‘Southern Charm’ Stars Kathryn Dennis and Thomas Ravenel’s Custody Battle: Everything We Know

Credit: Brianna Stello/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Courtesy Kathryn Dennis/Instagram

‘Southern Charm’ Stars Kathryn Dennis and Thomas Ravenel’s Custody Battle: Everything We Know

Getting ugly. Kathryn Dennis and Thomas Ravenel are involved in an ongoing custody battle over their two children. The former Southern Charm costars welcomed daughter Kensie at the end of season 1 in 2014. As the duo’s on-off relationship continued, Dennis got pregnant for the second time in 2015. They welcomed son Saint that November. After Dennis and Ravenel called it quits in 2016, she lost custody of their children amid a struggle with substance abuse. The reality TV personality then checked into treatment and documented her sobriety journey on Southern Charm. In 2017, a court-appointed doctor suggested the twosome coparent, according to docs previously obtained by Us Weekly. Following the season 5 finale, which aired in July 2018, it was revealed that Dennis was granted 50/50 custody of Kensie and Saint. Months later, however, Dennis filed to modify the custody agreement in October 2018. She filed the paperwork a month after Ravenel was arrested for assault and battery in the second degree, stemming from an alleged January 2015 incident with the children’s former nanny. (In light of his arrest, Bravo announced Ravenel would no longer appear on Southern Charm.) Dennis then sought sole custody of the pair’s daughter and son. “The Mother is informed and believes it is the best interests of the minor children that she be granted sole custody and/or primary custody of the minor children … with reasonable visitation granted to the Father,” read court documents filed by Dennis in October 2018 and obtained by Us Weekly. For more hot celebrity news, listen to Us Weekly editors dish on top topics & trends with these clips from the Hot Hollywood Podcast! In August 2019, a judge issued a temporary order regarding child support and the couple’s custody of the kids, ruling that Dennis and Ravenel would share joint custody. More than a year later, there was a custody shakeup, with Ravenel’s lawyer confirming in March 2021 that Dennis lost temporary custody of the kids and now has supervised visitation on weekends following a court ruling one month prior. Scroll through for everything we know about their ongoing custody battle. This is an ongoing article that was originally published in January 2019 and last updated in March 2021.

Credit: Brianna Stello/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Courtesy Kathryn Dennis/Instagram

‘Southern Charm’ Stars Kathryn Dennis and Thomas Ravenel’s Custody Battle: Everything We Know

Getting ugly. Kathryn Dennis and Thomas Ravenel are involved in an ongoing custody battle over their two children. The former Southern Charm costars welcomed daughter Kensie at the end of season 1 in 2014. As the duo’s on-off relationship continued, Dennis got pregnant for the second time in 2015. They welcomed son Saint that November. After Dennis and Ravenel called it quits in 2016, she lost custody of their children amid a struggle with substance abuse. The reality TV personality then checked into treatment and documented her sobriety journey on Southern Charm. In 2017, a court-appointed doctor suggested the twosome coparent, according to docs previously obtained by Us Weekly. Following the season 5 finale, which aired in July 2018, it was revealed that Dennis was granted 50/50 custody of Kensie and Saint. Months later, however, Dennis filed to modify the custody agreement in October 2018. She filed the paperwork a month after Ravenel was arrested for assault and battery in the second degree, stemming from an alleged January 2015 incident with the children’s former nanny. (In light of his arrest, Bravo announced Ravenel would no longer appear on Southern Charm.) Dennis then sought sole custody of the pair’s daughter and son. “The Mother is informed and believes it is the best interests of the minor children that she be granted sole custody and/or primary custody of the minor children … with reasonable visitation granted to the Father,” read court documents filed by Dennis in October 2018 and obtained by Us Weekly. For more hot celebrity news, listen to Us Weekly editors dish on top topics & trends with these clips from the Hot Hollywood Podcast! In August 2019, a judge issued a temporary order regarding child support and the couple’s custody of the kids, ruling that Dennis and Ravenel would share joint custody. More than a year later, there was a custody shakeup, with Ravenel’s lawyer confirming in March 2021 that Dennis lost temporary custody of the kids and now has supervised visitation on weekends following a court ruling one month prior. Scroll through for everything we know about their ongoing custody battle. This is an ongoing article that was originally published in January 2019 and last updated in March 2021.

