RHOSLC: What Happened To Whitney Rose's Dad?
This article contains mentions of drug addiction.
Whitney Rose might be the best part of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City." That's a real accomplishment, considering that despite its relatively recent start, "RHOSLC" is already a beloved staple of the Bravo universe. What's not to love about Rose? She is a contradiction worthy of any reality show. A devoted Mormon with a stripper pole and giant rose tattoo –- Rose makes for great TV.
Over the years, Rose has had plenty of conflict with her castmates for everything from being accused of being in an open relationship to falling out with and allegedly punching her cousin, fan-favorite Heather Gay. "I've been watching the episodes along with America, and every week it seems like we're digging a deeper, deeper hole to get out of," Gay said during an appearance on the "Getting Real with the Housewives" podcast. "I feel like our friendship just went up in smoke, and I'm not sure how to repair that." Fans still aren't sure what happened between Gay and Rose, and will presumably have to wait until the Season 3 reunion to find out. All Rose will say is that she is taking a "friend break" from the relationship for the time being (via Us Weekly).
It's not just Rose's chaotic friendships that have made her such a fascinating character on the show, though. It is also her family life. In Season 1, Rose delved into her complicated relationship with her father, Steve Lesh – who hasn't been seen since.
Whitney Rose and her dad have a complicated relationship
"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" fans will remember the touching episode in Season 1 when Whitney Rose introduced the audience to her dad, Steve Lesh. Lesh had struggled with substance abuse issues for years, and it was only recently that they reconnected. "There's a moment where I'm with my father and my children, and I'm seeing him interact with them in the way that I knew my dad growing up," Rose told Page Six after Season 1 wrapped.
Lesh has struggled with mental health and substance issues since Rose was a teenager. As she explained in a Season 1 episode, Lesh turned to drugs after her and her mother split. "My parents' marriage started struggling around the time I turned 16 and my mom chose to divorce him," she said (via The U.S. Sun). "My dad became very lonely and turned to prescription drugs to self-medicate." Rose further explained that it was hard for Lesh to get help because of their religion which views addiction as "a consequence of your choices." Rose ultimately paid for her father to go to rehab years later, but it wasn't until he got out of the program that they really reconnected. "It really taught me that when you love someone, everyone's worth fighting for," Rose told Page Six.
As good as the reconciliation looked on camera, it didn't last. According to recent interviews with Rose, she and Lesh haven't spoken in years.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Whitney Rose and her dad don't talk
As promising as their relationship once seemed, Whitney Rose told her fans that she and her father, Steve Lesh, no longer talk during an appearance on the "Two Ts in a Pod" podcast. "I haven't spoke to my father for two years," she said in a September 2022 episode. Rose explained that she'd previously asked Lesh to leave her house as she didn't feel safe having him around her kids. "I had to learn to hold a boundary with him -– for his benefit," she said.
The last Rose heard, Lesh was living in the home of a deceased plastic surgeon whom she suspected of supplying him with pills. "I hear from people around town, they're like, 'Your dad looks so good. He looks healthy. He looks happy,'" she said, though she couldn't confirm as she hadn't personally seen Lesh since her birthday party a few years ago. "He came and saw me for my birthday, and I never saw him again," she said during a 2021 "Watch What Happens Live" appearance. "I saw this going very differently."
While Rose is no longer holding out hope for a relationship with her dad, during her "Two Ts in a Pod" appearance, she is adamant that she is still rooting for him. "It's like you're mourning someone that's still alive," she said. "I hope he's happy. I hope he's content," Rose continued, adding. "His heart is gold, but his mind is dark."