Southern Charm star Salley Carson spilled the tea about the alleged extent of Austen Kroll and Taylor Ann Green’s past fling.
“I had a conversation with Austen in the Bahamas that was not filmed, and he just kind of told me that they definitely got handsy with each other,” Salley, 30, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, February 24, while promoting season 10. “And more happened than a makeout, but not sex.”
She alleged that Austen, 37, told her “the only reason that they didn’t go all the way” was because he was “too intoxicated.” Salley claimed Austen’s “equipment wasn’t working” at the time.
Austen and Taylor, 30, made headlines during season 9 of Southern Charm when rumors surfaced that they had a “sleepover” shortly after Taylor and Shep Rose split. (Us confirmed in July 2022 that Taylor and Shep, 42, broke up after two years of dating.)
Austen and Taylor denied for weeks that they did anything romantic. “There are friends in my life where I could share a bed with, and things don’t happen. And I kind of feel that way about Taylor,” Austen claimed during a September 2023 episode.
Craig Conover revealed at the time that he wasn’t convinced Austen and Taylor didn’t at least kiss. “He looked down and to the left when he said that,” Craig told Shep during the 2023 episode of Austen’s actions. Craig later told the cameras, “You only have to watch a handful of spy movies to know if you look down and to the left that means you’re lying.”
‘Southern Charm’ Season 9 Trailer: Austen Teases Possible Taylor Hookup
Shep initially believed Austen, but throughout the episode he too began to question his friend’s loyalty. “I go 50/50 on if something’s happened between them,” Shep confessed at the time. “I would not be surprised if they both looked at each other [and say], ‘Let’s just go for it and no one will ever know.’ I think it’s f—d up.”
During an October 2023 episode, Austen finally confessed to kissing Taylor while he was still talking to Olivia Flowers, who was close friends with Taylor. (Austen and Olivia dated for a year before calling it quits in September 2022.)
“I was pretty disappointed,” Taylor exclusively told Us while discussing the October 2023 episode in which Austen exposed their kissing secret. She confessed that she felt “a little bit” betrayed that Austen didn’t give her a heads up that he was going to tell the truth — especially because she had lied to Olivia.
Southern Charm’s Craig Conover Claims Austen Slept With Some of His Exes
Austen later revealed more details about his and Taylor’s alleged hookup during a November 2023 episode of the Bravo show. “It takes two to tango,” he said, claiming that Taylor “kinda made a move on me, if I’m being honest.”
He was adamant that they didn’t have sex, but confessed, “I felt not bad about it” since the kiss marked a “brief f—ing moment with someone that I’m close with.”
“I’ll never forget that the next day, when she called me, I was like, ‘Taylor, thank God, we didn’t sleep together,’” Austen alleged.
Craig, however, was confused by the series of events, saying, “What do you mean, she left your room after you kissed?” Austen replied, “It wasn’t in my room. … It was in my kitchen.”
Despite Austen and Taylor’s claims about their romantic past, most of their castmates still believe they had sex.
During a February episode of the Southern Charm: After Show, the cast played a game explaining how “everyone has had sex with everyone.” They drew lines between cast photos connecting people who’ve kissed, had sex or sexted.
“We don’t know about these two, right?” Leva Bonaparte asked Venita Aspen, who replied, “Who are these two?”
Leva, 45, said she was referring to Taylor and Austen going all the way. “They won’t admit it,” Molly O’Connell said while speaking about the same pairing. Salley also hinted that sex was on the table but since Austen’s “equipment wasn’t working” it didn’t occur.
Looking back on Austen and Taylor’s scandalous hookup, Salley told Us that she’s not surprised Shep chose to forgive them both.
“Shep is a very neutral person. I feel like he’s kind of, ‘You only have one life. Why would you spend it getting mad at your friends or waste your time being upset with someone?’” she revealed. “He’s always been that way.”
Southern Charm’s Olivia Flowers Questions Taylor, Austen’s Romance Timeline
Since their alleged hookup, Taylor has moved on with boyfriend Gaston Rojas, whom she began dating in October 2023. Austen has been dating girlfriend Audrey Pratt since December 2023.
Shep, meanwhile, had a whirlwind romance with Sienna Evans in 2024 but they split by November of that year. Olivia, who didn’t return for season 10, announced her engagement to Alex Williams in October 2024.
Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
