Dolores Catania officially announced her breakup with her boyfriend days before their planned engagement. “He only loved me for fame…”
Dolores Catania Officially Announced Her Breakup with Boyfriend Days Before Their Planned Engagement: “He Only Loved Me for Fame…”
In a shocking twist that no one saw coming, The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania has officially announced the end of her relationship with boyfriend Paul “Paulie” Connell — just days before what was supposed to be their engagement.
The news broke through an emotional Instagram post late last night, in which Dolores shared a candid photo of herself sitting alone at a restaurant table, once meant for two. The caption read: “Some people come into your life for the wrong reasons. He didn’t love me — he loved the attention. I’m done being a stepping stone for someone else’s fame.”
According to close sources, Dolores had been planning an intimate engagement party this coming weekend with family and fellow RHONJ castmates, unaware that her now-ex was allegedly negotiating behind the scenes for a solo reality TV deal. “She found out through someone in production,” one insider claimed. “It was devastating. She thought he was her future.”
Paulie, who had been a recurring presence on the show over the last two seasons, was seen by fans as supportive — if a bit camera-shy. But according to Dolores, it was all a carefully constructed façade. “He played his part,” she admitted during an exclusive interview with Page Six. “Behind closed doors, it was different. He was distant, secretive, and constantly calculating how things would look on screen.”
The breakup comes as a major blow to fans who had hoped Dolores — long considered one of the most grounded and genuine Housewives — had finally found lasting happiness. Many rallied around her on social media, flooding her comment section with support. “You deserve someone who loves you, not your platform,” one fan wrote.
But Dolores isn’t looking back. “I’ve survived worse,” she said. “I was married to Frank Catania, for crying out loud.” (A statement that even Frank, her famously unfiltered ex-husband and current BFF, reposted with a laughing emoji.)
Dolores also hinted that this breakup will play a major role in the upcoming season of RHONJ, which is currently filming. “You’ll see it all,” she promised. “The lies, the heartbreak, and how I rise from it. I’m not here to be anyone’s stepping stone.”
Meanwhile, Paulie has remained tight-lipped, declining interview requests and reportedly retreating from social media following the backlash.
Whether viewers see him return to the franchise in any capacity remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: Dolores is done with men who chase clout over commitment. And if her breakup proves anything, it’s that in the world of Real Housewives, the drama never stops — even when the cameras aren’t rolling.
