Why RHOM's Alexia Nepola Got Back With Ex-Husband Todd

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Alexia Nepola Reveals Teresa Giudice Inspired Her to Join RHOM

Alexia Nepola is still feeling the heat with Todd Nepola.

Over a year after Todd shocked Bravo fans by filing for divorce from The Real Housewives of Miami star after just two years of marriage, Alexia revealed the real reason she got back together with her now ex-husband following their brief breakup.

"It was love," the 58-year-old exclusively told E! News' Will Marfuggi. "It was nothing particular. He thought he was going to be able to not live with me. He thought he was going to file and he was going to be able to not love me anymore and forget about me and that didn't happen. And I felt the same way about him. It wasn't finished." (Watch E! News tonight, June 23, at 11 p.m. for more our sit-down with Alexia.)

During RHOM's season seven premiere on June 11, the reality star revealed Todd surprised her by packing up his belongings while she was out of their home for the day and moved into a separate apartment he rented a month before.

"It happened so abruptly," she reflected. "I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted to do it that way, but that's how he did it and that's what you see."

And while fans will have to tune in to see how their divorce drama and reconciliation play out, Alexia admitted the situation was unbearable to film for TV.

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

"It was really difficult for me to talk about the man I love and I want to be with," she confessed. "But going through something like this, I felt like my friends that were there, I had so much support. I feel like the only way you could get through something like this is your friends and your family that are there to love you, to support you and to give you advice."

But despite some of her costars questioning her decision to rekindle the romance, Alexia isn't paying attention to the doubters.

As she noted, "Now, I have to worry about me and what's best for me."

So, what do her sons Peter, 32, and Frankie, 28, feel about their mom getting back together with the man who hurt her?

"They don't get involved because I don't think it's healthy for them to get involved," she told E!. "I've always had a beautiful relationship with my boys and it's separate. I feel like as a Cuban mom I need to interfere in his personal life, but as a Cuban mom he can't interfere in my personal life. It's kind of always been like that and my kids just want me to be healthy and happy, the same thing I wished for them."

Especially after Frankie's near-fatal car accident in 2011 that left him with partial brain damage.

"They know as a family we've gone through so many hardships and obstacles and challenges," she noted, "and we deserve to be happy, whatever that happiness may be. They're like, 'You got this mom. Whatever you want to do, we're with you and we support that.' I have their blessing. That the kind of relationship and unconditional love that I have with my boys."

Alexia also revealed Todd will not be making an appearance on the show's latest season amid their relationship problems.

"You will see him," she shared, "and he's not going to like the show either. Obviously because we're talking about him and Todd doesn't like the show. It's no secret he does not like the show."

See the drama play out when The Real Housewives of Miami airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo. And see more our E! News' exclusive interview with Alexia tonight, June 23, at 11 p.m.

In the meantime, keep reading for E!'s definitive ranking of every Housewife ever.

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159-162. The Real Housewives of D.C.

Bravo's ill-fated attempt at highlighting our nation's capital brought together four women so forgettable you'd be forgiven for erasing them from your memory—though their names are Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney and Stacie Scott Turner—and one so desperate for fame that she gate-crashed a party at the White House. More on her later.

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158. Kimberly Bryant, The Real Housewives of Orange County

Who?

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157. Tammy Knickerbocker, The Real Housewives of Orange County

Vaguely familiar, but...

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156. DeShawn Snow, The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Once upon a time, DeShawn starred on the same TV show as NeNe Leakes. Surprising, we know.

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155. Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, The Real Housewives of Orange County

This one-season Housewife brought nothing to the Orange County table.

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154. Jennie Nguyen, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Utah's newest season two Housewife went out with a bang (and not in a good way). In January 2022, Jennie was fired after "offensive" and racially insensitive old Facebook posts resurfaced online. Jennie later apologized but the damage was done.

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153. Quinn Fry, The Real Housewives of Orange County

Her defining trait was "cougar."

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152. Jen Armstrong, The Real Housewives of Orange County

The Orange County doctor was never a source of drama during season 16 and her brief marriage troubles with eternally shirtless husband Ryne (or Ryan?) were less than riveting. However, we will never forget Dr. Jen getting absolutely wasted on wine during the Dubrows' insanely awkward—yet wildly entertaining—dinner party.

Bravo

151: Annemarie Wiley, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The nurse anesthetist's flop first season can be summed up in one cringe-worthy word we hope we never hear again: Esophagus-gate

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150. Katie Rost, The Real Housewives of Potomac

Katie loved to talk about her charity work, but...didn't do much else on screen. She was one and done, only to come back and not contribute much as a friend. Leaving the cast trip early? A Housewives no-no.

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149. Charrisse Jackson Jordan, The Real Housewives of Potomac

Her marriage problems were on full display the two seasons she was a full-time Housewife...that and her champagne room are the two memorable things about Charrisse.

