RHOSLC and RHOBH fans noticed that Erika gets a lot more hate than Jen for legal issues, but Jen is officially charged, and Erika is not.
Fans of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills point out that Jen Shah gets less hate than Erika Jayne despite getting charged when Erika has not. Bravo fans have noted that legal troubles are becoming a thriving trend across franchises. From Jen and Erika to Teresa Guidice and Luann De Lesseps, housewives aren’t always friendly with the law. One explanation is the pressure to present an opulent lifestyle on the show and keep up with the Joneses. Erika and Jen want to move forward in life, but time will tell how their legal woes end.
While the trend spans coasts, there are notable differences between Erika and Jen’s legal troubles. Erika’s husband, Tom Girardi, was charged with misappropriating millions of dollars from burn victims and orphans. Jen and her business partner Stuart Smith were charged with fraud in connection to a nationwide telemarketing scam. The notable difference is that Erika is potentially a key witness but was not formally charged with any crimes, a detail the press likes to overlook. Erika’s drama became the undeniable focus of RHOBH, where Jen’s was one of several. Some RHOSLC fans hope Jen's innocent for the sake of the show.
The reasoning behind Erika getting more heat could have a few explanations. One is that the RHOBH cast was a lot more reluctant to share their own drama in season 11 and latched onto Erika’s already public content. In season 2, everyone’s still got a pot to stir on RHOSLC. Another explanation is that Erika’s got a longer tenure as a Housewife and a far more famous husband. The allegations against Tom are also more extensive than those against Jen. With a monumental fortune and a larger-than-life reputation for defending the little guy cemented by the Hollywood classic Erin Brockovich, Erika's flashy lifestyle and tenure on RHOBH was just the cherry on top of a press-worthy scandal. Top Tier Housewives shared her thoughts on Twitter.
Jen, on the other hand, is a smaller fish to fry. There’s been a notable amount of press but still small compared to the amount of scrutiny on Erika. With only one season of RHOSLC under her belt Jen is significantly less famous. Her fall from grace isn’t as far and also not as entertaining. A debut season housewives show will never be as popular as a decade-long show with a castmate that starred on broadway and is a Savage X Fenty ambassadorship. The allegations against Jen though plenty atrocious, also aren’t as complicated. However, it all does seem a bit unfair. Top Tier Housewives tweeted, “Unpopular opinion: Jen Shah gets 1/4 the hate that Erika Jayne does when she’s actually been CHARGED, and Erika has not… #RHOSLC #RHOBH.” Jen's RHOSLC castmates seemed to tiptoe around her whereas the RHOBH cast latched onto Erika and wouldn't let go.
A final explanation for the heat from the Housewives on Erika compared to Jen is that they feel more comfortable making it a Bravo plot, thinking there’s a decent chance she’s innocent. On the other hand, with Jen already charged, there’s a decent chance she could be going to jail. Then again, maybe the RHOBH cast is more ready to pounce than those on RHOSLC, and those religious backstories actually do make for some forgiving hearts. For both women, there’s been both compassion and gossip. Ultimately, the fans and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City will have to leave the final word to the judges and juries.
Sources: Top Tier Housewives/ Twitter
