The Southern Charm Season 11 premiere’s cold open previewed a heated confrontation to come between Craig Conover and Austen Kroll.
The two, along with Shep Rose and Whitney Sudler-Smith, had come together to celebrate Austen’s birthday, but they never even got to the dessert course before the dinner went left. After Shep noted the group’s “ups and downs” in his champagne toast, Austen later raised his glass and announced, “I do love you guys, and it’s always good to have your friends together. But keep your enemies closer, maybe, right?”
A puzzled Craig immediately asked, “Are we enemies?” before the scene cut to a montage of him and Austen arguing during the meal.
“You manipulated me!” Austen accused Craig, before revealing his issues with him drinking.Â
RELATED:Â Shep Rose Reveals Where He Stands With Austen Kroll, Craig Conover & Whitney Sudler-Smith Now
“He just made my drinking problem about him,” Craig fumed. “That is insane, Shep. Austen, nothing I do in my life is about you, buddy.”
As the two continued to clash, Craig repeated to Austen, “You are a different person when you film.”
Referring to Craig as “the liar of all liars,” Austen clapped back, “Coming from you?” to which Craig insisted, “I’m the exact same person on camera. …Â We don’t need to be friends anymore.”
That’s when the episode jumped back two months in time, to begin showing how Craig and Austen would eventually get to that point later on Season 11.
Craig Conover and Austen Kroll open up about their friendship status on Southern Charm
Going back to the beginning, Craig pointed out in Southern Charm‘s Nov. 19 episode that he and Austen had grown closer following their Season 10 drama and his late 2024 split from Paige DeSorbo.
“After the breakup, Austen and Shep were extremely supportive,” Craig told a producer. “It’s just really cool to hang out with my friends again.”
While shopping for a gift to bring to Madison LeCroy’s baby shower, Austen debriefed Shep on a recent Los Angeles getaway he and Craig had taken. During his story, however, Austen revealed some of his friendship concerns, and added in a confessional, “As long as single Craig doesn’t overdo it … then I’m here for this, like, single Craig energy.”
RELATED:Â Go Inside Shep Rose’s Birthday Weekend with Austen Kroll and Craig Conover (PHOTOS)
As Austen put it to Shep, he remained “curious what it’s going to be like, moving forward,” in his friendship with Craig.
How Craig Conover and Austen Kroll’s friendship drama will play out on Southern Charm Season 11
His and Austen’s future isn’t too much of a mystery, though. The official Southern Charm Season 11 announcement, for example, already teased that “long-simmering resentments” between Austen and Craig are about to “reach a new breaking point,” ultimately putting their friendship “on the line.”
Indeed, the Season 11 trailer similarly previewed the drama to come between the two, including a “love triangle,” as Madison described it, involving castmate Salley Carson.
After Craig expressed interest in Salley, the sneak peek also showed some flirty interactions between her and Austen. Eventually, Salley and Austen kissed, in a jaw-dropping scene from the trailer.
The supertease showed plenty more intense moments between Craig and Austen, too. In one scene, the Sewing Down South co-owner declared to Shep, “Austen hates me,” prompting Austen to fire back, “Yes, I do f–kin’ hate you!” Later, Austen also referred to Craig as a “f–kin’ prick.”
Elsewhere, after Craig claimed that Austen told him he was “jealous” of his single relationship status in another fiery dustup, Austen later fumed, “You are a lost soul! You want to be anybody but yourself, and it’s obvious.”
Shep, meanwhile, appeared to be caught in the middle, particularly after Craig brought up a “salacious rumor” to him about someone who “hooked up with Austen.”
As you wait to see how the friendship drama plays out on Southern Charm, get details on Craig and Austen’s latest joint business venture.
