RENEE Graziano is eyeing a shock return to Mob Wives as she successfully battles her addiction nightmare.
The 53-year-old has moved to South Florida to get her life back on track and sat down for a lengthy interview with The U.S. Sun where she admitted feeling better than ever before.
Romain Maurice for The US SunRenee is rebooting her life in Florida – and could make a Mob Wives return if the price is right[/caption]
RexRamona Rizzo, Karen Gravano, Renee Graziano in happier days during Mob Wives[/caption]
Last year, Renee was forced into rehab after years abusing prescription medications finally took their toll.
The Mob Wives star was full of hope and laughter as she spoke about how she got her drug addiction under control.
She was back on home turf in New York this week celebrating the arrival of her son Anthony’s twins.
And although Renee admits she had to leave New York for the sake of her mental health, there is one thing which could see the years sensationally rolled back.
With the smash-hit VH1 show streaming once again, fans are desperate to see more.
But after so much heartache and pain dealing with her family and the fall-out from the controversial reality-show hit, could Renee deal with the anguish and anger for a second time?
“People want it back, it’s streaming again, and I believe there’s a possibility they might bring it back,” she told The U.S. Sun.
“I don’t know if I will join but if it’s being shown again it’s obviously not done, the others are keen to kind of get back in.
“I believe that if the price was right, everybody would. I don’t know if I would because of my mental health.
“I don’t know if I’m sure about it. But the others? Absolutely.”
Renee is still in contact with her fellow Mob Wives and reckon if the price is right, anything could happen.
Karen Gravano starred in ‘Families of the Mafia’ which screened on MTV and bagged a second series while the word coming from the rest of the original cast is positive.
“I just sat with Karen recently,” said Renee.
“I said make me an offer. I can review and then we’ll talk about it. Karen’s doing well. Everybody’s doing their thing. I don’t think they bring everyone back but I think they bring the main people back.”
Mob Wives finished after six rollercoaster seasons in 2016 – but even though Renee would be interested in a reboot, she doesn’t miss the mobster life at all.
With ex-husband Hector Pagan recently released on parole after being sentenced to 11 years in jail for murder in 2014, she needed a fresh start in the Floridian sun.
Her life is vastly different today – but Renee wouldn’t have it any other way.
Yet does she miss anything about being a mob wife?
”I miss my checks being picked up,” she said with a smile.
“I missed those gifts. But no, I don’t miss the prison visits. I don’t miss the commentary. I don’t miss writing letters all the time. I don’t miss any of it. You know, people talk about the mafia being so glamorous. The only thing glamorous about the mafia would be the furs, the diamonds, the big homes.”
For now, she’s zoned in on improving her mental health and winning her battle with addiction.
Leaving New York was key.
“It’s part of my recovery,” she said when talking about the reasons for her recent move.
“I have two sisters but I don’t get along with my family, there is always drama but I lost my father four years ago and my life changed drastically.
“I just wanted to get away from New York It’s so dark, New York is dark. And COVID destroyed that city.
“I was watching my grandson suffer from it. And now he’s developed anxiety and OCD. I just wanted to escape because I suffer with anxiety and depression and to watch a little boy go through that too?”
Her journey towards sobriety has been rocky but there is light at the end of a very long, treacherous tunnel.
Renee’s interventionist has played a large part in her resurgence although like anyone dragged into the hell of addiction, she never looks too far ahead.
Romain Maurice for The US SunRenee is winning her battle with addiction and with new projects in the works, is hopeful for a brighter future.[/caption]
“I don’t count days. And I do that on purpose because days give me pressure,” she admitted.
“So every day is a new day for me. And I think that’s the best way for me to look at it. But it definitely puts a lot of perspective but there are days that I’d love to self-medicate after watching how horrible the world is.
“I just know I have to keep on keeping on because somebody else is looking at me to do the right thing.
”I was never a drinker, it was more that I just wanted to go to bed. I had a Xanax issue. Back in the day sure, I partied with cocaine and champagne, but it became Xanax after that.
”I wake up every day I hit the floor, I pray and I thank God for another day. And every day further away from that makes me a lot stronger and a lot healthier for somebody else.”
Renee is certainly keeping busy – she has a new memoir in the works and a TV return in ‘The Fairy Mob Mother’ – a feel-good show aimed at helping others.
She’s desperate to give something back to those less fortunate.
“While in recovery, I had the opportunity not too long ago to speak to 167 people in treatment centers,” Renee recalled.
“So to hear the people say that I’ve made a difference in their life, I cried because I don’t even think I can make a difference in my own life.
“To hear other people say that I made a difference it makes me feel that this wasn’t for nothing.
”How do I think I made a difference in their life?
”By just being real, by being open and honest.
“Look, I’m human I f**k up. I fall and get back up. You know, I might make it from here to the bushes and then I might trip.
“But I’m human. And I’m not embarrassed to say it.”
HandoutMob Wives finished in 2016 after six seasons but the show is streaming once again[/caption]
