Not even the limits of the criminal justice system could stop former “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah from speaking out about the drama that unfolded during the season finale of Bravo’s “RHOSLC.”
Shah, who is currently serving a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for fraud, responded Tuesday to cast member Heather Gay’s claims that she gave Gay his notable black eye during the show’s third season.
Gay had previously told several different stories about how he developed the dark circles, but had maintained until recently that he did not fully remember the events that led to his injury. He now says that he had been hiding the truth in an effort to protect Shah, whom he considered a friend at the time.
“I went on tour to promote my book and defended [Shah] and he took shit for the fact that he gave me a black eye,” Gay said on Tuesday night’s finale.
“BRAVO, if I punched Heather in the eye, you guys would have footage to prove it,” Shah wrote Tuesday in an Instagram Story, rejecting Gay’s claim. “It’s clear that the show can’t live without me as I grew up at the beginning, middle and end of season 4.”
In his online reflections, Shah also said he believed Bravo mega-producer Andy Cohen was “still hurt” by turning down a one-on-one interview with him.
“Why would you sit with someone who ‘gave’ another cast member a black eye? Next story,” Shah wrote.
Cohen responded to Shah’s claims Wednesday on his SiriusXM show, “Andy Cohen Live.”
“Let me point out that I don’t want to be Captain Obvious here, but if we had footage, don’t you think we would have broadcast it?” Cohen reflected on the radio show.
He later said he requested a one-on-one interview with Shah, but that “his stipulations were crazy.” She wanted Cohen’s production team to make a documentary series about her pre-prison days, as well as a considerable amount of money to do the interview, she said.
As for whether he’s still “hurt” after trying to get the interview, Cohen said he’s “over it.”
In July 2022, Shah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He told a judge that in 2012 he began engaging in a massive telemarketing fraud that prosecutors say deceived thousands of people across the country for nearly a decade.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiersten Ann Fletcher said during the 2022 hearing that Shah had participated in a fraudulent scheme from 2012 to 2021 that sold fake services advertised to help people make substantial amounts of money through online businesses.
Shah, who admitted he was aware of the fraud, said: “I knew this was wrong and that a lot of people were harmed, and I am very sorry.”
In January 2023, the 50-year-old was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Before his sentencing, Shah faced between 11 and 14 years in prison. Since then, his release date has been moved up several times, according to Business Insider.
Shah also agreed to pay $6.5 million in restitution and forfeiture when he is released from prison.
Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.
