How disconnected from reality do you have to be to suggest that people sleeping on concrete are living their best lives? Asking for a friend who just watched Owning Manhattan’s Jade Shenker say the quiet part out loud.
The 30-year-old luxury real estate agent—yes, you read that right, LUXURY real estate—recently made headlines for her absolutely tone-deaf comments about homelessness in New York City. During a street interview posted by TikTok account Ohana NYC, Shenker casually suggested that the city’s homeless population appears to be “pretty comfortable” on the streets. Comfortable. With a capital C and a side of delusion.
But wait, there’s more tea! The same woman defending the comfort levels of people without homes just happens to have a boyfriend footing an $8,000 monthly rent bill. Let that sink in for a moment. While she’s romanticizing cardboard boxes and subway stations, her beau is writing checks that most Americans will never see in their bank accounts.
The internet, naturally, came for her neck and didn’t hold back. Social media erupted with fury as viewers called out her privilege-soaked perspective. Critics pointed out that her comments were not only insensitive but dangerous—perpetuating the myth that homelessness is somehow a lifestyle choice rather than a systemic crisis. News flash: nobody wakes up thinking, “You know what sounds cozy? Sleeping under a bridge in the freezing cold with no access to basic hygiene.”
One Twitter user perfectly captured the vibes: “It’s giving Marie Antoinette energy. If they don’t have homes, let them rent penthouses.” Others questioned whether Shenker has ever actually spoken to someone experiencing homelessness or if her entire worldview is filtered through Birkin bags and doorman buildings.
The Owning Manhattan cast member hasn’t exactly doubled down on her comments, but she also hasn’t issued a genuine apology. Instead, there’s been the usual celebrity non-apology energy—radio silence and hoping everyone moves on to the next scandal.
This whole debacle is a masterclass in wealthy privilege colliding with reality. When your biggest problem is choosing between a penthouse in Manhattan and a Hamptons estate, maybe don’t offer hot takes on homelessness? Just a thought.
What do you think? A) Jade needs a serious reality check and a ride-along with a social worker B) Her comments were taken out of context and people are being too harsh