Former Jen Shah stylist Koa Johnson says she was “traumatized” after a 10-month stint with the “Salt Lake City real housewives” star.
On Friday, after Shah’s alleged audio leak scolding the designer, Johnson told Page Six that the incident occurred on November 6, 2020, five days before the premiere of “RHOSLC” season 1.
“It was a very, very stressful time,” said Johnson – who was tasked with designing his outfit for the debut. “I was not sleeping. I was not taking care of myself physically and mentally, but I was still operating with adrenaline ”.
He added: “These were the most traumatic months of my life.”
Although Johnson claims he doesn’t know who leaked the audio, he is happy that someone recorded it.
He also claimed that the incident was actually Shah’s fault because she caused the delivery delays – which she wore in “Watching Andy Cohen live that night” – together.
“There was a delay in the fabric, which was on her part,” he says. “I was hoping that she would transfer all the money to the credit card to be purchased. This process delayed even more. “
Johnson says he finally managed to make the purchase on November 9, but he only had 17 to 20 hours to turn around and make the two-piece suit for her.
During her short stint with the 47-year-old reality show star, Johnson designed about 12 looks for her, including her Biden-Harris dress, cast photo dress and reunion dress.
“I really felt that she was a sister and I was her brother’s type of situation,” he said, adding that the two are descendants of Polynesians. “We came from the same blood, from the same race.”
However, Johnson also claims that Shah forgot to pay him for most of his work, claiming on Instagram that he was last paid “in September, although I continued to work until January”.
“Many of the reasons why I continued to work with her [despite] those circumstances [was] because I really cared about her, ”he told us. “The way we prove it to our brothers or sisters, our people that we admire, is that we do things because we show our love.”
Shah’s representatives did not contact us immediately.
Johnson – who also designed Heather Gay’s meeting dress – says he stopped working for Shah on January 11, after the recording of the “RHOSLC” meeting. The last straw for him was when Shah didn’t shout.
“I see everyone going around saying who they are wearing,” he recalled, “and Heather said to me and then when she went to Jen, I expected her to say the same thing and say my name, but she didn’t and it hurt me . “
He added: “It hurt me a lot because it was the last dress I would make for her in the first season.”
Johnson hopes that talking about what he is supposed to have experienced will help others in similar situations.
“I have to speak my truth and hope that if there is someone working in a hostile work environment, that they will speak up and talk about it,” he said, adding that he wants Shah to see and “take responsibility for his actions.” actions and behaviors. “
“I know this has been a problem during her first season: not taking any responsibility or anything, because I was there for the witness. I really wish her luck in Season 2 – she is going to need it. “