The cast of Southern Charm has been entertaining Bravo fans since 2014, but sometimes, their offscreen scandals and controversies overshadow their onscreen antics.
When Southern Charm premiered, it starred Thomas Ravenel, Shep Rose, Cameran Eubanks, Craig Conover, Whitney Sudler-Smith and Jenna King. During season 1, Thomas met Kathryn Dennis, who is nearly 30 years his junior.
The twosome quickly began their unconventional romance and shocked fans at the end of season 1 when Kathryn welcomed their first child, a daughter named Kensington. Less than two years later, they welcomed a son named St. Julien in 2015.
Thomas and Kathryn’s on-off relationship played out on Bravo during seasons 2-4 of Southern Charm. His relationship drama, however, wasn’t the biggest scandal he faced while filming. Thomas was fired from the show ahead of season 6 after a series of sexual assault allegations.
Scroll through to revisit the series’ biggest scandals:
Thomas’ Past Drug Use
Before the show started, Thomas was indicted on federal cocaine distribution charges in 2007 and sentenced to 10 months in jail. After he was suspended from his position as State Treasurer, he ultimately resigned in July 2007 and went to rehab. Thomas’ past was addressed when he tried to return to politics during season 2.
Jenna’s Older Man
While Jenna was only featured on the first season of Southern Charm, her relationship with an older man named Louis Ceruzzi caused quite the stir with fans. After “Lou” appeared on the show, several reports surfaced that he was actually married to someone else. Jenna was also accused of being a “gold digger,” which she denied.
Cameran, meanwhile, told Bravo’s The Daily Dish that she still speaks to her former costar. "Jenna is great. I knew Jenna long before the show started and we do keep in touch," she said in May 2019. "She lives in L.A., but she comes back to South Carolina. Her mom still lives in South Carolina. But, yeah, she's awesome.” 
Kathryn Goes to Rehab
The mother-of-two sought treatment in California after she tested positive for marijuana in 2016. Kathryn’s failed drug test also caused her to lose custody of Kensie and Saint. After documenting her recovery on seasons 4 and 5 of Southern Charm, Kathryn was granted 50/50 custody in July 2018.
Thomas, meanwhile, claimed in January 2019 court documents that Kathryn has a “prescription drug habit,” which she denied. “[Kathryn] abuses prescription drugs, is engaged in the use of illegal drugs, and consumes alcohol in combination thereof regularly,” he claimed in paperwork obtained by Us. “[Kathryn] has been intoxicated by the abuse of prescription drugs and/or use of illegal drugs while in sole care.”
Craig Isn’t Actually a Lawyer
During season 3 of the reality series, Craig’s law school education was called into question by his costars. He finally admitted during the season 3 reunion that he never actually took the bar exam because he wasn’t eligible to do since he never turned in his final paper during law school. Years later, Craig was able to take the bar — and passed!
Danni’s a Runaway Bride
Danni Baird surprised fans in July 2017 by calling off her engagement to Todd Baldree two weeks before the wedding. Weeks later, she celebrated her newfound singlehood in Mexico with fellow bravolebrity Stassi Schroeder, who was dumped by then-boyfriend Patrick Meagher around the same time.
Thomas’ Sexual Assault Allegations
Two different women came forward to accuse Thomas of sexual assault in May 2018, including his kids’ former nanny, Dawn. The former politician was arrested in September 2018 for the alleged assault, which he denied. In the affidavit previously obtained by Us, Dawn claimed Thomas was naked and tried to force her to have sex with him in his Charleston, South Carolina, home.
“The defendant grabbed the victim’s hand and placed it on his penis before attempting to removed the victim’s clothing,” the affidavit read. “[Thomas] pulled down the victim’s pants and said ‘Show me your p—y,’ and began grabbing the victim’s vagina.”
Following his arrest, Bravo cut ties with Thomas.
Ashley and Thomas’ Cheating Scandal
Thomas accused his then-girlfriend, Ashley Jacobs, of being unfaithful in August 2018. “After 30 years I finally understand the lyrics from that wonderful Chicago tune: If she would have been faithful / if she could have been true / then I would have been cheated / I would have never known real love,” he tweeted at the time. Thomas later backtracked and admitted he had “no information that Ashley Jacobs ever cheated.”
Ashley, for her part, told Us at the time that Thomas went through her phone records looking for evidence. “Thomas is the only person I’ve slept with since I’ve lived out here, so it’s upsetting to see that I was cheating on him because I wasn’t, but I could have been better about letting him know that [another man] is reaching out to me more, but we’re not exclusive, so why do I owe him that?” she told Us in August 2018. “I don’t know why I owe him that and I honestly didn’t think he’d get my phone records, that’s the truth, so I did get busted. I did get busted.”
J.D.'s Arrest
J.D. Madison was booked in December 2018 for allegedly writing a bad check.
Kathryn and Thomas Custody Battle
The exes have made nasty allegations about each other as they fight for custody of their daughter and son. In October 2018 court documents obtained by Us, Kathryn accused Thomas of having a “personality disorder of some type.” In Thomas’ November 2018 filing, he denied suffering from or being diagnosed with a personality disorder and alleged that his ex-girlfriend is the one who has “been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions.”
In January 2019 documents obtained by Us, Kathryn claimed the father of her childcare had a party in his downtown home “with illegal drugs present” and “informed fellow party participants while standing in the bathroom that mushrooms don’t show up on drug screens.” Thomas, meanwhile, accused Kathryn of leaving “the minor children with their maternal grandmother so [she] can party and socialize,” per paperwork. They both denied the allegations made by their former partner. The exes agreed to joint custody in August 2019.
