Shep Rose, Craig Conover, Austin Kroll.
Michelle Watt/Bravo (3)Shep Rose grilled Craig Conover and Austin Kroll during the Southern charm season 10 premiere after ghosting him after his BravoCon hiatus.
“What happened in Las Vegas was very sobering, no pun intended,” Shep, 44, admitted during the Thursday, Dec. 5, Bravo series episode. “Something had to change. I went to Costa Rica for this psychedelic retreat of self-realization and exploration and it was very powerful.
The reality star recalled getting drunk during a blackout BravoCon in November 2023which he had previously addressed during the season 9 Southern charm gatheringaired in January. At the time, Shep said he was “at a crossroads” with his sobriety.
Craig, 35, and Austin, 37, revealed they didn’t attend Shep’s meeting with close friends in Charleston to talk about their drinking problem.
While Craig and Austin told Shep during the reunion that they still love him, Shep admitted in the season 10 premiere that he feels like he’s been left behind by his colleagues.
“After Vegas I contacted Austin and Craig, they kind of pushed me away. I want them to understand how much they hurt me,” Shep said in a confession that was taped in March. “Because when I have a problem for them to say, ‘No thanks,’ it’s beyond anything I’ve ever known about friendship.”
He added: “My relationship with these guysit kept me up many nights and mornings. It was like a lot of anger and pain.
Craig and Austin agreed to go to Shep’s parents’ farm in Boykin, South Carolina, before the Carolina Cup race, to talk about their broken friendship. “I want to reconnect with Shep. I miss her,” Craig told Austin as they drove to the farm together. “We see each other at the gym and it’s pretty surface level. It’s not what it used to be.”
After the boys arrived at Shep’s family home, he settled them in and didn’t mince words about the pain he was feeling. “After Vegas, I was like, ‘I think I’m a little out of control and I don’t know what’s going on inside.’ And if anyone can give help, guidance, support or a rough patch, it’s us, right?” Shep said. “And you did none of that. It hurts more than you will ever know.
Craig noted that Shep’s feelings were “fair,” but pointed out, “What you did in Vegas, you chose to wear yourself out so much to put yourself in that position.” Austin agreed, saying that Shep “was doubled in Charleston,” causing him and Craig to reevaluate their friendship with him.
Shep Rose finally blew up at Austin Kroll during the latest episode of Southern Charm and admitted that he wasn’t cool with Austin kissing his ex-girlfriend Taylor Ann Green. “You can’t change. That’s the problem here, Shep, Austin, 36, told Shep, 43, during the Thursday, Dec. 14, episode of the Bravo series after the two friends (…)
“It was after nobody wanted to talk to me,” Shep said and asked, “Don’t you understand? That’s friendship.”
He reminded Austin that they “talked” two to three times a day before the blackout drama. “Craig, come on, we’ve known each other (for) 10 years,” Shep added, to which Craig replied, “But you’ve influenced my work. You sucked me in.”
Craig told the cameras that he “never closed the door on Shep until BravoCon” because he “instantly saw” that Shep was a “darkened mess” while on stage for their Southern charm panel. “I am a business owner. I can’t relate to Shep’s unhealthy behavior,” Craig admitted.
Austin Kroll, Craig Conover and Shep Rose.
Alan Smith/BravoShep was surprised by Craig’s claims about his actions. “You must be kidding me. The litany of things Craig has done over the years is quite extensive,” Shep said to the cameras. “For Craig to play the victim for my actions, I don’t really like it.”
Back to the table, Austin admitted to Shep that he didn’t know if he was “genuine” about wanting to change after BravoCon or if it was all talk. “At that point, I made a choice,” Austin revealed, saying he told himself, “You have to set a line right now if this is going to be Shep’s behavior.”
Shep admitted, “I just didn’t know I was such a pariah. I mean, this is all news to me,” claiming, “It sounds to me like you don’t see the connections the way I do.”
Craig didn’t agree with the argument that Shep had “slipped up and you should never do it again” to fully support him.
Shep Rose hinted on the latest episode of Southern Charm that she doesn’t know if boyfriend Craig Conover’s long-distance relationship is working. “You are not ‘us’ Craig. You’re the kind of person who gets away with it because your boyfriend lives in New York,” Shep, 43, said during the Thursday, Dec. 7, episode of the Bravo series. (…)
“I heard about some bad nights you had after New York (after the reunion),” Craig said, which Shep admitted was true. “What makes you think I’m a masochist and I’m going to stick around?” Craig asked.
Shep shot back, claiming, “You never stuck around,” but Craig claimed he had “for years.” Shep told Craig that he was “not a charity case,” but wanted Craig to “give some of your journey” to getting sober with him. (Craig stopped drinking alcohol a few years ago, which he says “changed everything” for him.)
“Sometimes you have to get away from people, that’s all,” Craig admitted to Shep, who called his friends over and said “hanging out” would be nice. “Even if this lunch was, ‘This is how we feel and we’re going to take a step back,’ that would be something I would use,” Shep explained.
Season 9 of Southern Charm put a lot of relationships to the test — and not everyone found their way back to being friends. During Part 1 of Season 9 Reunion, which aired on January 11, Taylor Ann Green opened up about former best friend Olivia Flowers’ relationship with Thomas Ravenel. The revelation came after Olivia, (…)
Austin replied: “You’re right,” and Craig admitted they should have told him they were taking a break “instead of just ghosting you.”
Austin later told the cameras, “With Shep, sometimes I’m like, ‘You’re a son of a bitch and you got rid of it,'” noting that he previously had to stop Shep from being arrested on King Street. “But at the same time, I don’t totally agree with how Craig can set boundaries, which is just a hard break.” Austin concluded, “At the end of the day, I love this guy.”
The conversation ended with Shep saying, “Let’s take a break,” and Craig and Austin agreed. Craig then lightens things up by accidentally breaking one of Shep’s chairs.
Before the season premiere, Craig exclusively speaking Us Weekly that Shep’s ups and downs with drinking will be “a big part of this season.” He teased in June, “I think the viewer and us as friends — we’re like family — have a lot to look forward to for Shep’s future.”
Southern charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9pm ET.
