Craig Conover and Austen Kroll. Getty Images (2)
Craig Conover and Austen Kroll hit a road bump in their friendship — and working relationship — in the latest episode of Southern Charm.
“He just, like, can’t handle any f—ing constructive criticism,” Austen, 37, said of Craig, 35, during the Thursday, January 9, episode, after the two butted heads one week prior.
Austen told mutual friend Shep Rose that after he accused Craig of never spending time with him outside of work — they launched their “Pillows & Beer” podcast in 2021 — and the gym, and Craig didn’t respond well.
“I’m going to lower the bar, I guess,” Austen confessed, noting he doesn’t want to be in a “s—y” place with his one-time best friend.
Amid their feud, Craig and then-girlfriend Paige DeSorbo found themselves hosting a backyard party for their friends, but Austen didn’t make the guest list. (The group was initially supposed to attend a birthday party for Taylor Ann Green, but she canceled it at the last minute.)
“He’s not extending the invite to me because I told him something he didn’t want to hear,” Austen told the cameras, calling Craig “a petty little bitch.”
Craig was equally as upset over his tension with Austen telling Rodrigo Reyes that Austen said he wasn’t a “good friend” which rubbed him the wrong way.
“I’m not going to chase you down and convince you to be my friend,” Craig said of Austen, confessing he’s “kinda growing out” of their ups and downs. (Austen, meanwhile, exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2024 that she wishes “Craig had more of a balance in his life,” calling him a “hermit.”)
Later in the episode, Craig expressed frustration to Madison LeCroy over Austen’s comments and revealed it’s spilling over to their podcast success.
“He came over here and basically knocked my hustle,” Craig claimed, adding, “I’m never going back to that guy that he misses.”
Paige — who confirmed her and Craig’s split in December 2024 — also slammed Austen for his alleged overreaction to Craig putting work and her before his friendship with Austen. “What grown man goes over to another grown man’s house crying that he misses them?” she quipped.
Craig Conover and Austen Kroll. Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Hayu
“I was dumbfounded. I was like, ‘We’re not dating.’ Like what are you talking about?” Craig said with a laugh.
Craig confessed that he thought the men were “good” and “on the same page” but once he learned that wasn’t the case, he pivoted. “I recorded the podcast by myself last night,” he told Madison, 34, explaining, “I like doing the podcast with him but not when he acts like this.”
Craig shed more light on his alleged negative working relationship with Austen while sitting down with Shep, 42, at the end of the episode.
“You and I, when we have disagreements and don’t understand each other we can take space because there’s nothing tying us together other than our friendship,” Craig told Shep, hinting that the podcast was becoming a big point of contention for him and Austen.
Craig noted that for him, a “solution” to the Austen problem would be “to take a step back from the podcast.” He said, “Then how you live your life won’t annoy me. Instead of forcing yourselves.”
When Shep commented that it must be “exhausting” to juggle his friendship with Austen and work together so closely, Craig confessed that the “chemistry” was no longer there.
“With the podcast, he wouldn’t show up or he’d be hungover. Just miserable,” Craig alleged, claiming that Austen “bitched about our podcast tour” and he “had to do everything.”
Craig confessed, “It’s supposed to be the most fun time of the week, and I started to dread it.”
Austen Kroll and Craig Conover. Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
The Sewing Down South founder explained that he treats the podcast “as a job” and does it “responsibly,” while Austen allegedly “treats it as a party.”
Craig added, “Maybe I’m outgrowing the arraignment we had before.”
In a preview for next week’s Southern Charm episode, Craig confronts Austen about their podcast issues. “How much would I have to give you to sign papers saying, ‘Craig owns Pillows & Beer now?’” Craig asks.
“We’re doing this?” Austen replies. “Wow.”
At the time this week’s episode aired, Austen and Craig were still cohosting the podcast and recently opened their By The Way restaurant in Charleston together.
Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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