He let the air out of her tires on purpose.
Jesse Watters bragged about it on Fox News, told his colleagues the whole story — how he sabotaged the car of the woman who worked for him, a 25-year-old associate producer named Emma DiGiovine, just to manufacture a reason to offer her a ride. She needed help. He was her boss. She got in the car.
That’s how one of cable news’s messiest workplace affairs began. And depending on who you ask, it’s either a charming meet-cute story or a cautionary tale about power dynamics, career-ending decisions, and what happens when you fall in love with a married man who controls your paycheck.
Emma DiGiovine is 34 years old now. She’s married to that same Fox News host, raising two kids in New Jersey, posting wellness tips on Instagram. But before she became Jesse Watters’ second wife — before the scandal, the divorce, the tabloid headlines — she was something else entirely: a professionally trained ballerina who danced at the Metropolitan Opera House before she could drive.
Quick Bio Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emma Christine DiGiovine |
| Known As | Emma Watters (married name) |
| Born | June 1, 1992 (some sources say June 2) |
| Birthplace | Cranford, New Jersey, USA |
| Age (2026) | 34 years old |
| Height | 5’6″ (170 cm) |
| Education | Fairfield University (B.A. Journalism, 2014) |
| High School | Academy of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ |
| Husband | Jesse Watters (m. December 30, 2019) |
| Children | 2 biological (Jesse Bailey Jr., Georgina “Gigi”) |
| Stepchildren | 2 (twin daughters Sophie and Ellie, b. 2011) |
| Siblings | Brother Greg DiGiovine |
| Parents | Mother Janice DiGiovine (former ballerina) |
| Profession | Former TV producer, lifestyle influencer, fitness content creator |
| Former Employers | Fox News (2015-2018), Showtime Networks (intern) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $500,000 – $1 million |
| @emmawatters |
Where She Came From
Cranford, New Jersey isn’t exactly the birthplace of media empires. It’s a quiet suburban town where most people work regular jobs and keep their personal business private. Emma grew up there in the early 1990s with her mother Janice, her father, and her brother Greg.
Her mother had danced professionally as a ballerina, and that background shaped everything that came next. Dance wasn’t just an after-school activity in the DiGiovine household — it was practically a religion. By age five, Emma was enrolled at the New Jersey Ballet, taking classes that most kids her age couldn’t physically handle.
She wasn’t dabbling. She trained six days a week at a Manhattan studio, sacrificing weekends and afternoons while other kids played soccer or went to birthday parties. The discipline required for that level of commitment at such a young age is difficult to overstate.
By fifteen, she’d made it into the Junior Company at New Jersey Ballet. That same year, she performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City with the American Ballet Theatre — one of the most prestigious dance companies in the country. Standing on that stage at age fifteen is the kind of achievement most dancers spend their entire lives chasing.
She danced in The Nutcracker multiple times. She performed in various classical productions. She had the body, the training, the dedication. But somewhere along the way, she made a choice that surprised people who knew her: she walked away from dance and picked up a notebook instead.
The Turn Away From Ballet
High school at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth revealed a different side of her personality. She played field hockey, soccer, and softball — three sports that required entirely different skill sets than ballet. She was athletic in ways that went beyond the studio.
When she graduated in 2010, she headed to Fairfield University in Connecticut to study journalism. Not dance. Not theater. Journalism.
She stayed connected to performance, joining the Fairfield University Dance Ensemble, but it wasn’t her major. She focused on writing, reporting, storytelling. She also got involved in campus life, eventually becoming Marketing Director for the Student Association — a role that required networking skills, organizational ability, and the kind of public-facing confidence she’d developed on stage.
College was also when she entered the modeling world. Between 2012 and 2014, she worked as a fitness model with MSA Models, doing shoots for brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Macy’s. The ballet training gave her the posture and physical discipline that translated well to the runway and photoshoots.
