The arrest of Jen Shah rocked the world of housewives. And seeing it play out on camera during this season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City was a first. As a viewer, I have often wondered why certain housewives would go on a reality show. Especially if they allegedly have something so big to hide. But Jen has maintained that she is innocent of the charges of fraud and money laundering. And she has fought hard to get her case thrown out after a Hulu documentary on her aired. She claimed that it would ruin her chance at a fair trial. The judge disagreed stating they found no evidence of such and denied the motion.
To make matters worse, her former assistant, Stuart Smith, was also charged in the case. “Stu Chains” was featured on RHOSLC interacting heavily with Jen and her business. The charges against him carried an up to 30 year prison sentence. He ultimately changed his plea to guilty and rumors of him “turning” on Jen began to circulate.
Jen and her lawyers are now trying a different tactic with her case. She’s trying to get footage of her on RHOSLC inadmissible in her hearing. Court documents obtained by Radar Online show Jen’s attorney asking that the court prohibit any Bravo footage.
They also want to block any statements from alleged co-conspirators. Like Stu Chains. Jen’s motion claimed, “The Housewives franchise is part of the ‘reality TV’ genre, which is defined as TV made from ordinary people ‘playing’ themselves in a TV show.” She is therefore opposing “the use in evidence of any clips from the RHOSLC.”
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Jen’s argument is that the characters on these shows “stand to make enormous sums of money if they are successful.” She also asserts that the cast makes more money for each season they are on. And she joined the show as an opportunity to advertise her fashion business. Maybe I’m mistaken but at this point, I don’t even remember her having a fashion business. Was it shoes? Help me out in the comments, please.
But Jen full admitted that the cast has good reason to exaggerate their lives when it comes to being on the show. Her attorney wrote, “The women and their lives are both real and fake and it is impossible to tell where reality ends and fantasy and outright deception and fakery begins.”
She’s also arguing that the RHOSLC producers orchestrate the storylines and “the actual episodes of Housewives, those that are seen on TV, are highly edited and crafted through post-production.” Which I think any viewer could have told you. Finally, Jen asked to block the accusation that she directed Stuart to lie during a deposition.
RELATED: Jen Shah Shares Post Asking Fans To Pressure President Joe Biden To Pardon Jen From Fraud Allegations
Regardless of whether or not her motion is granted, it looks like Jen has a long legal road ahead of her. Will cameras be there to see it all play out?
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JEN’S REQUEST TO GET BRAVO FOOTAGE BLOCKED? DO YOU THINK IT’S RELEVANT TO HER CASE? DO YOU THINK THE MOTION WILL BE DENIED? WHY DO YOU THINK JEN WENT ON RHOSLC?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
