Jen Shah is opening up about one of the most painful chapters tied to her legal case — her relationship with former assistant Stuart Smith.
In a new interview with People, the former star of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” reflected on Smith’s decision to plead guilty and cooperate with authorities — a move she says left her blindsided and deeply shaken.
‘It Was Really Hard’
Shah didn’t hold back when describing her reaction to learning Smith had turned on her.
“It was really hard,” she said. “When I heard Stuart pled guilty, I was so confused. I didn’t know until the government turned over the information for trial that he had turned.”
According to Shah, the lack of communication between the two during that time only added to the shock. Up until that moment, she believed he had simply taken a plea — not that he was actively cooperating against her.
“My attorney said, ‘This is usually what happens. Your co-defendant usually will turn on you,’” she explained. “And I said, ‘Why would he turn on me? We didn’t do these things. I didn’t do these things. He would be lying if he said that.’”
The emotional weight of that realization, she said, was difficult to process.
“It was hard for me to face the fact that somebody so close to me would do that,” Shah continued. “And what makes it the most difficult is the betrayal is based in lies. The betrayal is him not telling me certain things.”
Still, Shah acknowledged her own role in how things unfolded.
“At the end of the day, I should have been diligent and not so trusting. That’s on me. I had to accept that.”
No Contact Since
When asked whether she has spoken to Smith since everything happened, Shah gave a blunt answer: no.
The silence underscores just how fractured their relationship remains following the case that ultimately led to prison time for both.
Smith, who served eight months for his role, was once described as Shah’s “right-hand man,” making the fallout all the more personal.
From Anger to Forgiveness
Despite the betrayal she describes, Shah says her perspective has evolved over time.
“I had so much resentment and so much anger towards Stuart when I went in,” she admitted. “I thought, ‘He ruined my family. How can you do that to another person?’”
But she says doing internal work helped her move forward.
“Through the work I’ve done on myself, I’ve learned to forgive him,” Shah said. “I had to forgive him because I had to let go of that resentment in order for me to move on and heal.”
She added that the forgiveness wasn’t prompted by Smith.
“He didn’t ask for it. But I’ve let it go.”
A Complicated Chapter
Shah’s comments offer a rare, personal glimpse into the emotional aftermath of one of Bravo’s most high-profile legal scandals. While the legal case itself has played out, the interpersonal damage clearly lingers.
And for Shah, the journey forward has meant reconciling both the betrayal she felt and the role she believes she played in trusting the wrong person.
Please STOP. JUST STOP giving this criminal a platform to spread her “Sorry, Not Sorry” BS.