Credit: Charleston Sherrif's Department

Thomas’ Arrest

The former politician made headlines in May 2018 after two different women accused him of sexual assault, which he denied. Three months later, Ravenel was booked in Charleston, South Carolina, in September 2018 for charges relating to an alleged 2015 incident with their children’s former nanny, Dawn, who accused Ravenel of sexual assault, according to an affidavit previously obtained by Us. 

Dennis cited the allegations against Ravenel in December 2018 court documents obtained by The Blast, alleging that her ex was no longer a fit parent because multiple woman have accused him of sexual assault. She also referenced Dawn’s allegations in October 2018 documents obtained by Us, claiming that that there are “text messages and/or emails in which [Ravenel] apologized to the former Nanny for his conduct as further corroboration of his bad conduct.” 

In a November 2018 counter-filing, Ravenel denied “any and all allegations of sexual assault” and denied “apologizing for sexual assault because [he] did not commit a sexual assault.” 

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The Ashley Factor

Dennis alleged in October 2018 court documents obtained by Us that Ravenel encouraged on-off girlfriend Ashley Jacobs to “verbally assault and attack” her during Southern Charm season 5. (Jacobs referred to Dennis as “an egg donor” on the series, which she later apologized for in an open letter in August 2018.) In his November counter-filing, Ravenel denied advising Jacobs to make “defamatory comments.” 

Following their summer 2018 breakup, Ravenel and Jacobs have been spotted together on various occasions, including that New Year’s Eve. A source told Us in January 2019 that while Ravenel wants the nurse back, Jacobs “won’t be with Thomas in a romantic way again.”  

Credit: Paul Cheney/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Drug Allegations

Dennis and Ravenel have both accused each other of having substance abuse issues in court documents. “[Ravenel] has drunk alcohol to excess, mixed with prescription drugs, that has caused him to be impaired during periods of time in which he had custody of the children,” Dennis alleged in October 2018 docs obtained by Us. 

Ravenel, meanwhile, alleged that Dennis has a “prescription drug habit” in January 2019 paperwork. “[Dennis] abuses prescription drugs, is engaged in the use of illegal drugs, and consumes alcohol in combination thereof regularly,” he claimed. “[Dennis] has been intoxicated by the abuse of prescription drugs and/or use of illegal drugs while in sole care.” He also accused her of faking drug tests in the past, which she denied. 

(Both Ravenel and Dennis have denied that they are actively using drugs.)

The former Bravo star also alleged Dennis “buys, sells and trades medications” from “friends, cast members an show producers.” She fought back at her ex’s accusations in January 2019 documents, asking Ravenel to testify under oath about his alleged drug use and provide evidence that Dennis bought drugs from Southern Charm producers. 

In another response filed in January 2019, Ravenel reportedly refused to provide the documents Dennis requested because he believes she wants to “annoy, embarrass, oppress or create an unburden." 

Credit: Brianna Stello/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Mental Health Allegations

Dennis accused Ravenel of having a “personality disorder of some type” in October 2018 documents obtained by Us. In January 2019 documents obtained by Us, she also reportedly requested a list of Ravenel’s potential health and mental health diagnoses in the last 10 years, specifically citing bipolar disorder as a possible diagnosis he may have been evaluated for. 

In Ravenel’s November 2018 court documents, he denied suffering from or being diagnosed with a personality disorder. He then alleged that Dennis has “been diagnosed with multiple mental health conditions.” 

Credit: Corutesy Kathryn Dennis/Instagram

Child Support Accusations

The twosome have both accused each other of not paying child support. In October 2018 documents obtained by Us, Dennis requested Ravenel “pay for the private school tuition of the minor children for both preschool and thereafter.” Ravenel, meanwhile, claimed in his November 2018 counter-filing that Dennis is “required to pay child support under the terms of the 2017 Final Order.” He also claimed at the time that Dennis has not paid child support since June 2018. 

Credit: Brianna Stello/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

The Battle of the Best Parent

Ravenel and Dennis have accused each other of not being fit parents. In October 2018 documents, she alleged her ex has “delegated their [children’s] health care to the nannies” and alleged his “former Nanny provided inaccurate information for medical doctors that was false and caused the children to incur substantial therapy while under the custody of the Defendant.” 

Ravenel denied her accusations in his November 2018 filing and alleged that Dennis “habitually leaves the minor children with their maternal grandmother so [she] can party and socialize” and claimed she has “failed on numerous occasions to take the minor children” to school and scheduled appointments. 

In January 2019 documents obtained by Us Weekly, Dennis alleged Ravenel 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.” 

