family, leading her to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Furthermore, Frank served as the biological father of their child.
At the age of 22, she encountered Frank, who was four decades old, and they embarked on an extraordinary life journey reminiscent of the lavish childhood Kim experienced due to her mother’s connections with the mafia.
She excitedly mentioned that he would invite her friends, we’d hire a luxury car service, and head over to top-tier casinos. We’d dine at elite restaurants and be seated at premium tables. The VIP treatment was in store for us.
As a die-hard admirer, let me tell you, he was ahead of the curve even before Gucci luggage became a status symbol. Living that jet-set lifestyle at breakneck speed was my dream come true.
At age 22, if you’re deeply enjoying life, it’s unlikely you’re questioning the source of your income. Somehow, you have a sense of it, but it’s not a concern that bothers you much.
As Kim reveled in the glitzy lifestyle of being a mob’s wife, it was only when she became pregnant with son Christopher that she began to contemplate her future.
As soon as I became pregnant, I found myself hosting numerous friends, joining activities with the fellows, and my home was frequently visited by others. It made me contemplate, “I can’t possibly bring up a child in this bustling environment.”
‘Frank started to be abusive because he could tell that I was thinking of leaving,’ she said.
As a devoted follower of my safety, I chose to seek refuge at the Jersey Shore with my mother, distancing ourselves from my enraged husband who was relentlessly pursuing his missing spouse.
Kim recounted an upsetting event where Frank attempted to harm her. During a heated argument at her mother’s residence, Frank grabbed and bit her forcefully, implying that his intention was to cause her harm.
Eager to bring about a resolution, Kim sought out her stepfather to arrange a meeting with Frank’s superiors within the criminal organization.
“I exclaim with fervor, ‘He declares, ‘She’s mine, the woman I’m married to, and I intend to end her life.’ To which they respond sternly, ‘You cannot take her life, or we’ll do the same to you!'”
The message was unequivocally understood, and as a result, Kim, accompanied by her boy Christopher, returned to live with her mom.
After experiencing another marriage that didn’t work out, I eventually ventured into opening my renowned New Jersey fashion boutique, Posche.
Originally, Danielle Staub, who had been a main cast member on Real Housewives of New Jersey, visited an exclusive shop and invited Kim along for a photo session related to the show. During this event, Danielle got acquainted with the other cast members and producers.
As filming for season two of the show commenced, producer Carlos King requested that Kim join forces with Danielle during filming, as it was noted that she wasn’t on good terms with any of her fellow cast members at the time.
‘I think Danielle was really bullied and I think Caroline Manzo was the biggest bully,’ Kim said.
She treated her harshly, and everyone else joined in. They all acted cruelly towards her, with no exception. However, among them, Caroline stood out as the most cruel. Caroline and Dina [Manzo] were particularly unkind to her.
Following an impactful appearance during the second season, the producers frequently requested Kim’s presence to shoot additional dramatic scenes whenever required.
When the conditions suited her, Kim enjoyed playing ball. However, she mentions instances where she declined to comply with the demands from the production team.
On one occasion, Kim chose not to challenge Teresa Guidice about the gossip alleging that her spouse Joe had been unfaithful.
Back then, I, a die-hard fan, couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions as Teresa was honored for her philanthropic achievements, surpassing a significant fundraising milestone on The Celebrity Apprentice. Yet, in that moment of triumph, it seemed Kim held back from airing the swirling cheating allegations.
‘Someone taps me on the shoulder and says, “Perez Hilton claims Joe Giudice is cheating, and we need you to return to the table and inquire about it.” I respond, “Are you serious? This girl is receiving an award. You want me to bring that up?” I wouldn’t do it,’ she stated.
After producers continued to pressure her, Kim compromised and did the scene her own way.
In my role as a lifestyle advisor, I found myself needing to discreetly inquire about Teresa’s personal life one day. I gently drew her aside and subtly hinted at some changes I had noticed, without explicitly saying it was a divorce. As for the term ‘cheating’, I chose not to bring it up during our on-camera conversation, preferring instead to maintain a respectful and professional demeanor.
‘They were not pleased,’ Kim laughed.
She expressed that she upholds strong moral principles and has a set of actions she will follow. If she dislikes someone or feels threatened in any way, she will respond accordingly.
However, with Teresa present, this is her special moment. She’s done something kind for another person, and now you’re asking me to harm her instead? I’m unable to comply with that request.
After departing from RHONJ, Kim has dedicated herself to her podcast, titled “Get Real With Kim D”. She aspires to adapt her memoirs into a television series that provides a glimpse into the world of the mafia.
She’s also relishing the fresh affection from the Real Housewives fanbase, who are now warmly accepting her provocative actions on the program.
She expressed, “I’ve always felt confident about myself, yet occasionally, when I’m sidelined, made to look like the antagonist, and then eliminated from a production, it feels like my contributions weren’t valued.”
Now that I’m being acknowledged and hearing comments like, “Wow, Kim, you’re a legend,” it gives me a nice feeling. I guess it’s great to be valued, doesn’t it? It certainly makes me feel good.
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2024-08-08 23:20