Andy Cohen grilled for saying he hoped fraudster Jen Shah would get no jail time

Reality TV

He got a taste of his own medicine.

Bravo honcho Andy Cohen was grilled about why he said he hoped “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah would get no jail time — after she pleaded guilty to running a nationwide telemarketing scheme.

“You’re on the record, last November, as saying that you hoped she would get no jail time,” CNN’s Chris Wallace, 75, said to Cohen during a sit-down interview on Sunday.

“And the question I have is: Why would you take her side against the thousands of people she defrauded, including a lot of elderly [people]?”

Wincing as he listened to his own cringe-worthy take, Cohen, 54, tried to explain, “I think I was hoping that she was actually innocent,” but Wallace quickly fired back, “She pleaded guilty!”

Chris Wallace interviewing Andy Cohen
Chris Wallace grilled Andy Cohen about why he said he hoped Jen Shah would get no jail time.
CNN

“That was before she pleaded guilty, I mean, that I said that, I would think?” an uncomfortable Cohen responded.

“No,” Wallace replied, “I think it was after.” Shah changed her plea in July 2022.

Chris Wallace
“Why would you take her side against the thousands of people she defrauded, including a lot of elderly [people]?” Wallace asked.
CNN

“Oh, really?” Cohen said, completely shuddering in embarrassment. “Oh, God. Um, anyway! Wow, this is fun.”

Though the reality television exec claimed he didn’t remember the exact “context” surrounding his comment, he recalled viewers “demanding” to know Shah’s “status” on the show.

Chris Wallace interviewing Andy Cohen
“That was before she pleaded guilty, I mean, that I said that, I would think?” Cohen replied, before Wallace corrected him.
CNN

“And I’m like, ‘It’s up to the judge. She’s about to get sentenced to a lot of jail time,’” he told the “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” host, who reminded his guest that Shah “did something bad.”

“Yes, she did,” Cohen said in agreement. “And so, she should go to jail.”

Andy Cohen
The Bravo honcho recalled viewers “demanding” to know Shah’s “status” on “RHOSLC.”
CNN

“You know, sometimes, if you get to know someone and you get to like them, you hope that they are not guilty of something horrible,” he added.

Shah, 49, did not attend the “RHOSLC” Season 3 reunion, which filmed last month. She was also absent from BravoCon, which took place in October 2022.

Jen Shah leaving court
Shah was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud.
GC Images

When a convention attendee asked Cohen why that was, he answered carefully — and cryptically.

“Once we wrapped [Season 3 and] she pled guilty, I think that was kind of, unfortunately, the end of, you know, the engagement there,” he said at the time.

“But I hope to sit down with her and talk to her at some point on camera because I have a lot of questions for her.”

Jen Shah leaving court
Shah is scheduled to surrender on Feb. 17.
GC Images

Earlier this month, Shah was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison.

Hours later, the mother of two — who was facing a maximum of 14 years behind bars — was seen celebrating with a group of 20 at an Italian hotspot in New York City.

She is scheduled to surrender on Feb. 17.

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