Shep Rose Exposes Austen Kroll as a Total Scoundrel for Kissing Taylor Ann Green: Southern Charm Drama Worsens
Shep Rose confronts Austen Kroll on the latest episode of 'Southern Charm' following the Taylor Ann Green controversy, leading to a heated face-off between the two cast members
Shep Rose, Austen Kroll, and Taylor Ann Green. Getty Images (3)
Shep Rose reached his breaking point with Austen Kroll during the latest installment of Southern Charm. He openly confronted Austen about his discomfort with Austen's past interaction with his ex-girlfriend Taylor Ann Green.
"You're not willing to change. That's the issue here, Shep," the 36-year-old Austen bluntly told his 43-year-old friend during the December 14 episode of the Bravo series, following a day of heavy drinking on a boat in Jamaica. (The episode had been recorded earlier in the year.)
Shep responded by saying, "I have plenty of good friends and I don't need you." Austen fired back, "I care about people and I would never say that to you." Shep then criticized Austen for claiming to care about others, implying he was still upset over Austen kissing Taylor shortly after he and Shep ended their two-year relationship in 2022.
After avoiding the conversation for weeks, Austen finally confessed about his hookup with Taylor. "You made Taylor Ann out to be the victim," Austen claimed to Shep. "She grabbed me, not the other way around."
In season 9, viewers discovered that Austen and Taylor had kissed in late 2022 after breaking up with Olivia Flowers and Shep. This hookup was initially kept a secret, and when it was revealed, Shep chose to forgive Austen and not dwell on it. Olivia, 31, had a different reaction and criticized both Austen, whom she dated in 2022, and Taylor, who was one of her closest friends.
"I would never betray you," Shep insisted on Thursday's episode, saying that he decided to take the high road after Austen's actions. "What I'm trying to say is, overall I've been generous and understanding to a guy who got together with my ex-girlfriend just a month after we broke up."
Austen was told by Shep that it was "all good" and he was "just taking your lead" and progressing with their friendship. Shep claimed, "You don't give a f--k about anyone except for yourself." When Austen questioned, "Do you really believe that?" Shep replied, "When it comes to women, yes."
Austen Kroll, Craig Conover, and Shep Rose - Alan Smith/Bravo.
Shep admitted that when he was Austen's age, he was "a total scoundrel," but he claimed that Austen was even worse. "You're a complete scoundrel," Shep said about his close friend. "If that's how you feel, I don't know what to say," concluded Austen.
Shep and Austen exited the room in a stalemate. Later, Shep expressed to the cameras that he was bothered by Austen's failure to tell him the truth earlier. "Right after the Austen and Taylor situation, Austen and I spent three weeks in Australia together. He didn't say a word," Shep said during a confessional. "Do you have any concept of friendship or loyalty? Does that even enter your mind?"
In another part of the episode, Olivia once again expressed her feelings about the scandal as new stories about Austen and Taylor resurfaced on the internet.
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Olivia confronted Taylor about the level of betrayal in their friendship, expressing her confusion and frustration. She admitted to hating both Taylor and Austen, and lamented the state of their broken friendship. Olivia declared that she didn't know how to be friends with Taylor anymore and expressed her hope that Austen was worth it. Tune in to Bravo on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET to watch Southern Charm.
