Lisa Barlow said Thursday she was surprised to learn her name dominated conversation in the Season 6 premiere of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City while she was working at the South by Southwest film festival — and she criticized co-star Bronwyn Newport after Newport admitted she lied about buying a $4 million necklace.
Barlow, who did not appear on the show’s opening episode because she was in Austin for two film premieres, told Decider that Newport’s admission — which came after Barlow produced receipts that appeared to contradict Newport’s claims — mirrored a past storyline from Season 4 involving former cast member Monica Garcia. "I think she stole a play from Monica’s playbook," Barlow said, adding that Newport "lied to Andy Cohen’s face," to fit in with the other women.
Newport, who joined RHOSLC last season, initially doubled down on the claim at the reunion, then later acknowledged to cast members that she fabricated the purchase to appear more affluent. The admission prompted Barlow to criticize the effect on the jeweler Newport named, saying the retailer was put in a "precarious situation" after Newport misrepresented the transaction.
Barlow also addressed renewed chatter among the cast about lawsuits tied to her businesses. She said several matters raised by co-stars during the season premiere were "over a decade old" and had been dismissed by courts. "Yes, we’ve been sued. Yes, we own multiple businesses. Yes, that’s a part of doing business. We took it to a court of law and they were dismissed," she told Decider.
The Vida Tequila founder said she was puzzled that private legal history became a focal point on camera and described the discussion as a distraction from personal issues faced by other cast members. She praised Britani Bateman, Heather Gay and Meredith Marks for defending her during the picnic-table conversation depicted on the premiere. "When I was watching it, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is what it feels like to be defended,'" Barlow said of Bateman.
Barlow also pushed back on comparisons between her and former cast member Jen Shah. Angie Katsanevas had suggested a parallel on the show, and Barlow said she viewed the remark as "beneath me," stressing the difference between civil lawsuits and the criminal charges that led to Shah's conviction. "A civil lawsuit is very different than a criminal lawsuit," Barlow said.
In the interview, Barlow discussed other elements of her personal life shown or alluded to on the series. She said she and husband John Barlow have been married 22 years and described their relationship as strong but not without disagreements, citing differences in temperament and privacy. "He’s my person," she said. "We don’t have a perfect marriage, but we have a great marriage."
Barlow also reacted positively to televised praise from comedian John Oliver, who recently cited RHOSLC on his program and urged Andy Cohen to consider bringing Jen Shah back to the franchise after Shah serves her sentence. "Everything John Oliver said was amazing," Barlow said, calling his attention to the show "an honor."
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has continued to draw attention for tensions within the cast, including disputes over business dealings, social status and personal disclosures. The Season 6 premiere depicted a multi-cast RV trip in which the absence of Barlow — who was at SXSW promoting two films — and her subsequent depiction became a storyline, prompting speculation online about contract negotiations and interpersonal dynamics. Barlow denied contract-holdout theories, saying she could not have negotiated such terms and that work obligations kept her from appearing on-camera for portions of the trip.
Producers and cast have routinely revisited earlier seasons’ storylines; Barlow’s reference to Monica Garcia’s Season 4 Louis Vuitton bag storyline underscores the show’s recurring themes of authenticity and social performance among its cast. Barlow said she expects the season to show more of the dismissed legal matters and to further explore the evolving friendships among the women.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo, with new episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock. Barlow’s remarks were made during an interview with Decider published in advance of the Season 6 premiere.