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148. Shamari DeVoe, The Real Housewives of Atlanta

A one-and-done Housewife, Shamari was at least fun?

Tommy Garcia/Bravo

147. Peggy Sulahian, The Real Housewives of Orange County

While it was nice to see some diversity in the lily-white O.C., Peggy ultimately proved to be a frustrating presence in season 12. The fights she chose to pick were bizarre, and often involving someone using a word she simply didn't understand, and her decision to simply hide out in her room for an entire day during the trip to Iceland proved that she wasn't really cut out for this Real Housewives life.

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146. Nneka Ihim, The Real Housewives of Potomac

Instead of bonding with fellow Nigerian costar Wendy Osefo during season eight, Nneka's first season storyline centered entirely around her allegedly accusing Wendy's mom of being a witch (yes, seriously). We wish we could have seen the two bond over their shared culture rather than fighting with no resolve.

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145. Noella Bergener, The Real Housewives of Orange County

Noella spun through season 16 like a tornado of frantic energy. While her personal struggles were somewhat compelling (her husband James up and left the country and asked for a divorce right before filming started), it was her constant drama with queen bee Heather Dubrow that helped her not land completely at the bottom of the list. Maybe with more time and another season, we'll warm up to Mrs. Bergener.

Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank

144. Siggy Flicker, The Real Housewives of New Jersey

From peacekeeper in her first season to unrelenting complaints about a thrown cake and unfounded claims of anti-Semitism in her second (and last) season, we're not sure we've ever seen a quicker Real Housewives fall from grace than this one.

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143. Amber Marchese, RHONJ

Everything Amber and her husband Jim did seemed to reek of desperation. Plus, he was involved in more of the drama than she was. Not a good look.

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142. Karent Sierra, The Real Housewives of Miami

All we remember about Karent is that she was a dentist and none of her co-stars seemed to like her at all. Next!

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141. Cristy Rice,The Real Housewives of Miami

This was a real person with a show on Bravo. We promise.

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140. Jules Wainstein, The Real Housewives of New York City

As one of RHONY's more recent one-and-dones, Jules' tenure was too brief to rank any higher. However, she sure did deliver her fair share of drama. 

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138-139. Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano, RHONJ

So unnecessary they couldn't even get individual taglines.

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137. Nina Ali, The Real Housewives of Dubai

Much like co-star Sara Al Madani, Nina exemplified a multidimensional, successful Arab woman who is blending modern life with centuries-old cultural traditions. She avoided most of the season one drama and was sometimes overshadowed by her co-stars' bigger, louder personalities.

Bravo

136. Taleen Marie, The Real Housewives of Dubai

Taleen was a nice addition to RHODubai's sophomore season, but we only have one season to judge her on.

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135. Eva Marcille, RHOA

The America's Next Top Model veteran picked up a peach for seasons 11 and 12, but never really made an impression in the world of RHOA, aside from being pregnant for what felt like her entire tenure. Points for that epic read of Marlo Hampton while in Tokyo, though.

Bravo

134. Katie Ginella, The Real Housewives of Orange County

Per usual, we typically need to see more than one season to place a first-time Housewife higher on our list. But Katie came in swinging during RHOC's 18th season, immediately going up against veteran Housewife Heather Dubrow. It takes a brave woman to call B.S. on Ms. Fancypants.

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133. Sara Al Madani, The Real Housewives of Dubai

Sara's positive, enlightened outlook on life was certainly pleasant, but didn't provide for much drama (besides that one time she offered co-star Caroline Brooks some not-so-well received parenting advice). However, the tech entrepreneur shattered stereotypes of what it means to be a modern Muslim woman in the Middle East and for that we applaud her. 

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131-132. Rachel Fuda & Danielle Cabral, The Real Housewives of New Jersey

RHONJ's season 13 newbies certainly fit the mold of your typical Garden State Housewife and quickly found themselves in a season-long fight over literally nothing that Andy Cohen deemed pointless at the reunion. The former friends unfortunately didn't bring much more substance during season 14.

Tommy Garcia/Peacock

130. Larsa Pippen, The Real Housewives of Miami

Larsa didn't make a big impression on season one before leaving the series. When Peacock revived RHOM for season four in 2021, her whole storyline was about being the ex-BFF of Kim Kardashian. (and selling sexy feet pics on OnlyFans...)

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129. Ana Quincoces, The Real Housewives of Miami

Ana followed up her one season as a Bravolebrity by competing on season 12 of Next Food Network Star in 2016. She didn't make it there, either.

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128. Joyce Giraud de Ohoven, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Unfortunately, she was nothing more than a punching bag for Brandi Glanville. Plus, her tagline celebrating the icky notion that you can never be too skinny was gross.

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