‘RHOSLC’ Star Lisa Barlow Reacts To Bronwyn Newport’s Admission That She Lied About Buying The $4 Million Necklace: “She Stole A Play From Monica’s Playbook”

Lisa Barlow might not have been in the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6 premiere, but she was still the main topic of conversation among her co-stars.

Barlow, who left Season 5 on rocky terms with Bronwyn Newport, Angie Katsanevas, and Whitney Rose, was busy working the South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival when cameras began rolling for Season 6. While she wasn’t there for the first mini cast trip of the season, Barlow’s name was on everyone’s lips as the ladies, Newport included, discussed a number of alleged lawsuits that have been filed against her and her business.

“Bronwyn brought up lawsuits that are over a decade old,” Barlow told Decider. “It’s not like I have five lawsuits right now. 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.”

The Vida Tequila founder felt the speculation was a “distraction” from what Newport was actually going through. Newport, who joined the show last season, came under fire when she claimed to have bought a $4 million necklace. While she doubled down on owning the lavish piece of jewelry at the reunion (despite receipts Barlow brought along to prove otherwise), she ultimately confessed to lying about the lofty purchase to “be cool.” In Barlow’s eyes, however, Newport “stole a play out of” Season 4 star Monica Garcia’s playbook, referring to the scene in which Garcia tearfully spoke about buying a Louis Vuitton purse to fit in with her wealthy co-stars.

“I mean, if Bronwyn wants to go with that narrative, she can explain her Instagram and plethora of other things on how she’s trying to impress not just us, but everybody. So I thought that that was a cop out,” Barlow said. “I think it would have been better if she just said, ‘I lied to Andy Cohen’s face, your face, [and] Nick Viall on Viall Files when I said it’s a dick-measuring competition to say I bought the necklace.'”

When Barlow stopped by Decider’s studio ahead of the Season 6 premiere, she also spoke about her friendship with Britani Bateman, her marriage, and what she thinks about John Oliver being a RHOSLC super-fan. Check out the full interview below.

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DECIDER; You were noticeably absent from the first episode of Season 6. Did it surprise you that you were still the main topic of conversation?

LISA BARLOW: It was weird. I was so surprised. I got one phone call. I was at South by Southwest doing two premieres, one for Ben Affleck’s new film, The Accountant 2, and then Blake Lively’s Another Simple Favor. Both were amazing. So when I got a call, I was like, “Wait, why are they talking about me? This is so weird.” They didn’t show it. But I got a call and I guess they were like, “Britani’s defending you.” And I was like, “Great. That’s amazing. Thank you.” They were like, “Will you solve this?” So, I thought I would be [in the episode]. I was part of the group, too, before they left. So, I was kind of surprised that I wasn’t in anything and that I was the topic of conversation. I was like, “This is ridiculous.”

Photo: Brian Zak / New York Post

There has been a lot of talk about why you weren’t in that first episode. You told the ladies that you had a business obligation. They suggested that you didn’t want to be in a room with Bronwyn. The internet thinks you were holding out on your contract.

No. I saw that online and I know what I can negotiate and what I can’t negotiate, and that’s something I know I can’t. But I thought that was a crazy theory, too. I was working, I’ve always been someone that works since Season 1. I was shown moving a chair, but I do a lot of really big deal experiential activations. And for me, this felt important for me to get back to feeling like me. These are the things that make me, me. I’m a true [Sagitarious]. I like to be busy. I define myself by my accomplishments. So, it felt good to be doing something like two premieres in Austin instead of being in an RV. I didn’t miss out. 

The gossip about your whereabouts started from the moment everyone got together in the RV, and Britani really went to bat for you. When did you guys become so close? Was there a certain moment when you realized she was a true friend?

I get Britani and I do think she was being a great friend. I’ve never had that before, so that felt amazing. When I was watching it, I was like, “Oh, my gosh, this is what it feels like to be defended. I love this.” I thought it was so awesome of her to do that when I wasn’t there. Britani and I share some mutual friends from college and they speak so highly of her, how smart she is and what a great person she is. So I think I just felt a little more endeared to her because people I love love her. I think that helped. Britani and I go on a journey this season, but I think not being there and having someone defend me felt amazing. I’ve seen her do it for others too. So that was really cool. 

The conversation continued into the trip. How do you think Heather and Meredith did defending you at the picnic table? 

