Tension in New Jersey Frank CataniaDetails his relationship with his ex-wife Dolores Catania‘s boyfriend, Paul Connell — and admitted that things haven’t always been rosy.
“We’re not on the best of terms because Paul is not used to the dynamic between Dolores and me,” the Real Housewives of New JerseyStar exclusively told Us WeeklyBravoCon in New York City on Friday, October 14. “If you spend more time with Dolores and me, you get to see there’s nothing to worry about, right? She is my best friend. I will always love and cherish her. I always take care of her.”
After four years of marriage, the New Jersey native and his 51-year-old ex-wife split in 1998. The couple share Gabby, 27, with Frankie, 24, and daughter Gabby, 27. The couple split in 2009, but they have remained close throughout their relationship. Frank has made many appearances on television. RHONJ.
Frank Catania and Dolores Catania. Paul Connell Charles Sykes/Bravo ; Charles Sykes/Bravo
After several months of dating, Dolores made Connell her official Instagram friend in February. Though the Ireland native initially had trouble adjusting to his girlfriend’s friendly rapport with her ex-husband, Frank noted that the relationship between the two men is starting to improve.
“He’s gotten better, and we’ve spent a much more time together and I think he’s gotten much more comfortable,” Frank told UsFriday. “Any tension that was there before, I feel it’s gone. … When I see him, we hug now.”
Frankie, however, still thinks there’s a bit of a disconnect between his father and Connell. “I don’t know how great he fits in with my dad, and I’m just being honest here,” the Sacred Heart University graduate exclusively told UsFriday. “They both have very manly alpha personalities, you know? So, I don’t think they gel perfectly.”
Despite that “clashing,” though, Frankie believes that the duo will eventually learn how to get along well. “They’re settling the differences,” he explained. “They are both amazing people, so they’re kind of finding their way through that.”
During a RHONJFrank shared with the audience at BravoCon that he and Connell sometimes have dinner together. “He’s a very cool guy, he’s nice, he’s very manly,” Frank explained. “Even though he’s from Ireland, he reminds me of the kind of guys I grew up with.”
When fans noticed that Dolores was wearing a large ring on her left hand, though, she was quick to clarify that it wasn’t an engagement ring. “I’m gonna switch it!” the reality star joked, adding that people had been asking her about it all weekend.
Christina Garibaldi reporting
