Meredith Marksgave fans a bit of hope forthe future ofThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Thereality series, which is currently airing Season 5, started withJen Shahas part of its cast. Buther downfall was marked with her getting arrestedand sent to jail on camera andwithMonica Garciacoming onthe show to try and air out the dirty laundry of the other wives. While many fans missed Shah’s antics, Marks seemed to think the door was still open for herwhenPEOPLEspoke with herat the Bravo Fan Fest 2024 in Miami.
Shah is currently serving a sentence forher role in a telemarketing scheme. As of this moment, Shah is set to be released in December 2027. That is decidedly some time away from the current season ofThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. But Marks shared that she spoke with Shah on the phone.Previously, Marks,Lisa Barlow,andHeather Gayall said onWatch What Happens Livethat they’d rather haveShah back on the show instead of Garciawhen asked byAndy Cohen. The phone call that Marks had with Shah is reportedly on a new episode of the show.
She shared withPEOPLEthat the call was light. “First of all, it was a 10 minute call — that’s all you’re allowed — and it’s on a recorded line by the government, so I was very careful becauseI didn’t know what I’m supposed to say or not say,” she said. “It was pretty surface. ‘How are you? How are the kids? How’s Sharrieff?’ stuff like that.” She went on to talk about how she was just happy to hear Shah’s voice. “I was just happy to hear her voice again. She sounds like she’s doing well. She sounds like she’s really working on herself. And I was glad to hear that.”
Meredith Marks Thinks Jen Shah’s Accountability Goes a Long Way
The sudden change in the housewives in response to Shah is surprising and according to Marks, it comes down to Shah’s behavior in prison. “Accountability goes a long way in our circle,” Marks said toPEOPLE. “If you say, ‘Look, I screwed up and I made a mistake and I’m sorry’ — that matters.If she’s taking accountabilityand doing what she needs to do to make it better, that’s the best she can do right now. There’s nothing else she can do beyond that.”
She went on to talk about how everyone is human and makes mistakes and that Shah is paying for what she did. “We’re human. We all do things that we’re not proud of that are wrong at times,” Marks said. “This is a big one, obviously; it’s a bad one. But she’s in prison. She’s serving her time.She’s paying restitution.I mean, she’s not earning a ton of money, but she’s doing what she can. And thats all a big price to pay. I don’t know what more you can ask from her.”
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake CItyairs on Bravo and can be streamed on Peacock.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Set against the stunning backdrop of Utah’s mountain ranges, a reality TV series follows a group of affluent women navigating life in Salt Lake City. The show captures their opulent lifestyles, complex relationships, and personal and religious challenges, providing a unique glimpse into how tradition and modernity clash in a tightly-knit community.
Stream on Peacock