I think Heather did a great job, too. Heather and I worked really hard on our friendship. I don’t even know if it’s work, but we’ve evolved in our friendship, so I felt like that was so cool to watch Heather have my back, too. And Meredith too. Meredith and I have a serious friendship. So, even if she’s quiet, I know she’s got me. I feel like Meredith had my back and she made great points. She’s a good friend.

There was a point when Angie K compared you to Jen Shah, and Bronwyn sort of co-signed it by reminding everyone that you had once compared her to Jen Shah. What’s your response to that?

Well, the comment about me being like Jen Shah was even beneath me. I wouldn’t even comment on that. Me calling Bronwyn that, it was just the deviousness. It was the lies that I was referring to. I felt like with Jen, when it wasn’t a legal thing, she was brutally honest about herself, other than the legal situation. Bronwyn was being shady and I felt like I’ve seen that behavior before. That’s my comparison. I mean, she flat out lied. Like, multiple times.

She admitted in the premiere that she lied about buying the necklace to seem cool.

I don’t think that’s true. I think she stole a play from Monica’s playbook – when Monica actually bought the Louis Vuitton bag and then said she was doing it to fit in. I mean, if Bronwyn wants to go with that narrative, she can explain her Instagram and plethora of other things on how she’s trying to impress not just us, but everybody. So I thought that that was a cop out. I think it would have been better if she just said, “I lied to Andy Cohen’s face, your face, Nick Viall on Viall Files when I said it’s a dick measuring competition to say I bought the necklace.” The big thing there was I introduced her to the jeweler. So when she put the jeweler in the precarious situation she did, the jeweler came to me and was like, “What do I do? I don’t want to affect your relationship with Bronwyn.” She was literally kid-gloving this situation. So, I thought it was nasty what she did to the jeweler, too, which is an amazing jeweler. 

I’m not sure if you saw but John Oliver was recently singing the praises of RHOSLC. He also called on Andy Cohen to bring back Jen Shah once she’s out of prison. What did you think of that?

Everything John Oliver said was amazing. His enthusiasm? I died. He’s just so important to culture. To have him love our show so much and to know who we are, I think it totally had me taken aback in the best way possible. I think he’s hilarious. We all know he’s so funny, but it made me feel so good. He’s so iconic, and “icon” is so overused, but he is both of those. I was like, “Oh, my gosh, he said my name.” I died. It was unbelievable. And his enthusiasm! I was excited watching him talk about our show.

Photo: Getty Images

You and Whitney have also had your troubles. Toward the end of the episode, she opened up about having a failed business, but segued the conversation into wanting you to be open about your businesses and anything you might’ve been going through so you can lean on the other women. What was your reaction to hearing that?

I mean, it’s kind of ridiculous. I have the team I need to rely on and that’s my legal team. Bronwyn brought up lawsuits that are over a decade old. It’s not like I have five lawsuits right now. 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. The judge stamped on it. You’ll see more of that this season. But for me to lean on anybody else other than a legal team – I wasn’t worried about it. I say over and over again, like, if I’m worried about something, I’ll talk to you guys about it. But these aren’t things I’m worried about. They’re dismissed. They’re done. They’re gone. Some in the matter of hours. For me, I’m like, “I don’t feel like this is a big deal. Why do you guys feel like it’s a big deal?” 

I feel for Whitney and Bronwyn both. I feel like it was a distraction from their real situations and what they’re going through. You want to be really honest? Focus on yourself. I’ve never brought up their businesses in a negative way. I’ve never talked salaciously about them when it comes to what they’re trying to create. I never get accolades for the things I do, like selling businesses, opening new ones. I have a great new lounge in Park City on Main Street. I’ve done a ton of really cool things in my life, and so trying to demean that by saying things like, “Oh, Lisa’s been sued,” yes, I’ve been sued. I’ll probably be sued again. It’s part of doing business. I feel like the fact that they thought this was like some big boom or salacious thing was kind of gross. What did you do there? Remind everyone that they’re dismissed and that should be in everyone’s legal vocabulary? Dismissed. It’s a good thing, just like in SEC filing is great. It was disappointing to watch. Why would I confide in people that would do this behind my back? I thought it was really sad. For them. Like, I’m not worried about it. You guys shouldn’t be either. The only one with a law degree is Meredith. And she made great points.

There’s so much that’s talked about in the first episode. Is there anything else that you feel is important to clear up? 

