Teresa Giudice Quits ‘Special Forces’ as Gia Giudice Bravely Pushes Through Tears

The latest episode of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” put Bravo star Teresa Giudice and her daughter Gia Giudice through grueling physical challenges that tested their endurance and emotional limits.

Teresa Giudice Bows Out of ‘Special Forces’

On the Oct. 2 broadcast of the Fox series, Gia, 24, supported her mother during a dam climb when Teresa, 53, struggled to catch her breath.

“I’m always in protect mode. I was 13 when my mom went to prison,” Gia said, recalling Teresa’s 2014 incarceration for fraud charges. “I grew up, I didn’t really have a choice.”

The Directing Staff pressed Teresa to either continue or quit. Though she carried on, the following underwater challenge proved even more difficult. Admitting she was “not the best swimmer at all,” Teresa panicked as she tried to escape the submerged vessel.

Gia once again stepped in to help, prompting the staff to caution Teresa: “You need to start taking control of yourself, you can’t always rely on her.”

Gia Giudice Moves Forward on ‘Special Forces’

The tension escalated when recruits were paired off in a fighting drill. Teresa, fearing for Gia’s safety, removed her armband and left the competition. “I can’t see you fight,” Teresa told her daughter. “I’m not a quitter, but it’s gonna be really hard for me to not be able to step in if she is in a vulnerable position. I just want to protect her.”

Gia admitted the decision shook her. “Part of me wants to go, but then part of me is like don’t do that,” she said tearfully, adding, “When people leave, I panic… my family trauma growing up was my parents went away for a little bit. So I think that is my one trigger.”

Despite the emotional toll, Gia chose to remain in the competition after her mother’s exit.

Elsewhere in the episode, Jussie Smollett broke down in tears after repeatedly failing an underwater escape drill with fellow recruit Eva Marcille, who required assistance from staff to calm down. Eva later met with a psychologist before being eliminated by the staff, who told her the course was not right for her.

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East also suffered a bloody nose during a fight against Brianna LaPaglia, who was visibly shaken afterward.

“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” continues to push its celebrity recruits to the brink with both physical and psychological trials, airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.