Andy Cohen Addresses Future of ‘Real Housewives’ Cast

Andy Cohen  said there are no plans to bring back two controversial former cast members to “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.”

 In an interview with Deadline in November 2024, the Bravo host and producer addressed speculation that controversial RHOSLC OG Jen Shah or season 4 cast member Monica Garcia could someday return to the Utah-based franchise.

“I mean, Jen is incarcerated,“ Cohen told the outlet. “I don’t know when she’s getting out, so I think that seems off the table.”

 “I’m a big Monica fan, but I think that’s kind of a conversation for the future,” he added. “We’re in the middle of an incredibly successful season right now, and I wouldn’t want to take away from the great work these women have done who are on the cast by speculating.”

During her third season on RHOSLC, Shah was sentenced to Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, for her role in a nationwide fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims.  Her 6.5-year prison sentence has since been reduced and her expected release date moved up to December 19, 2027, according to E! News.

Garcia appeared in season 4 of RHOSLC. During the finale, she was unmasked as the mastermind of the troll Instagram account  Reality Von Tease.  The other cast members did not feel comfortable filming with Garcia after her identity was revealed, and she was let go after one season.

Andy Cohen Wants Co-Stars Who Are Connected

With the exception of Shah, the OG cast of RHOSLC remains intact with Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, Lisa Barlow, Whitney Rose, and Mary Cosby all on board for season 5. Angie Katsanevas is also a cast member. Newcomers Bronwyn Newport, Britani Bateman, and Meili Workman also joined season 5, the latter two as “friends” of the Housewives.

Cohen told Deadline that the secret to RHOSLC’s success is that the cast members have known each other for years. “These women have all known each other a long time,” he said. “Even Bronwyn [Newport], the new housewife, has known Lisa Barlow for 10 years. I think that’s something that’s really important. It’s a connectivity that you can’t fake. There’s an organic backbone to people’s relationships that is essential to the success and longevity of these shows.”

Andy Cohen Has No Interest in Bringing ‘Mormon Wives’ to Bravo

Cohen appears to be happy with the current RHOSLC cast. During a Q&A with Cosmopolitan, he shut down the possibility of bringing in younger stars from the Hulu hit “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” to Bravo.

“I’ve never seen ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’” he admitted. “I can’t really speculate on it. But would I invite one of those women to be a cast member on ‘The Housewives of Salt Lake City?’
No. They’re on their show. We’re on our show. There are enough Mormons for everybody to go around.”