During her sophomore summer, she landed an internship at Showtime Networks in their Public Relations Department, working directly under the VP of entertainment and VP of corporate affairs. That internship was the bridge between her college life and her actual career.
She graduated from Fairfield in 2014 with a journalism degree and immediately started looking for work in television.
Breaking Into Fox News
February 2015. That’s when Emma DiGiovine joined Fox News as a production assistant on a show called Stossel, hosted by libertarian commentator John Stossel. She worked directly as his personal assistant while learning the mechanics of television production.
She was 22 years old, living in New York, working at one of the most-watched cable news networks in America. The hours were brutal. The work was unglamorous. But she was learning fast.
By June 2016, she’d moved over to work on Watters’ World, a weekend show hosted by Jesse Watters — a rising Fox personality known for his man-on-the-street ambush interviews and his unapologetically conservative political takes.
In 2017, she got promoted. Associate Producer. It was a real job with real responsibilities. She coordinated segments, booked guests, managed production schedules. She was good at it.
And that’s when everything went sideways.
The Affair That Ended Everything
Jesse Watters was 39 years old in 2017. He’d been married to Noelle Inguagiato since 2009. They had twin daughters together, Sophie and Ellie, born in 2011. Noelle also worked at Fox News in advertising and hosted a fashion web show for the network.
Emma was 25.
The timeline gets murky here because nobody involved has been fully transparent about when the relationship actually started. What’s confirmed: Noelle filed for divorce in October 2017, citing Jesse’s affair with Emma.
In November 2017, Jesse walked into Fox News’ Chief of Human Resources and reported that he was in a “consensual relationship” with a woman on his staff. That woman was Emma.
Within 24 hours, Fox made a decision. Emma was transferred off Watters’ World and reassigned to The Ingraham Angle, Laura Ingraham’s primetime show. Jesse faced no disciplinary action. He kept his show, kept his rising profile, kept climbing the Fox News ladder.
Emma lasted a few more months. By spring 2018, she’d left the network entirely.
The way Jesse later described pursuing her reveals the power imbalance at play. “You know when I was trying to get Emma to date me,” he told colleagues on air, “first thing I did, I let the air out of her tires. She couldn’t go anywhere. She needed a lift, I said, ‘Hey you need a lift?’ She hopped right in the car.”
He framed it as playful. Charming. But he was her boss. And he was married.
The Public Fallout
Noelle and Jesse’s divorce was finalized in March 2019. The settlement details were kept private, but Noelle was awarded custody of the twin girls. She reverted to her maiden name, Noelle Inguagiato, and disappeared from public life. She hasn’t remarried as of 2026.
Jesse and Emma, meanwhile, started posting photos together almost immediately. They launched a joint Instagram account for their dog, Rookie Watters, in early 2019 — a soft launch of their relationship to the public. By August 25, 2019, they were engaged.
Jesse announced it on social media: “Emma and I would like to announce our engagement! Thanks to all of our family and friends who’ve shown us so much love.”
Emma posted a photo of her engagement ring — a round diamond solitaire surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds, set in platinum.
Two weeks later, she was shopping for a wedding dress.
They got married on December 30, 2019, in Naples, Florida. The guest list included Donald Trump Jr., his fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Trump, and Lara Trump. Jesse’s twin daughters from his first marriage served as flower girls, wearing matching white dresses.
The internet didn’t let it go quietly. When Jesse posted wedding photos, the comments flooded in. “Congratulations on destroying a family.” “Hopefully you can be faithful to wife #2.” “How are we supposed to believe anything you say?”
Life After Fox
Emma left television entirely after leaving Fox News in 2018. She didn’t try to rebuild her career at another network. She didn’t go back to journalism. She pivoted to something completely different: lifestyle content.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she started posting workout videos on Instagram. She shared diet tips, beauty routines, wellness advice. The content gained traction quickly, likely helped by the fact that she was now Jesse Watters’ fiancée and his audience was curious about her.
She launched a subscription-based lifestyle website where she promised tutorials on hair, makeup, and skincare, along with recipes, workout plans, and Q&A sessions with her and Jesse. The website has since shut down, but it represented her first attempt at building an independent brand outside of television.
She also joined the board of Hope Through Education, a nonprofit organization focused on providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged children. It’s a quieter form of public engagement than her Fox News days, but it’s still there.
In December 2020, she hosted a virtual presentation of The Nutcracker for the New Jersey School of Ballet — the same place where she’d trained for over a decade as a child. In the announcement, she wrote: “I was a dancer at @njballet for well over ten years, starting at the age of just five years old. By age fifteen, I was a member of the Junior Company.”
The Children
On April 1, 2021, Emma gave birth to her first child with Jesse: a son named Jesse Bailey Watters Jr. Jesse posted hospital photos on Instagram with the caption: “Emma and I are thrilled to welcome Jesse Bailey Watters, Jr. into our world. He clocked in on April Fools Day, weighing 7lbs 3oz.”
Their second child, a daughter named Georgina “Gigi” Post Watters, arrived on April 17, 2023. The announcement was simpler: “Georgina (‘Gigi’) Post Watters born 6lbs 3oz…welcome to the world!”
Emma is also stepmother to Sophie and Ellie, Jesse’s twin daughters from his first marriage. The girls were 8 years old when Jesse and Emma got married, and they’re teenagers now. Emma occasionally posts about family moments on social media, though she’s careful about how much she shares publicly.
Raising four kids — two biological, two stepchildren — while maintaining a public-facing social media presence is a balancing act she navigates with varying degrees of openness.
The Controversies That Won’t Go Away
In October 2024, Jesse made comments on The Five that reignited criticism of their relationship. He said that if he discovered Emma had secretly voted for Kamala Harris instead of Donald Trump, it would be “the same thing as having an affair.”
“If I found out Emma was going into the voting booth and pulling the lever for Harris, that’s the same thing as having an affair,” he said. “That violates the sanctity of our marriage. What else is she keeping from me? What else has she been lying about?”
The comments were widely mocked online. Critics pointed out the obvious irony: Jesse literally had an affair with Emma while he was married to someone else. Talking about the “sanctity” of his second marriage — the one that began as workplace infidelity — struck many as deeply hypocritical.
Jesse later admitted the story was exaggerated and meant as a joke, but the damage was done.
The relationship will probably always carry the stain of how it started. No matter how many family photos they post, no matter how stable their marriage appears, the origin story is public record. Emma was his employee. He was her boss. He was married with children. She was in her mid-twenties.
Where She Is Right Now
As of 2026, Emma lives in New Jersey with Jesse and their four children. She posts on Instagram under the handle @emmawatters, sharing glimpses of workouts, family outings, and the occasional brand partnership.
She doesn’t work in television anymore. She doesn’t produce news segments or book guests or coordinate shoots. Her career now exists entirely in the digital influencer space — wellness tips, fitness routines, lifestyle content designed for consumption in 15-second Instagram clips.
Her estimated net worth sits somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million, depending on the source. Jesse’s net worth, by comparison, is around $10 million with an annual Fox News salary of approximately $5 million. Their combined financial situation is comfortable, to say the least.
She’s focused on motherhood, according to her social media. She talks about balancing career ambitions with raising young kids. She posts about Pilates, yoga, healthy eating. She doesn’t talk much about her Fox News days.
Conclusion
Emma DiGiovine’s legacy is complicated and probably always will be.
To some people, she’s a cautionary tale about workplace relationships and the real consequences of getting involved with someone in a position of power over you. To others, she’s just a woman who fell in love, made a difficult choice, and built a life anyway.
She traded a promising television career for a relationship that cost her professional credibility. She left Fox News not because she wanted to, but because staying would have been untenable. She became known not for her production work, not for her journalism degree, not for her years of ballet training — but as “the woman Jesse Watters had an affair with.”
