When the larger than life reality star, Angela “Big Ang” Raiola died, so did a part of her sister, Janine Detore.
Although Detore admits her sister would have wanted the reality show, VH1’s Mob Wives, to reboot, her message to the show’s creator and other reality stars is “Good luck with your show, but leave my sister out of it,” she said to the Advance.
“My sister, when she was dying, was concerned about her family. She left two children and five grandchildren, and a lot of brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. We have a big family,” said Detore, who is owner of the Country Mouse, a children’s clothing boutique on Forest Avenue in West Brighton.
“That show [Mob Wives] didn’t make my sister; my sister made that show. ..My sister would walk into a room and there would be all eyes on her. That had nothing to do with the show. …And she was always known as Big Ang; again, that wasn’t because of the show,” she added, noting her husband has a new reality show in the works.
Mob Wives creator Jennifer Grazaino and reality star Carla Facciolo told the Advance last week that Big Ang said from her hospital bed that she wanted the show to go on after she was gone.
“Angela will always be a part of my heart, and a part of Mob Wives in spirit. When she was sick, she told me, ‘You better keep going and don’t let anybody stop you. This is your thing; without you I would have never had any of this,'” said Graziano, referring to the Mob Wives reboot announced earlier this month.
However, Detore claims the conversation never happened.
REMEMBERED FOR THE GOOD THINGS
Detore said she would just like her sister to be remembered “for all the good things she did in her life.”
“My sister took in strays, she gave people money and clothes, she took people off the street and gave them food to eat. My mother was the same way. It’s just how we were brought up,” said Detore.
“She looked like this big tough girl, but she wasn’t like that. …She was warm,” she added of her sister.
DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Graziano said it’s “too early” to divulge the particulars of the upcoming reboot, including if it will return to VH1 or be shown on another network. She said that the reboot may have cast members from other boroughs, and the show won’t solely be shot on Staten Island.
“I’m looking to spread it around a little more this time. I’m looking in all five boroughs, as well as the New York surrounding area for cast. And I have some really great interest,” said Graziano.
While much of the original cast are entertaining joining the reboot, Drita D’Avanzo told the Advance in an exclusive interview that she will not be returning to the show.
D’Avanzo, who says she was depicted as “always angry” on the VH1 series, said she will be starring in VH1’s upcoming “Celebrity Shore” alongside former Jersey Shore stars, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “JWoww” Farley.
She also said the show would be amiss to go on without Big Ang.
via sl