Teresa Giudice is addressing a deeply personal family crisis after newly released police body camera footage captured her claiming that her daughter, Milania Giudice, previously had fentanyl in her system.
According to TMZ, the allegation surfaced in body camera footage from Tampa International Airport, where police responded to an emotional situation involving Teresa, Milania, and Gia Giudice. While speaking with officers inside an elevator, Teresa can be heard saying, “She had fentanyl in her system.” Milania responds by saying she was “laced.”
The fentanyl claim remains an allegation. It is unclear when the alleged exposure happened, whether Milania received medical treatment related to it, what substance she believes she was given, or who allegedly gave it to her.
TMZ releases Body-cam footage from the airport incident between Teresa, Milania, & Gia. 😢 #RHONJ pic.twitter.com/XLCkbXUypi
— JaysRealityBlog Backup (@JaysReality1_) September 28, 2026
Additional footage obtained by TMZ shows Teresa making an emotional plea to her daughter, telling her, “I want to save your life.” Gia is also heard telling Milania that she wants to help her. According to TMZ, Gia told officers that the family had hired a counselor to assist Milania.
Hours after the body camera footage became public Monday, Teresa shifted the focus toward what she described as her daughter’s grief and need for privacy. In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram Stories, Teresa said the family has endured an extraordinarily difficult few months and revealed that Milania has been coping with the deaths of two close friends.
“As a mother, there is nothing more important to me than the health, safety, and well-being of my children,” Teresa wrote. “The past few months have been incredibly difficult for our family, and I feel it is important to say something while also protecting my daughter during an extremely vulnerable time in her life.”
Teresa continued, “Milania has experienced tremendous heartbreak and significant psychological trauma after losing two of her best friends. Grief affects everyone differently, and watching your child try to process that kind of loss is something no parent can ever truly prepare for.”
The reality star made clear that her immediate concern is Milania’s well-being rather than the public discussion surrounding the airport footage.
“Right now, my only focus is my daughter — making sure she is surrounded by love, family, support, and the care she needs,” Teresa wrote. “I understand that because our family has lived much of our lives in the public eye, there will naturally be questions and speculation. But Milania is my daughter before she is anything else. She is a young woman going through an incredibly difficult and deeply personal time, and she deserves the opportunity to heal without every moment of her pain being analyzed publicly.”
Teresa also directly asked the public to give the 20-year-old space.
“I am asking, from one mother to another, and from one family to all of you, to please show Milania compassion and kindness and allow her the privacy she needs right now,” she wrote. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, and support. It means more to our family than you know.”
“At this time, we respectfully ask the media and the public to give Milania and our entire family the privacy and space we need as we navigate this together,” Teresa concluded. “Thank you for your understanding, your compassion, and most importantly, for respecting my daughter during this difficult time.”
The statement follows several days of public scrutiny surrounding what happened at Tampa International Airport. According to a CAD log, police were told that Milania had been experiencing “suicidal thoughts/mental breakdown” and had recently been released from St. Anthony’s Hospital. Tampa International Airport police were called for assistance on September 23 at approximately 2:20 p.m., according to the outlet. An airport spokesperson told TMZ there was no arrest, medical transport, or police report stemming from the airport response.
The dispatch information also referenced a possible Baker Act situation. Under Florida law, a person who meets specific statutory criteria can be taken to a receiving facility for an involuntary mental health examination. A Baker Act examination itself is not a criminal arrest.
Milania’s representative said she was receiving professional support following the incident.
“She is currently surrounded by people who love her and is under the care of professionals who are working with her and her family,” the representative said.
“Milania is deeply loved by her family and friends, and all of us are doing everything we can to support her as she navigates an incredibly difficult time in her life, particularly following the devastating loss of her best friend, Victoria.”
The representative continued, “Milania is a good-hearted and caring young woman who has been going through a very challenging period, and our focus right now is simply on her health, healing, and well-being.”
“In time, she hopes that being open about her experiences may help other young people facing their own struggles, but for now, we ask for compassion and privacy as she and her family continue to navigate this together.”
One of the losses publicly identified was Milania’s longtime friend Victoria Zardoya. According to Us Weekly, a spokesperson for Florida’s District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Zardoya died at age 20 after suffering craniocerebral trauma. Her manner of death was ruled an accident.
Zardoya was injured during a July outing at the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key in Florida. She died on July 27, three days after the fall. Milania later shared childhood memories of her longtime friend on social media as members of the Giudice family mourned her death.
Teresa said Milania has lost two best friends, but her statement did not identify the second friend or provide details about that loss. With questions now surrounding both the fentanyl allegation and the events leading up to the airport encounter, Teresa’s public message is centered on one request: that her daughter be allowed to receive care and process her grief away from further speculation.
