RHONJ: Why Fans Think Luis Ruelas Is Similar To Brooks Ayers
Teresa Giudice is excited to marry her fiancé Luis Ruelas, but fans have been noticing red flags on The Real Housewives Of New Jersey season 12 and comparing the 48-year-old to Brooks Ayers, the ex-boyfriend of The Real Housewives Of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson. Brooks frequently bumped heads with Vicki's daughter Briana Culberson on RHOC, and cast members like Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge weren't impressed by him. While Brooks remained a staple in Vicki's life despite her close friends and family's opposition, the businessman's admission to faking cancer documentation ruined his credibility with Vicki and the Real Housewives series permanently.
Teresa began dating Luis soon after finalizing her divorce from Joe Giudice in 2020. While Bravo fans and cast members have tried to give Luis the benefit of the doubt for the sake of Teresa's happiness, RHONJ season 12 has placed him in a less-than-favorable light. In a video that surfaced in 2021, Luis was seen on a beach talking to someone who seems to be an ex-girlfriend. Surrounded by several other men, this clip left RHONJ viewers surprised and confused.
While Luis' involvement in the clip was regarded as more interestingly problematic than anything, fans' opinions of the man have grown steadily worse over the past few weeks. Since RHONJ season 12 began airing on February 1, viewers have noticed many similarities between Luis and Brooks - and they're not great. For instance, fans on Reddit have pointed out that both Luis and Brooks are known for "love bombing." Considered a form of emotional manipulation, viewers believe that Luis provides Teresa with an abundance of affection and attention in order to influence her decisions. One commenter noted when Luis gifted Teresa with a chartered boat, a saxophone performance, and a scroll for their anniversary. Similarly, Brooks' love bombing included sending a plethora of cards to Vicki.
Another similarity fans have noticed between Luis and Brooks is how defensive the men become when confronted. Whenever Luis doesn't like conversations featured on RHONJ, his initial response is usually to deflect and put the blame on another person. When the wives' husbands asked Luis about a rumor regarding physical violence last week, for example, Luis immediately says that his previous partners were "angry exes" who are "thirsty for attention." Brooks was seen acting the same way on RHOC season 10, particularly when asked about his cancer diagnosis. Some fans claim that this type of behavior from Luis has transferred onto Teresa as Brooks' did with Vicki. While Teresa's fiery attitude has been prevalent on RHONJ, many viewers find it concerning that she so easily defends her fiancé even when backed into a corner.
It's clear that Teresa and Luis have no intentions of calling off their engagement, with Teresa recently revealing that she doesn't plan to make any of the other women bridesmaids - including her sister-in-law Melissa Gorga. With news breaking that Luis is now being sued for alleged illegal practices, the drama will only continue to heat up for this Real Housewives of New Jersey couple. While some viewers hope that the rumors surrounding Luis' treatment and motivations toward Teresa are different than Brooks and Vicki, some think that Teresa's fiancé might only lead to more trouble.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.