Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone has shared an unusual personal anecdote involving former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah, revealing her deep interest in the reality television figure’s legal saga. Speaking during an interview for W Magazine’s Best Performances Issue 2026, Stone said she once waited outside a New York courthouse for hours in freezing temperatures to witness Shah’s sentencing.
A reality TV moment that drew a Hollywood star
Stone described herself as a “superfan” of Jen Shah, who appeared on three seasons of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She recalled that when Shah was due to be sentenced in New York, she and her younger brother, Spencer Stone, decided to go to the courthouse in person. According to the actress, they stood outside for nearly two hours in the cold, hoping to catch a glimpse of the reality television star.
The 37-year-old actress explained that living in New York made it easy for them to walk to the courthouse. She also reflected on Shah’s dramatic on-screen arrest, calling the moment “wild” and saying it deepened her fascination with the case. Stone’s comments offered a rare glimpse into her interest in pop culture beyond her film career.
Background of the fraud case
Jen Shah pleaded guilty in 2022 to defrauding thousands of people, including elderly and vulnerable victims, through a nationwide telemarketing scheme. The case drew widespread attention due to Shah’s reality television fame and the detailed portrayal of her legal troubles on camera.
In January 2023, a federal court sentenced Shah to six and a half years in prison. She reported to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, the following month. However, after multiple sentence reductions, authorities released Shah in December 2025, after she served approximately three years.
Stone’s story has since sparked online discussion, highlighting how Shah’s case continues to capture public attention well beyond the reality television world.
