They even flew to New York to show their support to their co-star.
The “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” Jen Shah’s guilty plea to charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing stunned a number of people, including her co-stars Meredith Marks and Heather Gay.
According to information Page Six was able to get, the two were informed of their castmate’s legal strategy shift just before it was made public. Shah even phoned Gay on Monday right before going to court and asked her to call Marks and inform their friend of the changed decision.
They weren’t the only ones taken aback; Whitney Rose and Lisa Barlow were as well. Andy Cohen also talked on Shah’s alteration of plea on his live Sirius XM program “Radio Andy.”
A second insider also informed the publication that Shah had repeatedly assured the other women that she was innocent and that she intended to fight, so her sudden shift in plea surprised everyone.
At the time, Shah also purportedly remarked that most people plead guilty out of fear or financial constraint, but that she could afford to defend her innocence and was going to do so.
As we previously reported, Shah, who had first entered a not guilty plea in response to allegations that she had conspired to conduct wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, has changed her plea to guilty as of Monday in Manhattan federal court.
Bravo executive Cohen then expressed his sympathies for her victims on Tuesday’s broadcast of his radio show while also admitting that he didn’t have time to process the news.
“I’m upset, and I’m especially upset for her victims. I’m upset that she lied for so long and claimed to me that she was an example of someone being wrongly accused.”
“I have a lot of questions for her, and I’m sure the audience, especially those who supported her and stood by her, does too,” the talk show host added. “I really hope to get the opportunity to speak with her and to ask those questions.”
The real housewife consented to surrender $6.5 million, make up to $9.5 million in reparations, and perhaps serve 11 to 14 years’ imprisonment.
Reactions to Jen Shah's Guilty Plea Caught Heather Gay And Meredith Marks Off Guard
What are all these supposedly shocked reactions…I’m pretty sure Bravo predicted (and therefore filmed) this entire storyline.
What are all these supposedly shocked reactions…I’m pretty sure Bravo predicted (and therefore filmed) this entire storyline.
— MinnesotaGirl (@PartyUpNorth) July 14, 2022
Omg wth happened to Heather? Yikes
Omg wth happened to Heather? Yikes
— Tica (@BradBal67018830) July 14, 2022