Jen Shah Denies Giving Heather Gay a Black Eye, Shares Instagram Post From Prison

Former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah has responded to Heather Gay's claim in the show's Season 4 finale that Shah was the person in question who gave Gay a black eye.

"BRAVO, if i punched Heather in her eye, you guys would have footage to prove it," Shah, who is currently serving her prison sentence at FPC Bryan Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, wrote on her Instagram Story Tuesday night.

"It's clear the show can't live without me since I was brought up at the beginning, middle, and end of season 4," she continued.

Shah then accused Bravo patriarch Andy Cohen of being "butt hurt that I turned down his 1:1 interview," adding: "Why would you sit down with someone who 'gave' another cast member a black eye? Next story."

During Tuesday's Season 4 finale, Gay was one of a few housewives who accused Monica Garcia of being part of an Instagram troll account titled Reality Von Tease. Gay later compared her experience with Garcia to her friendship with Shah.

"We are friends, and we have been through this bullsh-- before with Jen," Gay shouted during the finale. "I went on a book tour and defended her and took sh-- for the fact that she gave me a black eye."

In July 2022, Shah plead guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to 78 months in prison. Her sentence began in February 2023, but has since been reduced by one year, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons' inmate database. 

Shah opened up to The Messenger in July about her experience behind bars. "Daily introspection and self-examination are helping me learn many valuable lessons about how I ended up here," said Shah via email. "I took shortcuts and broke the law. I own and understand my actions created victims. I hurt people and I must reiterate that I blame no one but myself."