Heather Gay stood out as a fan favorite on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City early on, but now her supporters are divided about her post-Mormon storyline. She was married for years and was a devoted Mormon. She even admitted to judging those who weren’t a part of her church. However, after her divorce, she started questioning her faith and how to raise her daughters.

In The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 1, Heather’s storyline focused on her devolving relationship with Jen Shah and the beginning of her identity shift. Heather grew into a confident businesswoman who wasn’t afraid to stand up to anyone. Heather’s independence and free-spirited dancing, drinking, and flirtations won her many fans, including the one and only Rihanna.

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The fashion and beauty mogul is now at the helm of the RHOSLC ship and is perceived as being at the center of the group of snowflake-holding housewives. However, this year, Heather seems a little more reserved and focused on her inner conflict over leaving her former religion. Fans are simultaneously fascinated and bored by Heather’s exodus from the church.

Heather Gay Is Processing The Changes

To process these changes, Heather is releasing a book called “Bad Mormon.” She had a slightly uncomfortable sex talk with her daughter Ashley, who assured her that they had plenty in common. With a shared history of conservatism, Ashley wasn’t jumping into anything crazy any time soon. Heather was worried about Ashley having the tools to enjoy a healthy sex life, rather than avoiding sex due to her upbringing. Heather and Ashley also met with Heather’s niece and her husband, who recently left the Mormon church. The couple had concluded that Mormon life wasn’t for them after they had deep discussions about the issue during quarantine.

Heather Is Open About Being An Ex-Mormon

Heather then joked that they would all be relegated to “outer darkness” in the afterlife. Heather explained that this was the tier relegated for deserters of the faith, right below serial killers. While these scenes may be significant developments within Heather’s family, they didn’t entertain all RHOSLC fans. Rahsaan Henderson wrote on Twitter, “Heather is working my gotdamn nerves this season…what happened to fun Heather? All I’ve been seeing this season is Heather, Professor of Mormon Studies.”  See the tweets below:

Another user commented:

RHOSLC Fans Can’t Help Sounding Off

Other Twitter users concurred that it was hard to care about Heather’s Mormon drama, and it seems like she can’t go a second without mentioning it. On the flip side, many RHOSLC fans are fascinated by the insights on the religion, which is considered cult-like by many people. Abbey Miller tweeted, “I feel like I’ll forever be Team @heathergay29 – literal top tier housewife. Not only is she informative about the Morman church, she actually lets us into her life; no matter how hard the topic may be, AND she calls it how she sees it.”

Talking through her life certainly seems to be helping Heather and many fans. Other ex-Mormons agreed. Texashousewife81 replied, “I was raised Mormon but married out of church. I received a lot of guilt and shame because I had too many questions about the religion. This is a rocky road to navigate. You are doing an awesome job.” 

Heather Gay Is An RHOSLC Staple

Heather may be a role model to some, a “Mormon for dummies” handbook for others, and a bore to the rest. Regardless, as Kris Jenner says (to paraphrase), there is no such thing as bad publicity, and she’s certainly got people talking. Heather’s focus on her former faith seems rooted in the inner shame and conflict she’s learning to let go of. Such feelings are something that many people can relate to. Heather seems like a The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City staple who’s in it for the long haul.

Sources: Rahsaan Henderson/Twitter, Abbey Miller /Twitter, Texashousewife81/Twitter

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The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo

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Olivia Landon
(262 Articles Published)

Olivia Landon is a digital creative working in entertainment media and television production. A graduate of Occidental College’s Critical Theory and Social Justice and Media Arts & Culture programs, Olivia believes in entertainment as a springboard for curating intersectional cultures of care. Visit her website https://www.livlandon.media/

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