For multiple seasons, Austen Kroll has been the big man on campus when it comes to Southern Charm. He dated the beautiful Madison LeCroy and seemed to be in with the popular crowd. The Charlotte native was a major playboy, but the trait worked for him until the last two seasons. When JT Thomas entered the picture for Season 9, the tides changed. Fans were over Austen’s cheating ways and appreciated the newbie’s ability to call out the OG. The two alpha males just couldn’t figure out how to get along, and instead of choosing friendship, Austen and JT chose war.
All is fair in love and war on Southern Charm
During Season 9, Austen found himself in his first-ever physical fight. The Southern Charm love triangle of Austen, JT, and Taylor Ann Green was not something fans saw coming. The web of lies weaved between Austen and Taylor was too much for JT to handle. After being friend-zoned during the season finale, JT took to his confessional to grieve, noting, “I can’t stop thinking about the fact that Taylor kissed Austen,” he admitted in a confessional. “She doesn’t want me, an actual successful, good, positive man.” JT turned his anger onto Austen as he chided him, saying, “You’re a snake and a coward,” he told Austen.
“You have been the genesis of why there’s so much pain and tears. Everyone here has said you are an arm’s-length friend who cannot be trusted around any woman.” Needless to say, Austen was hurt by JT’s words. But Austen hit back in his confessional, revealing, “Now I get it—he’s jealous of me. JT is so jealous of me. He wanted Taylor so bad, and I get the girl. JT doesn’t. Guys like JT don’t get the girl. I get the girl.”
JT Thomas’ ‘f*ckboy exorcism’ didn’t work
In the heat of the moment, JT’s chest bumped Austen, who shoved him out of his seat. For ten years, Austen had been on the show, and it had never turned violent once. It was clear these two men were not meant to be friends. JT came hard for Austen at the Season 9 reunion, telling everyone he was going to perform his first “f*ckboy exorcism.” But it seemed he needed a hell of a lot more holy water than he predicted. Austen recently spoke with People about where the two frenemies stood.
Austen shared that as Season 10 started, he tried to “be the bigger man — literally and metaphorically.” Ah, what a dig. He told the outlet, “If you have to be around him, you’re old enough to know it’s just going to be awful, awful, awful. Every time that you see him, you just don’t want to punch him in the face. I am trying my hardest in the beginning to fight these tendencies.” The Southern Charm season premiere opened with JT instantly annoying Austen by bringing canes to the Carolina Cup and handing them out like an olive branch.
Austen Kroll doesn’t want an apology
The Trop Hop brewer added, “I’m trying to figure it out on the fly of what am I going to do? How am I going to be around this person?” The Bravo star made it clear that he doesn’t see JT as a safe place. “I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him, which actually, I could probably throw him pretty far if we’re being honest. So that’s where my head is,” he adds. But The premiere showed JT trying to make an effort. He told Austen, “After my near-death experience, I was thinking about you. I think I was a little harsh on you during the exorcism. I’m happy as hell for you that you got a girlfriend. So, I got something for you.”
The apology meant nothing to Madison’s ex, who still had his guard up. Austen admitted, “There’s still some bad blood on my end. You don’t just slander someone with horrible and awful things for as long as he did at the reunion and then expect it to all be cool.” As for JT’s departure from Southern Charm, Austen isn’t surprised. He revealed, “It’s very apparent to me that he doesn’t want to have to face the music for all the things that you’re about to see in this upcoming season.” The bridge won’t be mended between these two.
Southern Charm airs on Thursdays on Bravo.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK AUSTEN AND JT HAVE A CHANCE OF RECONCILATION?
