Southern Charm's Explosive Confrontations: Inside Kathryn Dennis' Struggles and Thomas Ravenel's Shocking Exit

The Bravo fans have been entertained by the cast of Southern Charm since 2014. However, there are times when their offscreen scandals and controversies outshine their onscreen behaviors.

Originally, the main cast members of Southern Charm included Thomas Ravenel, Shep Rose, Cameran Eubanks, Craig Conover, Whitney Sudler-Smith, and Jenna King. It was during the first season when Thomas Ravenel met Kathryn Dennis, who is almost 30 years younger than him.

Quickly starting their unconventional romance, the couple amazed fans with the arrival of their first child, a daughter called Kensington, at the end of season 1. Not much time passed before they celebrated the birth of their son, St. Julien, in 2015.

Thomas and Kathryn's relationship was tumultuous and featured prominently on the Bravo show Southern Charm during seasons 2-4. Despite their ups and downs, Thomas faced an even greater scandal during filming. He was dismissed from Season 6 following a string of sexual assault accusations.

Scroll through to revisit the series’ biggest scandals:

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From Kathryn Dennis’ Drug Battle to Thomas Ravenel’s Exit: Southern Charm's Biggest Scandals and Controversies

The Bravo fans have been entertained by the cast of Southern Charm since 2014, but at times, their offscreen scandals and controversies tend to overshadow their onscreen antics.

The initial cast of Southern Charm consisted of Thomas Ravenel, Shep Rose, Cameran Eubanks, Craig Conover, Whitney Sudler-Smith, and Jenna King. In the first season, Thomas formed a relationship with Kathryn Dennis, who is almost 30 years younger than him.

In season 1, Kathryn and Thomas started their unique love story, surprising fans when Kathryn gave birth to their daughter, Kensington. Shortly after, they had a son named St. Julien in 2015.

On Bravo's Southern Charm, Thomas and Kathryn's relationship had its ups and downs during seasons 2-4. However, Thomas faced a more significant scandal while filming when he was let go from the show before season 6 due to multiple allegations of sexual assault.

Scroll through to revisit the series’ biggest scandals:

Credit: Charleston Sherrif's Department

Thomas’ Past Drug Use

Before the commencement of the show, Thomas faced federal cocaine distribution charges in 2007, leading to a 10-month prison sentence. Following his suspension as State Treasurer, he finally decided to step down from his position in July 2007 and sought rehabilitation. Thomas' previous history became a subject of discussion when he attempted to reenter the political arena during season 2.

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Jenna’s Older Man

Jenna gained attention during her time on the first season of Southern Charm due to her relationship with an older man named Louis Ceruzzi. However, controversy arose when reports suggested that Louis was actually married to someone else. Despite being labeled a "gold digger," Jenna denied the accusation. Cameran, on the other hand, revealed in an interview with Bravo's The Daily Dish that she maintains a friendship with Jenna. She mentioned that they have known each other for a long time and still keep in touch. Jenna currently resides in Los Angeles, but she frequently visits South Carolina where her mother still lives. Despite the drama, Cameran spoke highly of Jenna, describing her as "awesome."

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Kathryn Goes to Rehab

Following a positive marijuana test in 2016, Kathryn, a mother-of-two, undertook treatment in California. As a consequence of the failed drug test, she also lost custody of Kensie and Saint. However, Kathryn's journey towards recovery was captured in seasons 4 and 5 of Southern Charm, ultimately leading to her being granted 50/50 custody in July 2018.

Thomas, on the other hand, alleged in court documents filed in January 2019 that Kathryn has a dependency on prescription drugs, an assertion she refuted. In paperwork obtained by Us, he asserted, "[Kathryn] frequently abuses prescription drugs, partakes in illicit drug use, and regularly consumes alcohol along with them." He further claimed, "[Kathryn] has been under the influence of prescription drug abuse and/or illegal drug use while being the sole caregiver."

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Craig Isn’t Actually a Lawyer

During season 3 of the reality series, Craig’s co-stars questioned the validity of his law school education. Eventually, at the season 3 reunion, he confessed that he had never actually sat for the bar exam because he had failed to submit his final paper during law school. However, several years later, Craig managed to successfully take the bar exam and emerged victorious!

Credit: Courtesy of Danni Baird/Instagram

Danni’s a Runaway Bride

Danni Baird caused a shock to her fans in July 2017 when she unexpectedly ended her engagement to Todd Baldree just two weeks before their wedding. Shortly after, she decided to embrace her newly acquired single status and headed to Mexico for a getaway. Joining her on this trip was fellow bravolebrity Stassi Schroeder, who had recently experienced a breakup with her then-boyfriend Patrick Meagher around the same time.

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Thomas’ Sexual Assault Allegations

Thomas was accused by two different women of sexual assault in May 2018, one of whom was his former nanny, Dawn. The allegations led to his arrest in September 2018, despite his denial of the claims. According to an affidavit obtained by Us, Dawn stated that Thomas was naked and attempted to coerce her into engaging in sexual activity at his residence in Charleston, South Carolina.

"The defendant forcibly placed the victim's hand on his genitals and tried to undress her," the affidavit detailed. "He proceeded to expose the victim's buttocks and demanded she reveal her genitals, while also groping her."

Following his arrest, Bravo cut ties with Thomas. 

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Ashley and Thomas’ Cheating Scandal

In August 2018, Thomas accused his then-girlfriend, Ashley Jacobs, of being unfaithful. He tweeted lyrics from a Chicago song, saying that if she had been faithful, he would have never experienced real love. However, Thomas later admitted that he had no evidence that Ashley ever cheated. Ashley revealed that Thomas had searched through her phone records looking for proof. She clarified that although they were not exclusive, she could have been more open about another man contacting her. Ashley did not believe Thomas would check her phone records, but she admitted that she was wrong and got caught.

