Barlow texts Gay to dispute college acquaintance claims

Old text messages surfaced online as Lisa Barlow challenged Heather Gay’s account of their shared history at Brigham Young University. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member posted a screenshot of their previous correspondence, captioning the image with a demand to stop repeating what she characterized as a lie regarding whether they were acquainted during their college years.

Text exchange contradicts Gay’s narrative

The conflict resurfaced on Wednesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live. During the broadcast, Heather Gay referenced Barlow’s denial of knowing her at BYU while discussing Barlow’s claim that co-stars were jealous of her appearance on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th. This segment was reported by Reality Blurb.

In the screenshots shared by Barlow, she stated she could not wait to “meet [her] in person.” Gay’s side of the conversation included an explanation that her business was rebranding from Visage to Beauty Lab & Laser. Barlow presented this exchange as evidence supporting her position that the two did not know each other while attending college.

Ultimate Girls Trip tensions resurface

On the October 7 edition of Watch What Happens Live, Gay recalled her participation in the third season of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. She noted that the season was filmed in Thailand and released in 2023. “I went on Ultimate Girls Trip. I did Ultimate Girls Trip Thailand season [three]. Obviously, she didn’t know that. She [also said she] didn’t know me in college. So, not surprising,” Gay said.

Gay denied harboring jealousy toward Barlow and described their past friction as resolved. “And Lisa and I are in a great place, and I cannot believe she said that recently. That shocks me and upsets me, actually,” she added. She further claimed Barlow was envious because Gay appeared on the spinoff series first, stating, “We’re through it now. We’re good. She was jealous I went on it first.”

Season one origins of the dispute

The disagreement traces back to RHOSLC Season 1. At that time, Gay asserted they attended college together and had known each other for decades. Barlow has consistently maintained that they met only a few years before filming began, introduced by a mutual friend, and subsequently worked together through Gay’s business.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 7 airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.