Dina Manzo is reacting to the news that her estranged sister, Caroline Manzo, is showing her support to her ex-husband, Tommy Manzo, who was indicted earlier this month as an alleged accomplice in a 2017 home invasion case.
The former Real Housewives of New Jersey star and then-boyfriend, now-husband, Dave Cantin were both allegedly attacked with bare fists and baseball bats during the altercation, as they walked into their New Jersey home.
Bravo fans were left shocked when they learned that Caroline showed her support for Tommy who she described as "kind-hearted and caring" in a letter read at a pre-trial detention hearing on Friday, according to The Daily Mail. Tommy was released from jail during the hearing as he awaits trial in the home invasion case.
After hearing about the news of Caroline's support for Tommy, Dina's friend and assistant, Luke McKibben, shared a post via Instagram where he slammed the former Manzo'd With Children star.
He shared an image of Caroline and Tommy side-by-side with the words “Thick as Thieves.” The caption of the post read, “For years I have sat by and watched Dina take the high road over and over. Staying silent for many reasons but mainly out of respect for family,” Luke wrote on Monday.
He added, “There’s a million things I could have said throughout the years and spoken up to defend her. She would forbid me to say a word. But I can’t stay silent while others continue to talk to help keep their relevance. You will reap what you sow. And I find this extremely fitting after all they are your most famous words 😂😂😂 #letmetellyousomethingaboutmyfamily.”
Moments later, Dina responded to Luke's post. “Normally Lukey I would ask you to take this down but ya know what? I’m starting to think some just expect us to stay quiet while they continue to hurt others…that’s what gives them that ‘power,'” she wrote.
“I’ll say it again…it’s not ok to take kindness for weakness,” she added. “Plus if I don’t laugh at this point I’ll just continue to cry. I love you. ❤️”
Dina’s 25-year-old daughter, Lexi Ioannou, backed her mom in the family feud.
“Someone had to say it 🙌,” she wrote, according to Page Six. Ioannou also shared the post to her Instagram Story. She captioned the post, “LITERALLY.”
She also shared a post from a Bravo fan account that features Dina sitting down at a restaurant waiting for someone to arrive.
“Dina Manzo is sitting back watching the Bravo fans realize what a bad sister Caroline Manzo is,” the post read. According to Page Six, Iannou added an upside-down smiley face to the post.
After a user tweeted, “So let me get this strait ! @CarolineManzo @dinamanzo we’re trying to take down @daniellestaub for her past behavior but Caroline is condoning her in-law beating the shit out of her sister ? #RHONJ”
@BravoTV should’ve protected me instead they allowed these criminals to destroy the life I had built for my family.”
When another user tweeted, “Caroline Manzo wrote a character reference for the brother in law that ambushed her sister Dina. Caroline was a nasty, woman hating bully when Danielle was 1st on RHONJ, threatened by an attractive single woman obviously.”
Danielle responded, “Yep and let’s not forget the part that most women would revere but still bugs Caroline the most; we are the #sameage”
After another follower chimed in and wrote, “No way!!!!!”
Staub simply responded, “Yep way!!”
On Friday, May 21, Tommy was released from jail pending his trial on allegations that he targeted his former wife and her then-boyfriend, now-husband in a violent home-invasion robbery in 2017.
According to Page Six, Monmouth County Judge Paul Escandon ordered Tom Manzo released from jail at the end of a marathon detention hearing Friday, roughly a week after his arrest on robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, and stalking charges.
Earlier in the hearing, Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin Sidley painted Manzo as an obsessed ex-husband who has allegedly stalked his ex-wife and repeatedly sought to injure her new partner, Dave Cantin.
Sidley alleged Tom Manzo and an accomplice, James Mainello, broke into the new couple’s duplex in Holmdel when they weren’t home in 2017 — and waited for them to return.
When the couple walked in, Manzo and Mainello attacked them, restraining them with zip ties, beating Cantin repeatedly with a baseball bat, and stealing their new engagement rings, Sidley said.
“This is what happens when you f—k with a guy from Paterson,” one of the assailants said before they left, according to prosecutors.
In addition to the state charges, Manzo is charged in a federal case for allegedly hiring reputed Lucchese crime family associate John Perna to beat Cantin outside a strip mall in 2015.
In exchange for the beatdown, Perna allegedly got a discount for his wedding at the Brownstone, an event space Manzo co-owns with his brother in Paterson.
Manzo denies the charges in the federal case and plans to fight them at trial, his attorney, Amy Luria, said at Friday’s hearing. His attorneys also raised questions about the strength of the prosecutors’ case against Manzo, saying there is little evidence linking him to the 2017 home invasion.
Luria called Manzo’s split from Dina “perfectly amicable” and said he had no history of violent behavior and any criminal convictions — despite the federal charges against him.
Luria and her co-counsel, Michael Critchley, also highlighted a number of letters written on behalf of Manzo to vouch for his character, including by the bishop of Paterson, the vice president of the New Jersey Police Benevolent Association and Dina’s sister, Caroline.
Manzo will be freed on the restrictions already imposed on him by the federal court, reported Page Six.
Photo Credit: Instagram (5)