After Jaiden's adoption, Rachel's past was exposed when John's ex-wife, Brittany, made allegations about him from her halfway house prison stay in New Jersey. She accused John of banning her from seeing Jaiden.

In DMs shared with All About TRH in August 2023, Brittany also alleged that John is a cocaine dealer and "ruined" her.

When discussing Brittany's comments about her husband, Rachel stressed that Brittany and her have never had a relationship and that “she has not been in the picture for nine years.”

However, she said her newfound fame and additional eyes on her family made the self-described “big family girl” become even more cautious of whom she gives her energy.

“I think that I'm just a little bit more apprehensive,” Rachel said of navigating new friendships. “When I go to the playground with my girls, and someone comes over, and they start talking to ask to have a playdate, I'm just a little bit more apprehensive now my kids are involved.”

“I proceed with caution,” she added. “And actually, in all my friendships, less is more.”

Catch new episodes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bravo on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST.