Jen Shah’s absence from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion forced her co-stars and host Andy Cohen to speculate the hell out of her motives and decisions this past season.
Jen avoided the conversation, and subsequent interview with Andy, in a bid to control the narrative. As if her 15 minutes of fame will outlive her 6.5 year prison sentence.
So the cast was left to speculate about some of the burning issues from Season 3, such as why Jen pleaded guilty in July 2022 after proclaiming her innocence for over a year. And how she financed the entire legal enterprise.
People reported that Heather Gay, Jen’s “ride or die,” was asked to explain Jen’s change in plea. She theorized that the couple were running out of funds to defend her case in the telemarketing and fraud scheme.
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“I really feel like it was financial and they saw something that was like, ‘Listen, it’s not worth rolling the dice because it’s going to be so expensive and if it’s not a clear win, we can’t risk it,” Heather shared. “She said the cost of trial was astronomical. Just to get the transcripts it was $2000 a day and the cost was overwhelming,” she added.
Apparently, Jen and husband Coach Sharrieff Shah begged friends and acquaintances for loans. “They solicited friends for money and a lot of our friends gave them money,” Heather said. “I did not give them money but I know people on this couch did.” She clarified her remark, adding, “Not right now.”
Lisa Barlow revealed that she and John Barlow were approached by the Shahs. “They asked John. They asked me,” Lisa said. “I didn’t because our counsel said we probably shouldn’t, otherwise, I would’ve.”
And what of Jen’s self-proclaimed bestie? Heather also declined to help Jen. “It was very expensive and a lot of people came forward with money,” Heather said of Jen’s financial predicament. “I can’t. I can’t do that to my family.”
The RHOSLC ladies agreed that they felt Jen pleaded guilty to protect Sharrieff.
“I thought about that,” Whitney Rose said. “If that was true, that makes sense. Sharrieff is a lovely person and he’s always so on, right? Sometimes that struck me like it was almost too good to be true,” she added.
Lisa believes Coach Shah must have known about Jen’s dealings. She said, “They have to file taxes together. It’s possible that he had knowledge.”
Whether Coach knew of her telemarketing scam prior to Jen’s March 2021 arrest is unknown. According to Heather, he was meticulously involved in preparing for the court case.
“I don’t know the first thing about their relationship,” she said. “I think that it’s pulling on a thread. I don’t think you could be so supportive if she was implicated because we were there with them and it was like he wanted to read everything,” the Beauty Lab owner added.
Meredith Marks offered Jen tremendous support during Season 3. Almost to the point of fans questioning her motives and/or sanity. During the reunion she proclaimed, “Guilty, innocent, in between, I will always root for the underdog.”
So who will stand by Jen now that she is headed to FPC Bryan Prison in Texas on February 17, 2023? Heather revealed that she will be in contact with Jen and her family in whatever capacity they request. Perhaps even to visit her in prison.
“It depends on where she goes,” Heather said. “I will write her if she wants that and I will look in on [son] Omar and Coach and I don’t know.”
TELL US- WHY DO YOU THINK JEN CHANGED HER PLEA? WOULD YOU LEND JEN MONEY IF SHE WAS YOUR FRIEND? DO YOU THINK HER RHOSLC CO-STARS SHOULD HAVE HELPED MORE? WILL HEATHER STAND BY JEN DURING HER INCARCERATION?
[Photo Credit: Chad Kirkland/Bravo]