Dolores Catania Defends Meredith Marks With a Bizarre Statement That Leaves Fans Stunned

Posted December 22, 2025

In the ever-dramatic universe of The Real Housewives, it’s nothing new for cast members to defend one another — even across different franchises. Loyalty, after all, is a valuable currency in the Bravo world. But this week, Dolores Catania of The Real Housewives of New Jersey sparked widespread confusion and backlash after coming to the defense of Meredith Marks (The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City) with a comment so unusual that it quickly overshadowed the point she was trying to make.

What was meant to be a show of maternal solidarity instead became a viral moment that left fans asking: Why did she phrase it like that?

The Drama That Started It All

Tensions have been running high on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City this season. Following a chaotic crossover trip, emotions were already frayed when the women boarded a flight home. Meredith Marks reportedly became embroiled in a heated argument with Britani Bateman, continuing a feud that had been simmering for weeks — complete with accusations, insults, and long-standing resentment.

The drama didn’t stop there. During the group’s subsequent trip to Greece, friction between Meredith and Heather Gay reached a boiling point. While riding together, the conversation escalated into a confrontation, with Heather in the middle of voicing her frustrations.

That’s when Meredith did something that instantly caught everyone’s attention.

She answered her phone.

The call was from her son, Brooks Marks, and the timing couldn’t have been worse — or better, depending on who you ask. Heather was visibly irritated, and the moment later inspired her now-viral confessional impersonation of Meredith, which many viewers found hilarious.

Meredith later explained that she had missed Brooks’ Mother’s Day call earlier that day and felt compelled to answer when he called again.

Dolores Catania Steps In

Enter Dolores Catania.

While appearing on the podcast Two T’s in a Pod, Dolores was asked about Meredith taking the call mid-argument. As a mother herself, Dolores didn’t hesitate to defend Meredith’s choice — insisting that when it comes to your children, nothing else matters.

So far, so reasonable.

Then came the comment that stunned listeners.

“There was nothing wrong with Meredith taking Brooks’ call because when little Frankie calls me, I want to make out with the phone. I want to shove it down my throat,” Dolores said. “So I’m taking that call no matter if I was in the middle of Watch What Happens Live.”

Within hours, the quote spread across social media — and not in the way Dolores likely intended.

Fans React: “She Should Have Stopped Talking”

Bravo fans are rarely shy about voicing their opinions, and this time was no exception. While some understood that Dolores was exaggerating to emphasize her love for her son, many felt her wording crossed into uncomfortable territory.

“She should have stopped at ‘I’ll always take my kid’s call,’” one fan wrote on X.
“Taking the call makes sense. The rest? Weird,” another added.
A third commented, “Dolores tried to defend Meredith and accidentally made herself the headline.”

The backlash wasn’t about the sentiment — most viewers agreed that prioritizing a child is understandable — but about how distractingly graphic and unnecessary the metaphor was.

Did the Defense Help or Hurt Meredith?

Ironically, Dolores’ attempt to shield Meredith may have added fuel to an already burning fire. Instead of calming the debate over whether Meredith was rude or justified in answering the phone, the conversation shifted to Dolores’ phrasing — and then circled back to Meredith with renewed intensity.

Some fans doubled down, arguing that Meredith’s decision was disrespectful, regardless of who was calling. Others maintained that motherhood should always come first, especially on a reality show built around personal lives and relationships.

What became clear, however, is that Dolores’ comment ensured the topic stayed in the spotlight far longer than it otherwise might have.

When Hyperbole Backfires

In the world of reality television, words matter — and so does delivery. Dolores Catania has long been known for her bluntness and emotional honesty, traits that have made her a fan favorite on RHONJ. But this moment highlighted how quickly hyperbole can backfire when taken out of context and replayed endlessly online.

Communication experts on social media weighed in, noting that while the message was relatable, the imagery distracted from the point entirely.

“People stopped hearing what she meant because they couldn’t get past how she said it,” one commenter noted.

A Small Moment, Big Bravo Energy

Ultimately, this controversy is classic Real Housewives: a small moment spirals into a franchise-wide discussion, complete with divided fans, viral quotes, and endless commentary.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City continues to air Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo and streams on Peacock — and if this season has proven anything, it’s that no argument, phone call, or podcast quote is ever truly insignificant.

As for Dolores Catania, she may have been trying to show solidarity with another Bravo mom — but instead, she reminded everyone that in reality TV, sometimes it’s not what you say, but how you say it that steals the show.