What happens in Charleston definitely doesn’t stay there — at least when it comes to the details about Bravo stars Justin Assad and Charley Manley’s romance.
“I really like Charley,” Justin, 29, revealed during the Wednesday, April 22, episode of Southern Hospitality, after Charley, 28, made her debut on the reality show by attending Joe Bradley’s Emo birthday party alongside fellow Southern Charm castmate Salley Carson.
Justin explained that the Bravo episode was filmed just days after he and Charley — who joined the Southern Charm cast during season 11 — met in person for the first time.
“We found love in a hopeless place. Instagram DMs,” Justin confessed. “We grabbed drinks over the weekend and like we had a pretty f***ing amazing date.”
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He then revealed that the night didn’t end there. “I lied to her about locking myself out of my apartment so we had a cheeky little sleepover,” Justin revealed. “We haven’t separated too much since.”
Rumors surfaced in March that Justin, who is new to the Southern Hospitality cast, was dating Charley following her brief romance with Southern Charm’s Craig Conover.
“I’ve heard whispers,” Joe, 30, exclusively told Us Weekly on March 19, hinting that the rumors about his costar were spot on. “The world will find out the truth. But I’m not sure. So who knows?”
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Charley confirmed later that month at the Southern Charm season 11 reunion that she was in fact seeing Justin. She also claimed that she was not “love-bombing” Craig, 37, while filming the series in spring and summer 2025.
Craig alleged at the reunion that Charley led him on and was seeing other guys behind his back.
“Charley and I were still, like, hanging out. Finally, Austen [Kroll] sat me down in Vegas and he was like, ‘Dude, whatever she’s telling you that she’s not talking to someone, I met him. He’s real,’” Craig claimed, saying Austen, 38, told him in fall 2025 that Charley “brought [her man] to the bar and said, ‘I’m in love.’”
Charley denied the allegations, claiming, “I never said I was not talking to anyone.” She then told host Andy Cohen that she was dating Justin, but didn’t reveal when their romance began. (Justin and Charley have been posting loved-up photos together since mid-March.)
Joe’s birthday party has since shed light on the timeline as he turned 30 in August 2025 and Charley and Justin were newly together at the event.
“You look unreal. You look good,” Justin told Charley during Tuesday’s episode after she walked into the party. “I’m glad I got to see you tonight.”
Charley said she felt the same way before asking Justin, “Do I look like I would normally come to an Emo night?”
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“So you’re saying you came for me?” he cheekily replied before making a hopeful face. “Yes,” Charley replied bluntly.
Justin was visibly surprised, asking, “Really?” to which Charley once again said, “Yes.”
Later in the evening, Justin put his arms on Charley’s shoulders and told her, “It’s been refreshing. Your company’s been refreshing. And I enjoy it.”
“I’ve known you for two days,” Charley pointed out, making a surprised face. “I know, crazy right?” Justin replied, teasing, “I’m getting to like the love-bomber accusations.”
Southern Hospitality airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
