‘Southern Charm’ Season 8 Recap: Austen Calls Ex Madison ‘Medusa’ After She Gets Engaged, Kathryn Splits From Chleb

Credit: Stephanie Diani/Bravo

‘Southern Charm’ Season 8 Recap: Austen Calls Ex Madison ‘Medusa’ After She Gets Engaged, Kathryn Splits From Chleb

Breakups and makeups! Austen Kroll found himself at the center of most of the drama on Southern Charm season 8, episode 3, after Madison LeCroy announced her engagement to Brett Randle. “Wait, what? What did I just hear?” Austen 35, said during the Thursday, July 7, episode of the Bravo series upon watching Madison’s Amazon Live proposal reveal. “What a poor bastard he is to [be stuck in] a life of servitude with f—king medusa.” The “Pillows and Beer” podcast cohost appeared to be surprised after learning that Madison, 31, whom he dated for two years, was off the market. (The Greenville, South Carolina native confirmed the engagement in October 2021, less than one year after she exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2020 that she and Austen were over for good.) The hairdresser, for her part, teased the budding romance during Thursday’s episode, calling Brett, “The One.” Madison also claimed she and Austen had moved forward following their toxic romance. “Sometimes you have to be put through the wringer to get to the good. I’m retired of the drama [with Austen],” she told friend Venita Aspen during the show. Austen, meanwhile, joked about the relationship status of his ex while hanging out with pals Shep Rose, Craig Conover, John Pringle and Chleb Ravenell. “It’s not going to make it to the altar. There’s a one percent chance,” Craig, 33, told the group, to which Austen replied, “Who the f—k cares.” [sendtonews type="float" key="LG1jTgFMda-2833384-14453"] The Kings Calling Brewing Co. founder’s love life wasn’t the only issue he had to deal with during Thursday’s episode. Austen and Craig’s turmoil, which began in summer of 2021, finally came to a head during the show after the Sewing Down South founder confided in girlfriend Paige DeSorbo that he was upset at the boys’ friction. “He wants people to have a problem with you,” Paige, 29, told Craig over the phone, after her beau revealed how mean Austen had been to his ex Naomie Olindo over their Las Vegas hookup. “The day he stops having your back is the day you should stop being friends with him.” The Pillow Talk author claimed, “He definitely does not have my back,” but later met with Austen and came to an agreement that they’d both try harder in their friendship. One relationship that didn’t end so well, however, was Kathryn Dennis and Chleb’s romance. The twosome have been at odds all season and after Chleb, 33, went missing for a week following a fight at Kathryn’s Great Katsby party. Kathryn, 30, ended things between them on Thursday’s episode. (Us confirmed in November 2021 that the duo called it quits after more than one year of dating.) Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. Scroll down to relive the highlights from Southern Charm’s season 8, episode 3: [podcast_block]

Credit: Stephanie Diani/Bravo

‘Southern Charm’ Season 8 Recap: Austen Calls Ex Madison ‘Medusa’ After She Gets Engaged, Kathryn Splits From Chleb

Breakups and makeups! Austen Kroll found himself at the center of most of the drama on Southern Charm season 8, episode 3, after Madison LeCroy announced her engagement to Brett Randle. “Wait, what? What did I just hear?” Austen 35, said during the Thursday, July 7, episode of the Bravo series upon watching Madison’s Amazon Live proposal reveal. “What a poor bastard he is to [be stuck in] a life of servitude with f—king medusa.” The “Pillows and Beer” podcast cohost appeared to be surprised after learning that Madison, 31, whom he dated for two years, was off the market. (The Greenville, South Carolina native confirmed the engagement in October 2021, less than one year after she exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2020 that she and Austen were over for good.) The hairdresser, for her part, teased the budding romance during Thursday’s episode, calling Brett, “The One.” Madison also claimed she and Austen had moved forward following their toxic romance. “Sometimes you have to be put through the wringer to get to the good. I’m retired of the drama [with Austen],” she told friend Venita Aspen during the show. Austen, meanwhile, joked about the relationship status of his ex while hanging out with pals Shep Rose, Craig Conover, John Pringle and Chleb Ravenell. “It’s not going to make it to the altar. There’s a one percent chance,” Craig, 33, told the group, to which Austen replied, “Who the f—k cares.” [sendtonews type="float" key="LG1jTgFMda-2833384-14453"] The Kings Calling Brewing Co. founder’s love life wasn’t the only issue he had to deal with during Thursday’s episode. Austen and Craig’s turmoil, which began in summer of 2021, finally came to a head during the show after the Sewing Down South founder confided in girlfriend Paige DeSorbo that he was upset at the boys’ friction. “He wants people to have a problem with you,” Paige, 29, told Craig over the phone, after her beau revealed how mean Austen had been to his ex Naomie Olindo over their Las Vegas hookup. “The day he stops having your back is the day you should stop being friends with him.” The Pillow Talk author claimed, “He definitely does not have my back,” but later met with Austen and came to an agreement that they’d both try harder in their friendship. One relationship that didn’t end so well, however, was Kathryn Dennis and Chleb’s romance. The twosome have been at odds all season and after Chleb, 33, went missing for a week following a fight at Kathryn’s Great Katsby party. Kathryn, 30, ended things between them on Thursday’s episode. (Us confirmed in November 2021 that the duo called it quits after more than one year of dating.) Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. Scroll down to relive the highlights from Southern Charm’s season 8, episode 3: [podcast_block]

Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock; Courtesy Taylor Ann Green/Instagram

Shep and Taylor Have Pregnancy Scare

“She gave me a little scare. She said she was late,” Shep, 42, confessed to pal Pringle, 46, about his girlfriend, Taylor Ann Green. “Fortunately, it was a false alarm and I’m happy. … I don’t know if I have this yearning to do that [have kids]. I feel like your life is gone.”

