Lisa Barlowisn’t holding back her feelings aboutJen Shah.
The Bravo star, 48, admitted that she felt relieved when Shah, 49, could not take part in season 4 ofThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citybecause she is currently serving afive-year prison sentencefor her role in a long-running telemarketing scheme.
“It was kind of a relief because everything had to be about Jen in the past,” she toldAccess Hollywood. “So, it wasn’t like you were seeing everybody else’s perspectives. It was like acquiescing to Jen.”
Lisa Barlow attends the Vivint Smart Lighting Launch Party on June 13, 2023.Mark Sagliocco/Getty
Mark Sagliocco/Getty
“I hate to say this, but it wasn’t like I missed her,” she continued. “I forgot when we started filming that, like, ‘Hey, Jen used to be a part of this.’ There was so much other stuff going on that you didn’t miss that other element.”
During Tuesday’s premiere episode,Heather Gayadmitted she was doing “surprisingly” fine without Shah, saying, “I feel like a weight is lifted” now that Jen is in prison.
In a confessional, theBad Mormonauthor admitted, “I felt like I couldn’t be honest with Jen. With everything she had going on in her life, the stakes were way too high. It was not a time to talk about our friendship and to work on boundaries.”
She continued, “But now that she is in prison, I feel like I can just shut the door on it and move on.”
Jen Shah and Heather Gay at ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ Reunion.Nicole Weinagart/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
RHOSLCstarWhitney Rosealso opened up about filming without Shah on an episode ofTwo Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judgelast month.
Rose, 36, admitted that “having Jen gone is like a breath of fresh air,” adding, “Honestly, it was so much easier.”
“I think it just felt weird not having her because she’s been an OG,” she explained. “We built the show with her. But I don’t think we missed her in the sense of toxicity — like we were able to all bond in a different way and get to know each other on a deeper level and that was nice. And I don’t know if that’s Jen or if it’s just season four, the dynamics of it.”
Jen Shah.Chris Haston/Bravo via Getty
Despite the change of pace, hostTamra Judgenoted that Shah was “a good character on the show” and “entertaining” for audiences.
“She brought it for sure,” Rose responded. “And I think a lot of people are nervous about not having Jen but we brought it. It’s still everything.”
Shahentered a guilty plealast July after shewas arrestedback in March 2021, along with her assistant Stuart Smith, for their roles ina long-running nationwide telemarketing scheme.
They both originally pled not guilty after they were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Shah’s legal teamattempted to have the charges dismissedin August 2021, but a judge denied the request.
Smithswitched his plea to guiltythat November, and Shah did the same at a hearing in July 2022. During her sentencing in January, she apologized for her actions.
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The Real Housewives of Salt Lake Cityairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com