False Allegations Against J.D.
After a woman named Susan Wall Johnson claimed J.D. sexually assaulted her in August 2017, she was accused of filing a false police report. In February 2019, police arrested Johnson, citing inconsistencies in her story and evidence that contradicted her, per Fox News.
Ashley's Return
After Kathryn laughed off Ashley’s public apology for calling her “just an egg donor” during the season 5 finale, the registered nurse claimed she would not return for season 6. In March 2019, however, news broke that Ashley would indeed to be featured — much the dismay of her costars. Ashley's time on camera was short-lived and she exited the series for good after season 6.
Kathryn’s Racially Insensitive Messages
Kathryn made headlines again in May 2020 when she used a monkey emoji during a fight with radio host Tamika Gadsden.
“I want to acknowledge that using a monkey emoji in my text was offensive, and from the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize to anyone and everyone I hurt,” Kathryn wrote via Twitter at the time. “Although the context was not my intention, there are no ‘if ands or buts’ that excuse me … I did not give it thought, and it was and is wrong. I know I am not that person. I know and will do better.”
Cameran’s Exit
After Cameran quit Southern Charm ahead of season 7, reports surfaced that she left the series because her husband, Jason Wimberly, had an affair. All parties involved in the allegations, including Cameran, denied the accusations.
Reports subsequently surfaced that Kathryn was the one to start the rumor about Jason. (Kathryn has yet to publicly comment.) As a result, Naomie and Chelsea quit the show too.
“To all those asking why Cameran, Chelsea and I (and anyone with a life they want to protect) quit the show. It’s s—t like this,” Naomie wrote via her Instagram Story at the time. “Shame on you @kathryndennis for this and MANY other things.”
Madison’s Athletes
While season 7 was airing, Austen Kroll and Craig befriended Kristin Cavallari after the Kings Calling Brewing founder’s split from Madison LeCroy. As a result, Madison reached out to Jay Cutler, who split from the Hills alum in April 2020, and had a brief fling with him during the winter of 2020.
In addition to fighting about Cavallari and Cutler during the January 2021 reunion, Craig alleged Madison had an affair with an ex-MLB player. While the name was bleeped out on the episode, Madison later confirmed the cast was referring to Alex Rodriguez, who was engaged to Jennifer Lopez at the time.
“[We] never had any kind of anything. Just an acquaintance. … He’s never physically cheated on his fiancée with me,” Madison told Page Six at the time, claiming their phone relationship was “innocent.” A source close to the former New York Yankees star, meanwhile, told Us that he’s “never met” LeCroy.
Naomie’s Heartbreak
Following a sudden split from her beau Metul Shah, Naomie Olindo seemingly confirmed that he’d been unfaithful with a teary Instagram selfie.
“Nothing will be worse than losing my dad but this is a close second. Betrayal is never easy for anyone and I’m just so sorry to anyone else that has stumbled across those terrible messages,” she wrote in July 2021. “I’m absolutely positive I will regret posting this tomorrow but so many of you have reached out saying you’re feeling a similar pain.”
Prior to her post, Instagram account BestofBravo reported that the reality star discovered Shah was unfaithful after they moved to New York City together.
Austen and Taylor's Secret Kiss
Austen sparked romance speculation with Shep’s ex-girlfriend Taylor Ann Green in early 2023. When season 9 premiered in September 2023, Austen and Taylor’s rumored hookup was a major story line as the makeout allegedly transpired not long after Austen split from Taylor’s BFF Olivia Flowers in October 2022.
Austen eventually confessed to Shep that he did kiss Taylor after they were broken up. (Shep and Taylor called it quits in July 2022.)
Although Shep forgave Austen for the kiss — and for lying about being intimate with Taylor — Olivia slammed her ex-boyfriend on the October 2023 episode. “I realized long before that you didn’t give a s—t about me as a girlfriend. Now I know you don’t give a s—t about me as a friend. Now you don’t care about Taylor and I’s friendship,” Olivia told Austen on the show. “You don’t know the definition of a friend. It takes a lot for me to genuinely want nothing to do with a person. That’s where I’m at with you.”
Taylor, meanwhile, exclusively told Us when the episode aired that she was “pretty disappointed” that Austen confessed to Shep after they allegedly agreed to keep it secret. “I was like, ‘I wish we were on the same page with this because I stuck to what you had advised me to do,’” she recalled.
Taylor Ann Green’s Naked Photos to Whitney Sudler-Smith
Taylor made headlines during Southern Charm season 9 when it was revealed that she sent naked photos to Whitney after her split from Shep. Taylor told Entertainment Tonight in September 2023 that she sent the NSFW snaps because she knew “what Shep and Whitney had been up to the past few months, gallivanting around Charleston, trying to pick up girls and so, I did that to get under Shep’s skin.”
The drama came during JT Thomas’ season 9 dinner party, where Taylor claimed that her body wasn’t visible in the pictures. Madison, however, admitted to seeing the photos herself, claiming she was able to see “tits and vagina."
“We are seeing a different side of you that is unrecognizable,” Madison shouted at Taylor across the table during the episode, which aired in October 2023. “What you portray to be is f—king phony and fake. I’m gonna tell you the truth because I’m not gonna sit here over some candlelit dinner and pretend that you’re some f—king better than thou because you’re not.”
