Ep 7. Growing Up Buttafuoco

Growing Up Buttafuoco is the seventh episode of the 42nd season of the popular news magazine show ABC 20/20. The episode focuses on the lives of Jessica and Paul Buttafuoco, the children of Mary Jo and Joey Buttafuoco, a couple who made headlines in the early 1990s for a scandal involving an affair and a violent attack that left Mary Jo severely injured.

The episode explores the aftermath of the scandal and how it affected the Buttafuoco children as they grew up. Through interviews with Jessica and Paul, as well as their family members and others involved in the case, viewers get a glimpse into the emotional toll of living through a public scandal and how it affected the children's relationships with their parents.

Jessica and Paul share their memories of the event and how it impacted their lives, including the bullying they faced at school and their parents' divorce. They also open up about their strained relationship with their father, who spent time in prison for the attack on Mary Jo, and their complicated feelings towards him.

Throughout the episode, viewers also hear from Mary Jo, who survived the attack but suffered from lifelong disabilities as a result. She shares her perspective on the events and how she's coped with the fallout over the years.

The episode also delves into the media frenzy surrounding the case, including interviews with journalists who covered the story and the impact it had on the Buttafuoco family's privacy. Viewers see the intense scrutiny the family was under and how it affected the children's upbringing.

Overall, Growing Up Buttafuoco offers a compelling look at the aftermath of a high-profile scandal and how it affected the lives of everyone involved, particularly the children. The episode offers a nuanced view of the family's struggles and the complex emotions that come with growing up in the spotlight.