Angie brought up Jen. Jen had criminal charges against her, which someone else has criminal charges against them. Not me. A civil lawsuit is very different than a criminal lawsuit. There’s different evidentiary support that has to be provided. With a criminal case, that has to be much higher and different to even bring criminal claims to a person. Ours were civil. We run multiple businesses. We own a lot. We’ve accomplished a lot. Thinking that bringing up lawsuits would take away from that? No, we’re still amazing. Thank you. 

I want to talk about that trailer. I think you have the most beautiful family so it broke my heart to see that there might be some stuff going on between you and John. What can you say about that and how it’s going to play out this season?

John and I have been married for a very long time. Jack will turn 21 this year. We’ve been married for 22 years. Together [for] 24 [years]. We don’t have a perfect marriage, but we have a great marriage and we do have differing opinions. John is very Type-A personality, super smart. He has great ideas. They’re different from mine. It’s just finding places in your marriage where you get to be you 100%, and I get to be me 100%. Sometimes with that, I felt like John has always wanted me to be my best self and to do anything and everything that makes me happy as I want that with him. I think that there’s some times where we’re not on the same page, and it’s from parenting to business. John’s much more private than I am. I’m a [Sagitarrious]. I say everything and want everyone to feel it with me. Throughout our marriage, we’ve been on the same page and different pages. I think that’s part of being a true couple. He’s my life. I will go out holding John Barlow’s hand. Or vice versa. He’s my person. But we do disagree. And sometimes I think that that’s scary. 

I think it’s scary when people don’t ever disagree.

Oh, my gosh. Yeah, that’s weird. I get a little emotional because he is my person and I’m lucky I have such a great partner. I don’t think everyone’s blessed with that. But when you look at that, compared to your relationships with your friends, being on the same page or feeling like your friends are just more trying to hurt you than help you, I think there was a lot of emotions that I felt this year because I’m like, “I feel a little off here and a lot off here.” And I think that that’s super emotional. I’m blessed. I thank God every day I’m with him. I’m blessed. Nowadays, I think it’s an anomaly and rare to find your person. And he is definitely my person. But we are human. There are things that John’s going through at this stage of life. It’s who you are as a person. It’s not about business or anything. It’s just evolving as a human, which is important. You don’t want to stay stagnant. I love 23-year-old me but I don’t want to be her. She’s a lot of fun, though. 

Photo: Getty Images

Well, this version of you is a lot of fun, too! While I have you here, I have to ask about our other favorite Utah show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Taylor Frankie Paul was just announced as the next Bachelorette. What are your thoughts?

Oh, my gosh, I just heard that, like, 15 minutes ago, and I died. Taylor’s very interesting to watch for me. I think she’s so raw. She’s so real. I think it would be hard to be in a relationship, or close friends with her, because of the way she values private information about herself and how she talks about it. It’s amazing to watch. I think it’d be hard to experience. I think she’s going to be an amazing Bachelorette. I think we’re going to get the raw, raw, raw version of everything happening. I think we’re going to get a very truthful synopsis of what’s going on. 

You and Meredith have been friends for years. How did you think Brooks did on Next Gen NYC? 

I did. I love Brooks, and I think it’s so fun to watch Brooks in that capacity, like, 100% himself and who I know he is. Everyone got to see that. I think he is amazing on Next Gen. I think Next Gen was so incredible. Everyone on the show. I think the way they interact and support each other was amazing. 

Is that a path you’d ever encourage for either of your sons if given the opportunity? 

I mean, I don’t like to make decisions for them, especially Jack. Jack’s lived in Columbia for the last two years. He embraced another culture and language. Just having Jack home for two months, Jack is acclimating back to being like our child because we haven’t been parenting him for two years. I think when the time is right, if Jack wanted to do that, I think he’s so dynamic, so smart, so business savvy. Just what he’s accomplished since he’s been home, I’m in awe of him. But I think he’s still figuring out who Jack is. He had a very, very structured life in Columbia. I think just getting back to what makes Jack happy, I think he needs a little bit of time before I would encourage him to do that. I think he needs to figure out him, and feel like Jack again. I mean, he’s adjusted better than I thought he would. But you’re still adjusting and he’s still young. One of the girls that was on Love Island was like, “Oh, my gosh, I love Jack.” And I was like, “Oh, my gosh, that’s so cute.” 

Photo: Getty Images

Which girl?

She may or may not be on my Instagram and she’s so cute. But she was like, “Set me up.” And I was like, “Oh, my gosh, I don’t know if I’m ready for that.” I definitely know Jack is. He’s given his life to God for the last two years. So, it would be a huge adjustment. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.