That’s the reality of her public persona. Whether or not it’s fair, it’s accurate.
At the same time, she’s managed to carve out a second act. She’s raising four children. She’s building a social media presence that exists independently of Jesse’s career. She’s involved in nonprofit work that doesn’t generate headlines but serves a real purpose.
The question isn’t whether Emma DiGiovine is a good person or a bad person. The question is whether she’ll ever escape the shadow of how her marriage began — and whether she even wants to.
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FAQ
1. How old is Emma DiGiovine?
She’s 34 years old as of 2026. Born June 1, 1992 (some sources list June 2).
2. How did Emma DiGiovine and Jesse Watters meet?
They met at Fox News where Emma worked as an associate producer on Jesse’s show Watters’ World starting in 2016. Their professional relationship turned romantic while Jesse was still married to his first wife.
3. When did Emma DiGiovine and Jesse Watters get married?
December 30, 2019, in Naples, Florida — just nine months after Jesse’s divorce from Noelle was finalized in March 2019.
4. How many children does Emma DiGiovine have?
Two biological children with Jesse: son Jesse Bailey Watters Jr. (born April 1, 2021) and daughter Georgina “Gigi” Post Watters (born April 17, 2023). She’s also stepmother to Jesse’s twin daughters Sophie and Ellie from his first marriage.
5. Did Emma DiGiovine work at Fox News?
Yes. She joined Fox News in February 2015 as a production assistant, became an associate producer on Watters’ World in 2017, then was transferred to The Ingraham Angle after the affair became known. She left Fox entirely by spring 2018.
6. Was Emma DiGiovine a ballerina?
Yes. She trained at New Jersey Ballet for over 10 years starting at age 5, joined the Junior Company at 15, and performed at the Metropolitan Opera House with American Ballet Theatre. She also danced in multiple productions of The Nutcracker.
7. What is Emma DiGiovine’s net worth?
Estimated between $500,000 and $1 million as of 2026, earned through her TV production career and current lifestyle influencer work. Her husband Jesse Watters’ net worth is approximately $10 million.
8. What does Emma DiGiovine do now?
She’s a lifestyle influencer and content creator focused on fitness, wellness, and family life. She had a short-lived subscription lifestyle website and now primarily uses Instagram to share workout routines, beauty tips, and family content.
9. Did Jesse Watters cheat on his first wife with Emma?
Yes. Jesse was married to Noelle Inguagiato when he began his relationship with Emma. Noelle filed for divorce in October 2017 after discovering the affair. Jesse reported the relationship to Fox HR in November 2017.
10. Why did Emma DiGiovine leave Fox News?
After Jesse reported their relationship to HR, Fox transferred Emma from Watters’ World to The Ingraham Angle. She left the network entirely by spring 2018. It’s unclear if this was her decision or the network’s.
11. How much younger is Emma than Jesse Watters?
Emma is 14 years younger than Jesse. She was born in 1992; he was born in 1978. She was 25 when their affair became public; he was 39.
12. What did Jesse Watters say about letting air out of Emma’s tires?
Jesse admitted on Fox News that when he was pursuing Emma, he deliberately let the air out of her car tires so she would need a ride, allowing him to offer her one. He was her boss at the time.
13. Where did Emma DiGiovine go to college?
Fairfield University in Connecticut, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 2014. She was also Marketing Director for the Student Association and performed with the Dance Ensemble.
14. Is Emma DiGiovine on social media?
Yes. Her primary platform is Instagram where she uses the handle @emmawatters. She shares fitness content, family moments, and lifestyle tips.
15. Who was Jesse Watters’ first wife?
Noelle Inguagiato. They married in 2009 and had twin daughters Sophie and Ellie in 2011. Noelle filed for divorce in October 2017 after discovering Jesse’s affair with Emma. The divorce was finalized in March 2019. Noelle has not remarried.