Heather Gay of ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.'.Photo:Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo via Getty Images

Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo via Getty Images
The mystery ofHeather Gay’s season 3 shiner is finally solved.
After nearly a year of speculation, Heather confirmed it was former HousewifeJen Shahwho gave her a black eye during Tuesday’s season 4 finale ofRHOSLC.
The revelation came during one of the franchise’s most dramatic scenes yet when Heather and costarsLisa Barlow,Meredith MarksandWhitney Roseconfronted rookie Housewife Monica Garcia for her alleged involvement in the Instagram troll account Reality Von Tease.
Heather likened her suspicions of Monica’s behavior to former BFF Jen, who is currentlyserving a five-year prison sentencefor her role in a long-running telemarketing scheme.
“We are friends, and we have been through this b—s— before with Jen,” she exclaimed, adding the women “shut down feelings of doubt” with the ex-Housewife.
“I went on book tour and defended her and took s— for the fact that she gave me a black eye,” Heather said sternly.
Heather Gay during season 3 of ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.'.Bravo

Heather wound up with a black eye on the left side of her face after a late night of partying with castmates Jen andMeredith Marksin San Diego during season 3. At the time, it was unclear exactly how theBad Mormonauthor was injured as Bravo cameras weren’t rolling at the time.
Heather’s mysterious injury remained a topic of conversation throughout last season, and she called the incident “humiliating” during part 1 of the season 3 reunion in January 2023. She also offered no answers about how she got the black eye at the time, despite previously telling cousin and castmateWhitney Rose, “I think we all know what happened, I just think we don’t want to talk about it.”
“I don’t know how I got the black eye,” Heather claimed during last season’s reunion. “I blacked out. I don’t know what happened. … I cannot speak to anything other than I walked to my room and I blacked out and I woke up with a black eye.”
Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo; Chris Haston/Bravo via Getty.

Since the incident aired last year, many speculated that Jen was responsible for Heather’s black eye as the two were partying together late that evening — and she was the first person Heather called the next morning.
“I trusted her the most,” Heather toldAndy Cohenduring the season 3 reunion, adding that she initially wanted Jen’s help creating “a cover story” while she tried to figure out what happened.
“If I knew Jen did that, I would cover it up, but that was not my intention,” Heather continued. “I was blacked out. Anything could’ve happened. I still don’t know how it happened.”
Despite Heather claiming Jen gave her a black eye on the season 4 finale, she didn’t share further details. Jen also has not addressed the incident from prison.
More details about the black eye will, however, be shared during the three-part reunion, with part 1 airing next week.
“Everything changed when she pled guilty,” Heather told PEOPLE in February 2023.
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Part 1 ofTheReal Housewives of Salt Lake Cityreunion airs on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com