According to Jen Shah, former clothing designer Koa Johnson, he was left “traumatized” after a period of ten months with the star “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City”.
On Friday, after alleged audio leaked from Shah complaining to the designer, Johnson told Page Six the incident took place on November 6, 2020, five days before the premiere of ‘RHOSLC’ Season 1.
“It was a very, very stressful time,” said Johnson, who had to design her outfit for the premiere. “I did not sleep. I did not take care of myself physically and mentally, but I was still working on adrenaline. ”
He added: “It was like the most traumatic months of my life.”
Johnson claims he does not know who leaked the audio, but he is glad someone recorded it.
He also claimed that the incident was actually Shah’s fault because she caused the delays in getting the outfit – which she wore that night on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” together.
“There was a delay on the fabric, which was on her side,” he claims. ‘I was waiting for her to transfer all the money to the credit card for the purchase. This process slowed it down even more. ”
Johnson says he was finally able to make the purchase on Nov. 9, but only had 17-20 hours to turn around and make the two-piece suit for her.
During his brief stint with the 47-year-old reality star, Johnson designed about 12 looks for her, including her Biden-Harris dress, her cast and a reunion dress.
“I really felt like she was a sister and I was a kind of situation of her brother,” he said, adding that they were both of Polynesian descent. “We came from the same blood, the same race.”
However, Johnson also claims that Shah failed him for most of his work, and on Instagram claims he was last paid “in September, although I continued until January.”
‘Many of the reasons why I continued with her [despite] those circumstances [was] because I really cared for her, ‘he told us. “How we prove it to our brothers or sisters or our sisters, our people we look up to, is that we do things because we show our love.”
Reps for Shah did not return to us immediately.
Johnson – who also designed Heather Gay’s reunion dress – says he stopped working for Shah on January 11 after recording the “RHOSLC” reunion. The last straw for him was when Shah did not give him a shout.
“I watch everyone go around and say who’s wearing them,” he remembers, “and Heather told me and when it went to Jen, I expected her to say the same thing and say my name, and she did not and it did. hurt me. ”
He added: “It hurt me so much because it was the last dress I would do for her for Season 1.”
Johnson hopes the explanation of what he allegedly experienced will help others in similar situations.
“I have to speak my truth and hope that if there is anyone else working in a hostile work environment, that they will get over it,” he said, adding that he wants Shah to see it and take responsibility. for her actions and behavior. ”
‘I know it was a problem during her season 1 not to take any responsibility or whatever because I was there for the witness. I wish her well for Season 2 – she’s going to need it. ”