NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Andy Cohen clarified Jen Shah's absence from 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Season 3 reunion. He also discussed his decision to cancel their scheduled one-on-one interview on a podcast last May 18.
In less-than-Shah-mazing news, Jen did not attend the 'RHOSLC' Season 3 reunion "on legal advice," and she was not pleased. Jen, who was sentenced in January for wire fraud, informed her Instagram followers in December last year that the decision was made after talking with Bravo about the issues she would and would not be permitted to discuss during the reunion shooting. "I was clear with Bravo that out of respect for the courts and a standing judicial order, I would not be in a position to discuss anything related to my legal case or sentencing," she added, continuing that the network "found this unsatisfactory and said they expected to discuss this ‘storyline.'" "That expectation has no regard for me or my family’s well-being," Jen wrote. "So under legal advice, I will not be attending reunion."
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'Maybe Howie Mandel would’ve given her a more safe space'
Andy stated in 'Chicks in the Office' podcast that Jen's reason for declining to meet with him wasn't "really true." The 'Watch What Happens Live' host expressed his desire to interview Jen after she pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison in 2022, while the 'RHOSLC' star stated on Instagram that she would not be taking part in the interview due to Bravo's refusal to "remove contractual provisions" that would allow them to "legally make misrepresentations" of her story.
"She released a statement that was not really true about what our negotiations were," Andy said. “What she wanted was, I believe, for us to do a series. She wouldn’t do the interview unless we did a series leading up to her going to jail and following her, which we kinda felt like we had seen. Also, what I wanted was answers," he concluded. "She had lied to me. She had lied to all of her friends. She had lied to everyone. So I wanted to talk to her about what really happened, and she didn’t want to."
"Maybe Howie Mandel would’ve given her a more safe space," he continued.
'Would not allow this portion of my life to be sensationalized'
Jen Shah, star of 'RHOSLC,' refused to speak with Bravo host Andy Cohen about the fallout from her jail sentence. "I will not be doing the 1:1 with Andy Cohen and Bravo," the convicted fraudster stated in a January Instagram post. Jen said she was passing up the opportunity due to the network's stated "unwillingness to remove contractual provisions." The reality star stated that she did not want "misrepresentations" regarding her "story, relating to any and all topics, prior and during the course of my participation” on 'RHOSLC'.
Jen has been a regular on the successful unscripted series since its inception in 2020. Season 3 concluded in January with part one of its reunion, excluding the contentious Bravolebrity. "This specific 1 on 1 interview was not part of my RHOSLC reality TV contract," she stated. "I promised myself and my loving family that I would not allow this portion of my life to be sensationalized or inaccurately conveyed."
Jen also stated that "too many people have been hurt by my actions" and that she has the "inability to control my own narrative." She went on to say, "I would rather remain silent and wait until I am able to accurately share my story than continue having complete lies and misrepresentations about me smeared across headlines." Jen ended her message by promising to speak out in the near future. "You will hear from me," she stated in her letter. "I will share my story and this painful part of my life very soon."
Jen reported to the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas in February 2023 and turned herself in.
