‘RHOSLC’: Was Jen Shah’s “Internal Bleeding” Lie Actually Brilliant?!

It was one of the most riveting scenes in Real Housewives history, as last night we watched exactly what happened when the feds came for Jen Shah as The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast prepared to depart for their trip to Vail. This, of course, sets in motion the rest of the season as the women search for answers to many questions, but let’s start with one big one.

Why did Jen tell the women that her husband Sharrieff was experiencing “internal bleeding”? And was this move actually…brilliant?

Ok, now let’s back up. Where RHOSLC really succeeded in capturing this highly anticipated moment is that they kept the initial editing as though the women were getting ready for any old trip in a luxury van. We meet poor Kevin the van driver who had no idea what he would be in for that day. We see Heather busting out road trip kits for all the women (adorable), we see Whitney arriving with the shotski (necessary). Hell, even Heather’s trip inside Beauty Lab + Laser to pee before they hit the road was well documented (relatable!). There was nothing ominous about this crisp winter morning. If anything, it was a fun, carefree day!

Then Jen gets dropped off in a pick-up truck, and if you weren’t already glued to the screen, you sure were at this point. One has to wonder if telling Jennie that her elaborate hairstyle took only two hours was her first lie of the day, but it certainly wasn’t the biggest. We watch as she picks up that infamous phone call, and she says, “Hi baby…I need to go to the house?” Knowing what we know now, this is obviously telling. She then has Whitney turn off her mic, heads outside to finish the call, and now the true crime music starts to kick in.

“I have some bad news. I just got a phone call and Sharrieff Senior’s in the hospital, he has internal bleeding so I need to go,” she tells Heather, who is obviously and understandably shocked. But all Jen can provide is, “I don’t know, he had an appointment and he has internal bleeding and they’re not sure if they’re gonna need to do surgery and I don’t really know what’s going on.” She seems highly optimistic (or, again, lying) when she says, “If he’s ok then I can catch a flight or something,” but Heather immediately asks, “I mean, how can he be ok?” She then launches into supportive friend mode as Jen breaks the news to the rest of the group, repeating the lie, giving hugs, and then climbing back into the pick-up truck. I do have a question here, too: how far did the truck get after initially dropping her off? Did it drive away and then come back when she needed a ride out of there? Did it wait in the parking lot? The whereabouts of that vehicle for the few minutes she was in the van is…interesting, is all.

So while the women contemplate not going on the trip, production continues to get set up in the van, and this was truly a fascinating breaking of the fourth wall here as we watched everything play out. It’s…eyebrow-raising to hear Heather laugh about Jen having an entire staff of people at her fingertips that could potentially drive her to the girls’ trip later if all is ok with her family.

Things get really exciting when we see the camera zoom in on the action happening outside the bus window as the police start to swarm. “There’s police and they have handcuffs out,” a producer notes. While Whitney asks, “Is this a prank?” it’s Lisa who says, “Wait, what the fuck is going on?” and even Heather admits, “I’m freaking out.” These women clearly did not know what was happening, but they sure did catch on quickly. “Something’s weird,” Lisa states, as Whitney remembers, “She asked me to turn off her mic.” They start to put the pieces together, with Lisa already knowing this whole thing is not about Sharrieff and that it’s not wise to call Jen at this moment.

So…what was up with the whole “internal bleeding” thing? Well, a few things come to mind, as I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. First, it’s shocking for us as viewers who know the truth about why she left. It was also an interesting part of the equation, considering this season’s teaser didn’t include this moment, so it was surprising, new information to watch. What’s not surprising, however, and is likely part of the reason she has found herself in this situation, is the ease with which she’s able to lie. Who was on the phone? Considering the use of the words “baby” and “home” I would have to guess her husband or son, who likely knew what was happening. Now, who actually tipped the feds off to Jen’s actual location, well I can’t wait to find out.

Did the person on the phone tell her to say it was “internal bleeding”? Did she come up with it on her own at that moment? Either way, the genius part about that as a lie was that it had to be serious enough so that she could leave with minimal questions asked, and she needed to have the women and their sympathy on her side. Check and check. What would’ve happened if she said he had a broken bone instead? There would be a whole lot of questions in the moment, and, were this to not be as serious as it turned out to be, she would have no future proof of a cast or sling. A lie that couldn’t deliver long-term, if you will.

At first, I was angry she would use that lie. You’re in enough hot water as it is, Jen! And if it were anyone else I might consider she used that lie as to not implicate the women but…we know who we’re dealing with her. Imagine if she said, “Whoops, gotta go, the government is coming for me!” Obviously that would not be a good look for her, but wow would I pay to see the women’s faces after that one. While much remains to be seen, one thing is a safe bet: this is probably not the first or the last time we’ll watch Jen Shah tell a lie — but we will be watching.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Sunday at 9 pm ET/PT on Bravo. 

Stream The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Bravo