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Bravo’s Involvement

In November 2018, Ravenel alleged Dennis is using her children for storylines on Southern Charm and filed for sole custody with the network’s encouragement. He also claimed that she is seeking sole custody of their children “for the sole and/or primary purpose” of remaining on the Bravo show and “progressing her story line as the ‘rehabilitated mother who regains possession of her minor children,’” the paperwork obtained by Us read. 

Us Weekly previously reached out to Bravo for a comment regarding the allegations. In December 2018, Dawn, the former nanny who accused Ravenel of assault, filed a suit against Ravenel, Bravo, NBCUniversal, production company Haymaker Content and Comcast for assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, defamation and negligence, according to the docs obtained by Us.

Credit: Corutesy Kathryn Dennis/Instagram

Still Bonding With the Kids

Despite the drama, both Dennis and Ravenel have shared photos and videos on social media with their children. Kensie and Saint celebrated Christmas with their mom in December 2018. In January 2019, Ravenel shared a video of Saint feeding geese on his Instagram Story and a photo while grocery shopping with his son and daughter.

Credit: Rebecca Miller/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Fighting Over Texts and Emails

In March 2019, Ravenel asked a South Carolina judge to exclude texts and email evidence from before June 2017, accusing Dennis of trying to use the sexual abuse allegations against him for her case. He claimed that Dennis knew about the allegations against him when they reached their original custody deal, saying that because he was granted primary physical custody of their children then, the allegations shouldn't be brought up again.

Credit: Getty Images (2)

The Significant Others

The Blast reported in May 2019 that Ravenel filed papers in which he accused Dennis of allowing her then-boyfriend, Hunter Price, to take care of the children alone. He reportedly asked for her visitation time to be reduced as a result. The move came after Dennis asked the court to restrict Ravenel’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Ashley Jacobs, from seeing or posting photos of the kids.

Credit: Brianna Stello/Bravo

More Drug Allegations

In July 2019, Ravenel filed court documents to demand full custody of Kensie and Saint, alleging that Dennis had failed a June 14 drug test, according to The Blast. “While in the possession of the children, Kathryn produced a urine test positive for marijuana,” the court docs state. For her part, Dennis “disputes the veracity of the June 14, 2019 urine tests because her hair test was negative.” Ravenel, meanwhile, claimed that she has purchased fake urine online in the past.

Credit: Courtesy of Kathryn Dennis/Instagram

Joint Custody

A week after Ravenel deleted his social media accounts for apparently throwing shade at his ex following her mother’s death in August 2019, Dennis was awarded joint custody of the children under a temporary order. The politician remains the kids’ primary legal guardian. The pair will need to work together on their daughter and son’s health issues and education and have been ordered to attend a minimum of three co-parenting sessions with a counselor, according to court documents obtained by The Blast. Dennis also agreed to cognitive behavior therapy.

Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock

Thomas Becomes a Father Again

Five months after Dennis exclusively told Us in November 2019 that the exes “have a great coparenting relationship” and are “moving forward,” news broke that Ravenel was expecting his third child with girlfriend Heather Mascoe. The pair welcomed son Jonathan in June 2020, and four months later, Ravenel revealed via Twitter that the duo were “getting married.”

During season 7 of Southern Charm, which aired in November 2020, Dennis revealed she learned of Mascoe’s pregnancy through her lawyer while she was temporarily living at Ravenel’s house while her place was being worked on. “I cannot believe I’ve been living in the house with this man who has been hiding a secret that he has a child on the way,” she explained on the show, noting she saw a pregnancy test at his house, but the former politician denied it was linked to him. “Meanwhile I’m like, ‘Oh, maybe if we got back together, this is what it would be like.’ My family, a piece of it was taken away. It’s no longer the Ravenels.”

Credit: Courtesy of Kathryn Dennis/Instagram

Kathryn’s Temporary Setback

Ravenel’s lawyer confirmed in March 2021 there was a custody change for the pair’s children after a hearing the month prior, resulting in Dennis temporarily losing custody of Kensie and Saint. The model now has supervised weekend visitation with her kids after she was granted joint custody in 2018 and the 50/50 custody arrangement was confirmed in August 2019.

“I can confirm the information released last week that Ms. Dennis currently has weekend, daytime supervised visitation with the parties’ minor children and that Mr. Ravenel plans to relocate with the children to Aiken, South Carolina this summer,” Ravenel’s attorney said in a statement to People at the time. “I will not go into detail regarding the circumstances that necessitated the changes to the parties’ custodial arrangement.”