Credit: Charleston County Sheriff's Office

J.D.'s Arrest

J.D. Madison was booked in December 2018 for allegedly writing a bad check.

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Kathryn and Thomas Custody Battle

The former partners have engaged in a bitter dispute over custody of their daughter and son, with both making damaging accusations against each other. In court documents obtained by Us in October 2018, Kathryn claimed that Thomas exhibits signs of a "personality disorder." However, in his November 2018 response, Thomas refuted any suggestion that he has a personality disorder and asserted that it is actually Kathryn who has been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions.

In January 2019, documents obtained by Us revealed that Kathryn made a claim about the father of her childcare throwing a party in his downtown home. She alleged that there were illegal drugs present and she overheard him telling party attendees in the bathroom that mushrooms did not show up on drug screens. In response, Thomas accused Kathryn of leaving their minor children with their maternal grandmother so she could party and socialize. Both parties denied the accusations made by their former partner. Despite their differences, the exes reached an agreement for joint custody in August 2019.

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False Allegations Against J.D.

After being accused of filing a false police report, Susan Wall Johnson faced scrutiny when she claimed that J.D. had sexually assaulted her in August 2017. In February 2019, Johnson was arrested by the police, who cited inconsistencies in her story and presented evidence that contradicted her claims, as reported by Fox News.

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Ashley's Return

After Ashley publicly apologized to Kathryn for referring to her as "just an egg donor" during the season 5 finale, Kathryn brushed it off and laughed. She confidently declared that she would not be returning for season 6. However, much to the surprise and disappointment of her fellow cast members, news broke in March 2019 that Ashley would indeed be making an appearance.

Ashley's stint on the show was short-lived, as she ultimately decided to leave the series for good after season 6.

Credit: Photo by Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Kathryn’s Racially Insensitive Messages

In May 2020, Kathryn sparked controversy once again by utilizing a monkey emoji while engaging in a conflict with radio host Tamika Gadsden. Via Twitter, Kathryn expressed remorse for her actions and offered a heartfelt apology to anyone she may have offended. She acknowledged that the usage of the monkey emoji was offensive and recognized the need for accountability, stating that there was no justification for her behavior. Kathryn admitted to not considering the implications of her actions and acknowledged that it was unequivocally wrong. She emphasized her commitment to personal growth and vowed to improve herself moving forward.

Credit: Courtesy Cameran Eubanks/Instagram; Tommy Garcia/Bravo (inset)

Cameran’s Exit

Kathryn reportedly initiated the rumor about Jason, resulting in Naomie and Chelsea also leaving the show. Kathryn has not made a public statement regarding the matter. Naomie expressed her decision to quit the show on her Instagram Story, citing incidents like these and calling out Kathryn Dennis's actions.

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Madison’s Athletes

During the airing of season 7, Austen Kroll and Craig formed a friendship with Kristin Cavallari following her breakup with Madison LeCroy, the founder of Kings Calling Brewing. Consequently, Madison contacted Jay Cutler, who had separated from the Hills alum in April 2020, and had a short romantic involvement with him in the winter of 2020.

During the January 2021 reunion, aside from the Cavallari and Cutler drama, Craig accused Madison of having an affair with a former MLB player. Although his name was censored on the episode, Madison later confirmed that the cast was referring to Alex Rodriguez, who was engaged to Jennifer Lopez at the time.

According to Madison, there was never any sort of romantic involvement between her and Rodriguez. She described their connection as merely an acquaintance and emphasized that he had never cheated on his fiancée with her. Madison insisted that their phone relationship was entirely innocent when speaking to Page Six. On the other hand, a source close to Alex Rodriguez stated that he had never crossed paths with LeCroy.

Credit: Courtesy Naomie Olindo/Instagram

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.

"I can't think of anything more devastating than losing my dad, but this situation comes pretty close. Betrayal is a painful experience that nobody should have to endure, and I deeply apologize to anyone who has come across those horrible messages," she expressed in a heartfelt message in July 2021. "I'm certain that I will regret sharing this tomorrow, but I've received countless messages from others who have also felt this same kind of pain."

According to Instagram account BestofBravo, the reality star learned of Shah's infidelity after they relocated to New York City together.

Credit: Bravo (2)

Austen and Taylor's Secret Kiss

Romance rumors were ignited when Austen was spotted with Taylor Ann Green, Shep's former girlfriend, in early 2023. As season 9 premiered in September of that year, Austen and Taylor's alleged hookup became a focal point of the storyline, with reports suggesting that it occurred shortly after Austen ended his relationship with Olivia Flowers, Taylor's close friend, in October 2022.

Austen eventually admitted to Shep that he had kissed Taylor after their breakup. (Shep and Taylor ended their relationship in July 2022.)

Although Shep forgave Austen for the kiss and for lying about being intimate with Taylor, Olivia criticized her ex-boyfriend on the October 2023 episode. "I had realized long before that you didn't care about me as a girlfriend. Now I see that you don't care about our friendship either. You disregard Taylor and me, and you don't even understand what it means to be a friend. It takes a lot for me to genuinely want nothing to do with someone, but that's exactly where I stand with you."

Taylor, on the other hand, expressed her disappointment to Us when the episode was broadcasted, stating that she felt "pretty disappointed" about Austen confessing to Shep after they had supposedly agreed to keep it a secret. "I was like, 'I wish we were on the same page with this because I followed the advice you gave me,'" she reminisced.

In this article

Austen Kroll

Cameran Eubanks

Craig Conover

Kathryn Dennis

Shep Rose

Thomas Ravenel

Southern Charm