Credit: Chad Kirkland/Bravo
Lisa Barlow compared Erika Jayne to Jen Shah during a recent interview.
Amid the sophomore season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Lisa shared her thoughts about the ladies’ legal scandals before opening up about her relationships with Meredith Marks and Whitney Rose, as well as the cult rumors surrounding Mary Cosby‘s church, during a separate interview.
“They’re both rough,” Lisa told Page Six on October 7. “The victims, if there’s guilt involved, it’s a horrific thing.”
At the end of last year, Erika and her estranged husband, Thomas Girardi, of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, were accused of embezzling millions from his former clients. Then, in March of this year, Jen and her assistant, Stuart Smith, were arrested and accused of running a years-long telemarketing scheme.
“Just from what I’ve seen in the episodes [of RHOBH] that I’ve watched, it’s crazy. I think it’s crazy. The stories that are being told … it’s a lot,” Lisa said of Erika.
Lisa also discussed Jen on the October 6 episode of Access Hollywood’s “Housewives Nightcap,” saying that when it comes to the cast’s decision to stand by her, Jen is “innocent until proven guilty.”
“If there is a guilty verdict, I will 100 percent side with the victims but we need to get there before we start saying who we think is guilty,” she noted.
During the first couple of episodes of RHOSLC, fans watched as Jen battled with Meredith over a series of “liked” posts about Meredith’s son, Brooks Marks, and his sexuality. Looking back at the conversation she forced them to have during the cast’s ice-fishing excursion, Lisa said she felt it was important that her co-stars were able to voice their feelings because she knew they’d never have peace if they continued to sweep the issue under rug.
“The next morning after ice fishing, Meredith called me and literally said, ‘That is the first time I’ve slept in months,’ And so for me, that made everything okay for me,” Lisa recalled.
While many have believed Lisa’s friendship with Jen has had a negative impact on her relationship with Meredith, Lisa said she and Meredith have a “solid friendship” that she keeps “very separate” from her relationship with Jen.
As for the recent “Caterer Gate” scandal on RHOSLC, Lisa admitted she was initially “so excited” to have Angie Harrington join her on the show.
“I was the one that requested [Angie] come on so I was happy,” she admitted.
Unfortunately, that happiness eventually wore off as Whitney suggested Lisa may have encouraged the caterer of Angie’s LGBTQ+ event to cancel on her in retaliation for Whitney and Angie’s newfound friendship (the caterer has since denied this completely).
“That’s hurtful for me because it’s my business, it’s my character. And I would never do that. It’s actually insulting the integrity of the caterers too, that anyone could have influence over them and their business, especially during a pandemic when so many businesses are struggling,” Lisa said.
Luckily, the drama that took place between them actually resulted in some positive progress between her and Whitney.
“The good thing that came out of this is it forces Whitney and I to have conversations. I think this might have been a catalyst for me and Whitney to start having conversations and understanding. Some good things come from this,” she teased.
Also during the interview, Lisa said that when it comes to claims that Mary’s church is actually a cult, “There’s a lot to it.”
RHOSLC Live Viewing – This is also the live viewing thread for tonight’s new episode of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season two, so feel free to comment and chat below as the new episode airs at 9/8c on Bravo.