It turns out that Salley Carson’s drama with Craig Conover on the Southern Charm cast’s Mexico trip did not end their friendship.
Though Salley declared she was “writing [Craig] off” during Season 11, Episode 14, she noted on the Southern Charm After Show that the group’s retreat in the mountains afterward truly was a “healing” experience. “I think Craig was trying hard to connect,” she said.
In fact, that sentiment was true of the cast as a whole, according to Salley.
“I think we all felt, like, really connected to each other,” she elaborated. “I felt very, like, oh, these are my people; this is my family, a little bit. In a, like, f–ked up way, I was like, this is my toxic little family that all fight with each other, but we all know what each other are going through, and we all will always have each other’s back.”
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Salley elaborated, “Like, if something really bad happened, we will all fight for each other, no matter who it is. Like, I believe that with Craig and Austen; I believe that with me and Craig; I believe that with anyone that’s ever had a falling out. Like, you don’t know what you’re in until you’re in this situation, and I feel like we all felt that in that room.”
After several of her castmates weighed in with similar sentiments, Salley concluded, “We all fight. We all talk about each other. We all talk s–t. There’s always gonna be gossip. But, like, at the end of the day, I think we all ride or die for each other. And I really believe that.”
While also reflecting on the healing retreat, Craig, for his part, remarked, “I mean, look, it was really nice, but, like, again, it’s one of those things that, like, we could always be that way.”
Salley Carson reacts to Craig Conover’s behavior in Mexico
After Craig yelled at Salley during their post-dinner van ride back to their resort, she explained on Southern Charm‘s March 4 episode that she was “hurt” and, later, vented to a producer that no one in the group ever “holds him accountable” for his behavior.
While unpacking the drama poolside with Austen Kroll and Rodrigo Reyes the following day, Salley said, “I care about Craig. … When that side of him comes out, I don’t want to be anywhere near it. Because that was the most insane thing I’ve ever seen.”
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When Salley further claimed that Charley Manley was also “disgusted” by the whole scene, Austen chimed in, “I don’t know how you couldn’t be.”
Finally, Salley added in a confessional, “I don’t think Craig is very good at owning up and, like, apologizing for moments like that. I think that he likes to pretend that they never happened, which is not gonna sit well with me.”
Craig Conover explains his behavior toward Salley Carson in Mexico
In the aftermath of his confrontation with Salley, Craig eventually emerged from his room the next afternoon and met Whitney Sudler-Smith for an al fresco lunch. Eventually, Whitney asked Craig about him getting “a bit agitated” the previous night.
“I mean, I’m perfectly imperfect,” Craig replied. “And at the end of the day, like, drinking for 12 hours, you know, probably shouldn’t do that anymore. I don’t like freaking out and getting agitated like I did last night. I f–kin’ hate that about me, which is why it’s a good reminder that there’s always things to improve on.”
In a confessional, he continued, “I could’ve made different choices and didn’t have to react like that, but I’m not gonna, like, beat myself up forever. Oh, I f–ked up once in, like, two years. My bad.”
Whitney, meanwhile, suggested that Craig should apologize, but he responded, “To who?” When he specifically named Salley, Craig said, “It seems like no matter what happens, you can always count on Salley to be, like, right there.”
He went on to clarify, “I genuinely believe that if Salley wasn’t involved, that me and Charley would probably be further along.”
Heading into the Southern Charm Season 11 finale, get even more details on the status of Salley and Craig’s friendship today.
