2025 has not been quite what Southern Charm star Craig Conover expected it to be. After splitting with his girlfriend of three years over the holidays, Craig is learning to navigate his new normal without Paige DeSorbo in his life.
Fortunately, his two best buddies, Austen Kroll and Shep Rose, really stepped up and supported him through his separation from the Summer House star.
Austen and Shep were “just there,” supporting Craig through his split with Paige
In a February 2025 interview with Access Hollywood, Craig mentioned that he and Austen went through something of a “breakup” of their own in Southern Charm Season 10. Fans saw the distance between the two former besties when Craig seemed to be isolating himself from his friends. But at the time, Criag’s life revolved around Paige and his Sewing Down South business.
Despite their “complicated” relationship, Austen rallied to his side following the breakup with Paige in November 2024. And Shep has been equally supportive.
In the months that have passed, Craig realized that Austen and Shep weren’t really angry with him for not going out to the bars like he used to. “They were grieving that person that I … chose to give up,” Craig said. “They missed the guy that I was at the bar … So now we’re reconfiguring our relationship. Hopefully, we’ll bring the podcast back.”
Craig had offered to buy Austen out of their podcast, Pillows and Beer, when they were at their most distant. But now that they’ve turned their friendship around, they’re hoping to work together again.
“[Austen] was really great through the breakup,” Craig added. “Him and Shep both were. They gained a lot of my respect through that … They were really great. Just by being there. They didn’t have to do anything. But they were just there. So it was nice.”
Austen saw the “writing on the wall” before Craig admitted the breakup
Austen discussed Craig’s breakup with Paige during a January appearance on the Chicks in the Office podcast. Austen said he knew something was up when Paige and Craig were both posting from their respective family’s homes over Christmas. Knowing that they had plans to travel to London over the holidays, Austen texted Craig asking when they were leaving.
“Me texting him that was, like … I know that something’s up,” Austen said. “And I was, like, just say it.” Even though Austen saw the “writing on the wall,” it wasn’t until he saw the news in the media that he learned Craig and Paige were done.
Craig had thought he and Paige would get married and have a family together, so it must have been a huge shock to him when they split. He’d even frozen his sperm, since they were planning on waiting a few years to have a baby. Craig just didn’t see the breakup coming.
“Craig came over to my house, and Shep came as well,” Austen concluded. “The three of us talked about Craig’s breakup. And I was just like, ‘Craig, I want you to promise me that you aren’t just going to, like, shut off … If you need someone to talk to and hang with, and take your mind off it, call me. Call me. It’s not good for you to be solo with your thoughts.’”
Southern Charm airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – ARE YOU HAPPY TO HEAR THAT SHEP AND AUSTEN ARE SUPPORTING CRAIG? ARE YOU GLAD TO SEE THE THREE FRIENDS GETTING ALONG AGAIN?
