“THE The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” ancient Jen Shah breaks her silence on reported crimes in her first interview since being released from prison in 2026. During the interview, the outspoken reality star opened up about where she stands with her castmates and the channel’s figurehead, Andy Cohenwho previously implied he wanted nothing to do with her.
What Jen Shah had to say about Andy Cohen’s past comments about never wanting to see her again
Cohen responded years ago to a fan question about the possibility of Shah returning to “RHOSLC” after serving her prison sentence, saying he “never wanted to” see her again, according to The Blast.
Shah, however, doesn’t seem too bothered by his comment. Speaking with PEOPLE, the mother of two said Cohen was allowed to feel whatever he wanted about her.
“Andy is entitled to his opinion,” she said. “And without me being able to speak to him or even being able to speak at that time, people rightly made their own judgments and made their own comments.”
Shah explained that after changing his plea to guilty in 2022, his legal team asked him not to speak to the media. “It was difficult because I wanted to speak out and address the false narratives that were taking on a life of their own,” she said. “But I was told it wasn’t the right time.”
Jen Shah said she didn’t take Cohen’s comments about her future on ‘RHOSLC’ personally
Cohen maintained his stance on Shah’s future on the show during an episode of “Radio Andy.”
“She will not return to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” he said. “I wish her all the best in her next life. I guess she’ll end up on a reality show, but it won’t be something I work on. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see Bravo work with her again. There you go. Can we put a period at the end of that sentence?”
While it’s likely disappointing for her, Shah said she doesn’t take the father of two’s comments personally.
“I don’t really take it to heart,” she said. “Andy has been very professional with me and my team – I know my team spoke to him while I was gone, so I’m just basing my opinions on what my own interaction with him was like.”
Where does Jen Shah stand with her former castmates today?
Shah was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison in 2023 after pleading guilty to being one of the leaders of a nationwide telemarketing scheme that kidnapped thousands of vulnerable and elderly victims, leaving them with nothing.
In prison, Shah said she doesn’t watch “RHOSLC” but her fellow inmates keep her informed about what’s going on. “I got the live recap from everyone,” she said. “It was on all the televisions. I’d be at work or at the library and people would rush over because they’d seen it, so I’d get the synopsis.”
Regarding her relationships with her former co-stars, Whitney Rose, Heather Gay and Angie Katsanevas, Shah said she hopes to pick up where they left off if given the chance.
As for Meredith Marks, Shah praised her for being one of his most “consistent” friends. “While I was gone, her and Seth were contacting Coach and checking in and sending love. So yeah, we talked. I called her while I was gone and talked to her when I got home,” Shah explained.
How did Shah’s sons make her cry while she was in jail?
According to a previous report from The Blast, Shah said she did a lot of self-work while incarcerated. One of the ways she tried to understand how reported crimes affected those close to her was to hear it directly from them.
So, Shah said she asked her sons, Sharieff Jr. and Omar, to write impact letters that she would read aloud during a session.
“I needed to know how I had hurt them,” Shah said. “I needed them to be honest with me and tell me everything. I needed to hear that raw feedback, because that’s the only way to grow and heal. You can’t improve if you don’t know what you did.”
Shah admits his wrongs
Shah also took responsibility for his role in the whole ordeal.
“I made bad decisions. I should have done things differently. I should have been more diligent. And I am deeply remorseful and I am sorry for my actions and for my part. I take full responsibility for them,” she said.