Meredith Marks, the 53-year-old jewelry entrepreneur, made an immediate impression on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” for her remarkably composed and clever demeanor. While fellow cast members often embraced dramatic flair, Ms. Marks consistently rose above the fray, famously declaring, “I’m disengaging.”
Initially, viewers, eager for more confrontation, felt her catchphrase was frustrating. However, drama was never in short supply on the show. One former cast member faced prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while another was exposed for running a clandestine online account that targeted other Housewives. Even Ms. Marks’s long-standing friendship with co-star Lisa Barlow dramatically dissolved on camera, yet through it all, she maintained her signature poise.
Her occasional displays of anger became major online sensations, particularly her notable outburst during Season 4. In that memorable moment, she famously threatened to expose “the rumors, the nastiness” concerning another cast member’s husband.
That iconic phrase has now inspired Ms. Marks’s latest endeavor: a party game titled ‘Rumors and Nastiness,’ developed alongside entrepreneur Samantha Topping Gellert. The game draws inspiration from the classic icebreaker, Two Truths and a Lie, and features playful nods to Ms. Marks’s own life. Prompt cards are cleverly presented in caviar tins—a wink to her existing caviar brand—and players can find shot glasses bearing her famed line, ‘I’m disengaging.’ The ultimate victor is crowned by collecting the most faux diamonds.
For Ms. Marks, the game serves as a creative means to strengthen face-to-face connections among friends. She notes, “It’s almost like scheduling interaction,” highlighting the increasingly rare nature of such engagements in today’s world.
In this conversation, edited for clarity and brevity, Ms. Marks delves into her experiences with public scrutiny, discerning the line between playful gossip and genuine nastiness, and the universal importance of knowing when to “disengage”—a lesson applicable as much to a casual dinner party as it is to the intense world of reality television. Fans can catch her as “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” recently premiered its sixth season.
Interviewer: You’ve openly shared your personal challenges on the show, including the loss of your father and family tragedies. How do you draw the line between what you reveal publicly and what you maintain as private?
Meredith Marks: It’s incredibly challenging. When you open up and show vulnerability, it can often feel like a swarm of critics is ready to pounce. However, I find it much simpler to remain authentic and true to myself than to try and keep up with a web of falsehoods. My personal rule is that if a story extends beyond my own experiences and involves others, I become far more cautious and protective.
Interviewer: Your iconic line from the show, “I’m disengaging,” has resonated with many. In your view, what does ‘disengaging’ truly entail?
Meredith Marks: There’s a critical threshold when a situation becomes so tense and confrontational that a peaceful resolution is simply impossible if you persist. At that juncture, stepping back, walking away, and allowing emotions to settle makes it much easier to return later for a productive discussion. To me, that’s the essence of mature conflict resolution, rather than resorting to shouting over one another—though I admit, I’m certainly not immune to that either. I’m definitely not perfect.
Interviewer: Your new game, ‘Rumors and Nastiness,’ is directly inspired by a memorable scene from the show. What motivated you to transform that moment into a playful game?
Meredith Marks: Had we discussed this six years ago, before my reality TV journey began, many rumors would have deeply bothered me. Today, I’ve learned to shrug them off and even find humor in them. I believe a game like this, which playfully satirizes much of that experience, is fantastic. It’s not about undermining anyone or dredging up old grievances. Instead, it’s designed to foster genuine connection and intimacy among friends.
Interviewer: How do you differentiate between benign chatter and comments that escalate into genuine ‘nastiness’?
Meredith Marks: I consider harmless gossip to be about petty matters, quite distinct from targeting someone’s children, marriage, or business. To me, those three areas are extremely sensitive. I’ve been relentlessly attacked in those very areas. While I don’t typically retaliate, you never know—push me far enough, and I will eventually respond.
Interviewer: When accusations of spreading rumors are leveled against you, how do you typically react? Do you hold yourself accountable in such situations?
Meredith Marks: To begin with, I simply don’t engage in the actions they so frequently accuse me of. It’s incredibly frustrating, and at times genuinely upsetting, because the accusations are relentless. Eventually, you reach a point where you become somewhat desensitized to them.
Interviewer: For audiences, there’s always the understanding that reality TV is heavily influenced by editing and constructed narratives. Are there any particular misconceptions about you that you wish to clarify for viewers?
Meredith Marks: Most of what the women on the show claim about me is simply untrue. I’m unsure why I frequently become the target of their attacks. Frankly, once someone repeatedly demonstrates themselves to be untruthful, their words lose all credibility for me. There’s little value in what they have to say.
Meredith Marks: I lead a very fulfilling and joyful life with a wonderful family. I dedicate myself to my work and genuinely love everything I do, regardless of how some of the women on the show might try to portray it otherwise. I simply don’t have the interest, time, or patience to engage in spreading gossip or digging up dirt on them.