5 Shocking Secrets About The Danielle Staub Sex Tape Controversy That Defined Her RHONJ Legacy

Danielle Staub’s name is synonymous with controversy, and no single event has cast a longer shadow over her career than the infamous sex tape. As of late 2025, the decades-old scandal remains a key point of discussion for fans and a defining moment in the history of reality television, specifically for *The Real Housewives of New Jersey* (RHONJ).

The tape, which was released commercially, encapsulates the tumultuous and often dark past that propelled Staub to reality TV stardom. While the footage itself dates back many years, the legal battles, the public fallout, and the continuous on-screen discussions have kept the narrative fresh, making it one of the most talked-about celebrity scandals of the Bravo universe.

Danielle Staub: A Full Biography and Profile

Danielle Staub, born Beverly Ann Merrill, has lived a life marked by dramatic reinventions, legal troubles, and a high-profile reality television career. Her past, which was infamously exposed on RHONJ, is a complex web of aliases and controversies that predate her time on screen.

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• Birth Name: Beverly Ann Merrill
• Also Known As: Angela Minelli, Angela Merrill
• Date of Birth: July 29, 1962
• Place of Birth: Wayne, New Jersey, USA (though some sources cite Athens, Pennsylvania)
• Notable Career: Television personality, author, singer.
• Marital Status: Multiple marriages and engagements, including Kevin Maher, Thomas N. Staub, and Marty Caffrey.
• Children: Two daughters, Jillian and Christine Staub.
• Claim to Fame: Original main cast member on *The Real Housewives of New Jersey* (RHONJ) for seasons 1 and 2, and a "Friend of the Housewives" in later seasons.

Staub's notoriety on the show stemmed directly from revelations about her history, which were detailed in a book that became a central plot point for the entire first season.

1. The Real Story Behind The Controversial 'Cop Without a Badge' Book

The sex tape scandal is inextricably linked to an earlier, even more explosive controversy: the book *Cop Without a Badge*. This tell-all, written by federal informant Kevin Maher—Staub’s ex-husband at the time—allegedly detailed her involvement in drug trafficking, kidnapping, and prostitution when she was known as Beverly Ann Merrill in the 1980s.

The book’s contents were the catalyst for the most iconic moment in RHONJ history. During the Season 1 finale, co-star Teresa Giudice became enraged, famously flipping a table and shouting, "You're a prostitution whore!" at Staub, a direct reference to the book's claims.

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The book provided a roadmap for the public's perception of Staub, framing her past as scandalous and secretive. It was this intense scrutiny that set the stage for the later release of the sex tape, as her life was already a subject of public debate and media frenzy.

2. The Ex-Boyfriend Who Sold The Tape: Stephen Zalewski

The individual responsible for the commercial release of the sex tape was an ex-boyfriend named Stephen "Steve" Zalewski.

Zalewski initially threatened to release the video, claiming that Staub owed him money. In response, Staub successfully obtained a temporary restraining order to block the video's distribution.

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Despite the legal efforts to halt the release, the tape eventually found its way to the public. Zalewski’s actions and the subsequent legal back-and-forth became a dramatic subplot that played out in the media during the height of Staub's RHONJ fame. The tape was reportedly filmed during a private moment between the two, raising serious questions about consent and privacy in the digital age.

3. The Commercial Release and The 'Outsell Kendra' Claim

The tape, which was reportedly a 45-minute video, was acquired and released by the adult entertainment company Hustler. It was distributed commercially through Hustler's platform and on sites like HotMovies.com.

The release was a major media event, leveraging Staub’s newfound celebrity status from reality television. In a move that underscored her willingness to embrace the controversy, Staub made a bold claim about the tape's potential success.

She publicly stated that her tape would outsell the one released by fellow reality star Kendra Wilkinson, suggesting her footage was more explicit and uncensored. This claim further fueled the media circus surrounding the tape, turning a private violation into a public spectacle and a bizarre competition between celebrity sex tapes.

4. The Lasting Impact on Her Reality TV Career

Unlike many celebrity scandals that fade over time, the Danielle Staub sex tape and her past controversies have remained a constant element of her reality TV narrative. The scandal didn't end her career; in many ways, it defined it, providing endless material for the dramatic confrontations that Bravo viewers craved.

The tape and the *Cop Without a Badge* book were the primary weapons used against her by her fellow cast members, including Teresa Giudice, Caroline Manzo, and Jacqueline Laurita. The constant dredging up of her past—including the aliases Beverly Ann Merrill and Angela Minelli—ensured she remained a central, polarizing figure, whether she was a main cast member or a "friend" of the show. The controversy made her one of the most compelling and discussed figures in the *Real Housewives* franchise.

5. The Recent 'Revenge Porn' Accusations

In the years following the tape's release, the conversation around it has shifted, reflecting a broader societal change in how non-consensual sharing of intimate media is viewed. More recently, Staub has used the term "revenge porn" to describe the actions of those who exposed her past.

In a 2020 episode of RHONJ, the topic resurfaced, prompting Staub to accuse the cast of engaging in "revenge porn" by continuously bringing up the tape and the details of her life as Beverly Ann Merrill. This accusation aligns with a modern understanding of the violation, even if the footage was filmed years ago.

This latest context demonstrates that the sex tape is not merely a historical footnote but a living controversy that continues to impact Staub’s life and public image. Her claims of "revenge porn" position her as a victim of a public shaming campaign, a narrative that contrasts sharply with the initial media portrayal and ensures the scandal remains a relevant, if dark, part of her legacy in the world of reality television.