Southern Hospitality newcomer Justin Assad put several rumors about his dating life to rest during the second and final part of the Season 4 reunion, including one that his relationship with Charley Manley might have overlapped with the Southern Charm-er’s fling with Craig Conover.
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Southern Hospitality airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
As host Andy Cohen pointed out, Justin had gone from dating Republic bartender Jordyn to getting cozy with a newly single Mia Alario. Then by the end of Season 4, he was talking about marrying Charley. “So things between you and Charley now are strong, right?” Andy asked.
“Yeah, she’s amazing,” Justin responded. “She’s the love of my life. … She’s the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen. It’s just a joy to call her mine.”
RELATED: Justin Addresses Charley’s “Overlap” with Craig in Southern Hospitality Season 4 Reunion Trailer
With that said, the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host gave Justin the opportunity to address speculation that there was “overlap” between Charley talking to Craig and eventually dating him. “No, not at all,” Justin insisted, before referencing previous drama at the Southern Charm Season 11 reunion (more on that below). “It was tough watching that back, knowing that Charley was, like, innocent.”
Leva Bonaparte, meanwhile, backed Justin’s version of events, recalling how Charley and Salley Carson had come into Republic after they’d finished filming Southern Charm. Â “They both were like, ‘Who the hell is that guy? He’s so cute,'” Leva recounted. “I went and told Justin, ‘Go say hi. The girls think you’re cute.’ Lo and behold, 48 hours [later], he’s like, ‘I’m going on a date with Charley.’ And I was like, ‘Well damn, the man moves fast.'”
The “overlap” rumors about Justin Assad, Charley Manley, and Craig Conover, explained
Charley first revealed that she was dating Justin during Part 2 of the Southern Charm reunion, which was filmed on Feb. 4. Because Charley had gone on a couple dates with Craig before ultimately friend-zoning him by the season’s end, Andy asked the Sewing Down South co-founder if he knew Justin.
Craig replied that he would “always say hi” to Justin whenever he came into his and Austen Kroll’s bar, By The Way. He went on to detail how Austen informed him that Charley was “in love” with a new man during a trip to Las Vegas. As Craig claimed, “Charley and I were still, like, hanging out,” at the time.
RELATED: Justin Assad Reveals Charley Manley’s Biggest “Red Flag”
Charley, meanwhile, maintained that she “was not talking to anyone” other than Craig during their fling that played out in Season 11 of their show. Despite her denials, Craig stood by his statement that he had been “strung on” and even “love bombed” by Charley at the beginning of her and Justin’s romance.
Justin Assad revealed that “queerbaiting” claims impacted his relationship with Charley Manley
Back at the more recent Southern Hospitality reunion, Justin also mentioned his relationship with Charley when Andy brought up how some people though he only said he was “30 percent gay” on the show as a way to make a profit on OnlyFans. “What’s your reaction to that?” the WWHL host asked.
“Yeah, queerbaiting… I’m comfortable in my sexuality, OK? That’s the bottom line,” Justin explained. “To get serious about the matter … I objectively like what I like. Now, have I exclusively been with women? Absolutely. If there was a guy, a sweeping fellow that came and took me off my feet and it was perfect in every way, then I would not have any hesitation moving forward with it. It’s sexuality, it’s fluid, you know what I mean?”
Ultimately, the blowback Justin said he’s since experienced has made him “sympathize” with his castmates who identify as being on the “LGBTQ spectrum,” as he put it, specifically shouting out TJ Dinch, Lake Rucker, and Michols Peña. He added that he “can only imagine” the challenges they face in their daily lives.
“Now, being in Charleston is tough,” Justin elaborated. “It is, like, a tough spot. And then, like, I feel like I’ve had to answer to it. And even in my relationship with Charley now…” Before he could finish his sentence, Bradley Carter chimed in to say, “It shouldn’t be that big of a deal,” while Joe Bradley supportively added, “We shouldn’t even be having to talk about that.”
Now that Southern Hospitality Season 4 has officially come to an end, get more details on Justin and Charley’s relationship today.