Taylor, for her part, confided in Shep’s pregnant cousin, Marcie, later in the episode about the scare. “I’m not pregnant which is fine,” she explained. “I’d rather be married [before that]. … At some point I’m going to want to start to think about something serious.”

Shep brought up the topic again while hosting the men at his place for a BBQ, telling Austen, “I don’t want to have kids right now. But we don’t use protection.” The Average Expectations author added: “I don’t know what I want. Almost two years and I’m happy. My life is really good and she’s a big, big part of that.”

Austen, for his part, told the cameras, “Shep has never had to compromise with anybody. It’s selfish and it’s unfair to Taylor.”

Credit: Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Austen and Craig Make Amends

Following his call with Paige, Craig asked Austen to meet up in the park to talk about their ongoing issues. “I’m not sure why you’re pushing me away from you,” Austen told his BFF, to which Craig replied, “Sometimes I feel like you’re trying to tear me down.”

The North Carolina native, however, was confused by the allegation. “I feel like I’m a major f—king champion of you, Craig, so that makes no sense to me.” Craig then pointed out that Austen wouldn’t let his Vegas hookup with Naomie go, which made him feel like he was trying to ruin his current romance with Paige.

“I felt like an outsider and it made me feel stupid,” Austen confessed after Craig kept his past fling a secret from him. “Yes, that was none of my business and I never should have put my nose there.”

The beermaker then accused Craig of being a “s—ty friend” and using him. “When you were single and you didn’t want to be alone and we hung out so much. And then you find a girlfriend and you kind of bail,” Austen claimed.

The Delaware native fired back, “Why would I try to hang out with someone who keeps trying to throw me under the bus?” He then admitted that their dynamic “doesn’t have to stay toxic,” explaining, “I would love to rekindle this friendship.” The duo ended on good terms.

Credit: Bravo (2)

Madison Defends Olivia After Party Drama

“I saw people screaming [at the party]. I felt bad that I saw her get attacked,” Madison told Venita, referring to the controversy that went down between Olivia Flowers and the girls at Naomie’s bash one week prior. “That caught me a little off guard.”

Venita tried to defend her actions but later confessed that she handled it wrong. “I’m too much of a fixer,” she said. Madison added: “I don’t personally know Olivia, but if she’s got a thick skin, she’ll survive.”

Olivia, meanwhile, told her mom during the episode, “There was a bit of a hiccup with the girls” after she defended Kathryn after the redhead yelled at Naomie, 29, during her Great Katsby Party. “The conversation probably could have gone a bit better. It can be squashed very easily,” Olivia, 30, explained. “I’m not done with Naomie and Venita, I’m just thrown off by it.”

Credit: Courtesy of Madison LeCroy/Instagram; Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Austen Is Blindsided by Madison’s Engagement

Shortly after fixing their bromance, Craig learned that Madison was engaged and was planning to announce it the same day that Shep was hosting his guys’ BBQ. When the time came for the news to come out, Craig sat beside Austen to show his support.

“Everything that she does a subtle, little jab at me,” Austen said during a confessional interview after Madison said during her Amazon Live reveal that his thoughts on the subject didn’t matter. “As if I needed any more reason not to have her in my life.”

Craig told the cameras: “I think Austen’s starting to realize that chapter is closed.” Back at the BBQ, Austen joked, “It couldn’t happen to a nicer person.” Shep chimed in, “The nail is officially in all sides of the coffin.”

Credit: Stephanie Diani/Bravo (2)

Kathryn Pulls the Plug on Chleb Romance

“This fight [is] over nothing,” Kathryn told the audience, revealing that Chleb hadn’t been home in five days. “My abandonment issues [have been] triggered.” The former athlete decided to return to his and Kathryn’s apartment after talking over his troubles with the guys.

The “Katching Up With Kathryn” podcast host, however, was not ready to pretend everything was good between them. “You’ve been gone like almost an entire week. You just ghosted me,” she told him, while Chleb claimed, “We got into a fight, that’s all.”

Chleb also accused his then-girlfriend of not caring about his feelings. “I love you and I want to make it work with you,” he said. Kathryn tried to talk it through, but ultimately, she ended the relationship.

“Over the past several days, I’ve just thought a lot about what I need. I feel like you’re emotionally unavailable,” she explained. “I really think that’s the best thing, for you and for me [to go our separate ways].” Kathryn later admitted in a confessional that while she wanted someone who was a “kind” and “good human,” her romance with Chleb was “not enough.”