Craig Conover issued Austen Kroll a cryptic warning involving Shep Rose, amidst their heated showdown on Southern Charm.
“Keep running your mouth and Shep’s gonna say something that’s gonna ruin your life,” Craig declared after overhearing Austen “talking s–t under his breath” at Whitner Slagsvol’s backyard birthday celebration during Season 11, Episode 4. “I won’t say it, but Shep will say something, because he’s told me about it. It will literally ruin your life.”
Shep, for his part, immediately chimed in, “I don’t know about anything.”
After Craig and Austen both went inside, however, he revealed to his fellow Southern Charm-ers that two 25-year-old girls had recently come up to him in New York City’s West Village with a “totally unsubstantiated” rumor about Austen. As he recounted to the group, however, he rebuffed the pair and insisted he didn’t want to hear what they had to say.
RELATED: Craig Conover Makes a Damning Declaration on Austen Kroll’s Relationship With Audrey
“It was so stupid and not newsworthy that I just decided to not say anything,” Shep added. In fact, Shep revealed that he had once asked Craig if he should “say something” to Austen, but Craig advised him to keep the incident under wraps.
“Here’s what happened,” Shep later told Austen inside Whit’s kitchen. “Three weeks ago, these two moron girls in New York come up to me, like, ‘Austen and our friend are talking.’ I go, ‘I don’t want to know another word. I want to know nothing.'”
Shep’s explained to Austen that he didn’t want to “interrupt his peace” with then-girlfriend Audrey Pratt by exposing a seemingly meritless cheating allegation.
How Austen Kroll reacted to the rumor Shep Rose heard about him
Before responding to Shep directly, Austen shut down the cheating speculation in a confessional.
“Come the f–k on. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I have cheated on my girlfriend,” Austen told a producer. “Which is why it upsets me so much that my two friends can so callously spread just bulls–t.”
Back in Whitner’s home, Austen blasted Shep for looping in Craig. He also rejected the idea that “conjecture” about him supposedly “talking to some f–king girl in New York” would “ruin” his life, as Craig had put it.
RELATED: Austen Kroll Calls Out “F–king Cheap” Shep Rose’s Spending Habits: “Mr. Trust Fund…”
“Dude, I’m talking to girls at the bar, and f–king Audrey knows,” Austen added. “And she tells me that she talks to guys at the bar.”
With that, Austen abruptly exited the party. Upon rejoining the group outside, Shep debriefed them by saying, “Austen went on a warpath. He, like, feels blindsided.”
Why Austen Kroll doubted his friendships with Shep Rose and Craig Conover
Both Shep and Craig revealed later in Southern Charm‘s Dec. 10 episode that Austen hadn’t spoken to either of them since the dustup.
When Madison LeCroy, meanwhile, called to check in on how Austen was doing, he shared that he was trying not to be “sad” about what happened between them, especially as he prepared to adopt two kittens from Rodrigo Reyes.
As Austen added in a confessional, “How I see friendship is literally being there for somebody when they need you. And just like not, you know, betraying one another just to make yourself f–kin’ look better. That is not friendship.”
Later, Madison and Rodrigo stopped by Austen’s home, and the three continued to unpack the drama.
“I’m more saddened than anything,” Austen remarked. “I’m like, man, these are my two ‘friends,’ and they were so happy and willing and ready to just f–kin’ sucker-punch me. … I thought that they were my real friends, you know?”
After Madison pointed out how that might’ve been his “first mistake,” Austen concluded, “The other night just absolutely proved that to me. I’m like, whoa, both of those dudes are just not my friends.”
As the drama plays out, get even more details on Austen and Craig’s issues on Southern Charm Season 11.