What's going on with Jennie Nguyen, Salt Lake City's newest 'Real Housewife'?

Jennie Nguyen, Salt Lake City newcomer, won't be stirring up the drama any longer

Jennie Nguyen Salt Lake City, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
(Image credit: Chad Kirkland/Bravo)

Things are upside-down in Utah. 

Jennie Nguyen, Salt Lake City's new Real Housewife, stepped onto the scene by way of a lime-green Lamborghini. However, she quickly met her Bravo demise, seemingly taking away the spotlight from Jen Shah's court case

Curious what happened to the latest Beehive State full-timer? We'll fill you in. 



Was Jennie Nguyen fired?

The reality star came under criticism for her stance on the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd, which she voiced on a now deactivated Facebook page. 

Since those controversial messages resurfaced in early 2022, Nguyen issued a statement on Instagram apologizing for her actions. 

The apology was seemingly not enough for Bravo, as the network announced it was parting ways with the Housewife on January 25, 2022. 

"Bravo has ceased filming with Jennie Nguyen and she will no longer be a cast member of 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,'" part of the statement read. 

Bravo plans to keep an eye on discriminatory behavior going forward, according to the Instagram post. At the time of publication, Nguyen has yet to release a statement about her firing from the show.

Who is Jennie Nguyen, Salt Lake City's newbie?

Nguyen is Vietnam-born, USA-raised, and first came to the states at 7 years old. The married mother of three just sold her medical spa businesses to pursue the role of full-time mom, according to Bravo

However, this tidbit is but one of the reasons to expect drama from Nguyen's storyline. She and her husband are not on the same page about expanding their family, which you can see in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 2 trailer below. (He even goes so far as to suggest he's willing to utilize the help of a sister wife  in order to have more children.)

In terms of her connection with her costars, Nguyen was introduced to the group via cast member Lisa Barlow and has been very vocal about the happenings in the group, a characteristic we've come to expect from most women in the Real Housewives franchise.

Did Jennie Nguyen replace Jen Shah?

Although we will get a glimpse into castmate Jen Shah's arrest and legal turmoil—which the teaser suggests—it seems Nguyen was not replacing Shah on the new RHOSLC season. Some believed she was bumped to full-time status in order to fill Shah's void. 

Wondering what exactly happened with Shah? Well, it ain't pretty. She and her assistant, Stuart Smith, were arrested and accused of operating a telemarketing scheme that allegedly has targeted seniors. She could potentially face up to 50 years in prison. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a press release via the United States Department of Justice: "In actual reality and as alleged, the so-called business opportunities pushed on the victims by Shah, Smith, and their co-conspirators were just fraudulent schemes, motivated by greed, to steal victims’ money. Now, these defendants face time in prison for their alleged crimes."

'Real Housewives Salt Lake City' season 2 trailer

Alleged telemarketing schemes, cult participation and plain 'ol betrayal—the sneak peek at season 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has a little bit of everything. 

We'll be sure to keep you posted as new information unfolds.

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.