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Southern Charm fans are no strangers to the show’s portrayal of a world dominated by men, where the Peter Pan syndrome is rampant and misogynistic remarks are par for the course. Despite these flaws, viewers are drawn to the show for its depiction of lavish lifestyles, dramatic meltdowns, and bold women like Madison LeCroy who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. However, Austen Kroll, a prominent figure since joining in Season 4, raised eyebrows during the first part of the Season 11 reunion with his hypocritical critique of Salley Carson’s dating history.
Since Season 11’s filming last summer, Kroll and Carson have been caught in a “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic. Kroll initially entered the season in a relationship with Audrey Pratt, yet Carson made her interest in the brewery entrepreneur abundantly clear. Following Kroll’s breakup with Pratt, Carson eagerly pursued him.
The pair shared multiple kisses during a cast trip to Mexico, with Carson openly expressing her attraction to Kroll. By the end of the season finale, it emerged that their connection had continued post-filming, although Kroll downplayed their intensity during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, suggesting things weren’t as “hot and heavy” as Carson had indicated in her media appearances.
Kroll’s reluctance to fully embrace a romantic relationship with Carson puzzled many, considering her intelligence, beauty, and genuine affection for him. This hesitancy was explained during the Season 11 reunion when Kroll revealed his reservations about making Carson his girlfriend.
According to LeCroy, Kroll expressed he would be more committed to Carson if she were “a little more tamed down” and less inclined to “run the streets.” Carson’s reputation precedes her in both Charleston and the Bravo community, with previous romantic entanglements involving Shep Rose, Taylor Ann Green’s current beau Gaston Rojas, as well as flings with Southern Hospitality star Joe Bradley, Summer House star West Wilson, and McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys star Steven McBee. While Kroll insists Carson’s single behavior doesn’t bother him, his comments suggest a judgmental view of her social habits.
“Go out, do your thing, sleep with whomever. I don’t care. But there is a body count of a lot of people…” he says, drawing shocked reactions from the room. Carson insists that she hasn’t been sleeping around, while Andy Cohen chimes in to defend her from the hypocritical accusations. “Well, I mean, excuse me,” Cohen tells Kroll. “I can start with the body count on you. Your Bravo body count is not small.” Just from the Bravo universe, Kroll has dated and/or had flings with LeCroy, Chelsea Meissner, Olivia Flowers, Taylor Ann Green, Ciara Miller, and Lindsay Hubbard, so, as Cohen rightfully pointed out, he isn’t one to talk.
It’s no secret that Kroll is known to be a bit of an F-boy, and that it’s hard to get him to fully commit to one woman. Even when he was dating Miller, arguably one of the prettiest, most level-headed and loyal person on Bravo, he was fooling around with Hubbard behind her back. But to see him fueling the slut-shaming Carson has endured over the past few months from viewers was a new low for him, especially given his reputation. It’s one thing to prefer someone who lives a more low-key life, but another to blast the person you’ve been hooking up with on national television for doing close to the exact same thing you’ve been doing for years.
Austen, your cast isn’t going to “bully” you into dating Carson. But perhaps they can bully you into having more respect for the women you hook up with.
Southern Charm airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.