Real Housewives of Salt Lake City OG Jen Shah has her eye on a comeback after her prison release. The former Real Housewives star recently updated fans from prison. Jen promised she’ll make a comeback soon.
In a letter on her website, Jen wrote, “I pray that my supporters are SHAHMAZING and doing well. Over the past month, my team has shared with me the many loving messages provided by my supporters.” The former RHOSLC cast member continued, “I am in great spirits and well. The consistent love and admiration from my supporters, my loving family, and my faith keeps me going, as I make it through this rehabilitative journey of coming home soon.” When Jen does come home from prison, will she return to Real Housewives?
What are the odds of Jen Shah returning to RHOSLC?
It’s not unheard of for a Real Housewives star to return to their show after a prison sentence. Real Housewives of New Jersey literally paused production until Teresa Giudice was released from prison. Housewives like Luann de Lesseps and Shannon Beador also returned to their shows after arrests for DUI.
However, Jen has been in prison for much longer than Teresa or Luann. And many Housewives fans will argue her crimes are more serious. After all, she is in prison for defrauding the elderly. We all remember how dramatic the Shah-rest episode was!
Despite being in prison, Jen frequently comes up on her former show. She’s still in contact with Meredith Marks. Castmates like Lisa Barlow still defend her. Lisa even went so far as to say that Bronwyn Newport was “probably worse.” Meanwhile, Heather Gay appears to have complicated feelings after alleging Jen gave her a black eye. Mary Cosby scolded her castmates for defending Jen at last season’s reunion.
Unlike Meredith, Mary said she wouldn’t take a call from Jen. “She tormented us,” Mary argued, adding, “Some people just go too far and she’s one of them. She lied all the way up to the day she couldn’t.” Before she went to prison, Mary also famously told Jen “I pray to God you’re guilty … you’re innocent.”
As of now, Bravo hasn’t completely ruled out a Jen Shah return to RHOSLC. But it’s also far from a guarantee.
How long is Jen Shah’s prison sentence?
Jen’s prison sentence keeps getting reduced. As of now, Jen is coming home from prison on October 4, 2026. That’s only a year and a half away. It’s also her 52nd birthday. Even before that release date was revealed, it was reported that Jen would be home before Thanksgiving 2026.
Jen has been incarcerated since January 2023. Initially, the self-proclaimed Shah-mazing star was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison. When she began her prison sentence, Jen wasn’t scheduled to be released from the clink until 2029.
Considering how often she gets time shaved off her prison sentence, it’s possible that she’ll be out of there before October 2026. Production for the 2025 season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is already well under way. But if Jen comes home earlier in 2026, she could possibly appear on the following RHOSLC season.
Should Jen Shah return to RHOSLC, or should she be gone for good?
It’s not just a question of whether or not Jen could return to RHOSLC. The other question is … should she?
One could argue that Jen served her time and shouldn’t continue to be punished. After all, Mary Cosby returned and became a fan favorite. Even putting aside what she went to prison for, “Should Jen Shah return to RHOSLC?” is still a loaded question.
Jen was responsible for a lot of the early drama that set RHOSLC apart from the other Real Housewives series. However, RHOSLC had its best seasons yet after she left the show. Would Bravo want to mess with perfection by adding someone as unpredictable as Jen back?
There’s also the complicated question of how a Jen return would go over with the entire cast. Obviously, Mary is not on board for a Jen comeback. And Heather’s accusation that Jen gave her the black eye is extremely serious. Would inviting Jen back risk her allegedly harming a castmate again? Should Heather really film with her again? In addition to the black eye, Heather also spoke about the way Jen manipulated them over the years. However, she also seems to have trouble letting go from their close friendship. It’s perhaps the perfect encapsulation of why Jen’s potential return to RHOSLC remains an open debate.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – SHOULD JEN SHAH RETURN TO RHOSLC AFTER HER PRISON RELEASE? WHY OR WHY NOT?
