During the latest episode of Southern Hospitality, Maddi Reese revealed that rumors about Joe Bradley’s sexuality delayed the start of their relationship — and TJ Dinch was to blame.
“Three or four years ago, TJ spread a bunch of rumors that I was gay,” Joe told newbie Austin Stephan during the Thursday, January 9, episode of the Bravo show.
Austin wasn’t surprised by the revelation, telling Joe that TJ “used to tell me the same s—. He would straight up tell me that you were gay.”
Maddie, who is currently dating Joe, confessed that the stories around town made her hesitate to act on her feelings toward him.
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“Three years ago, everyone was talking about the rumor,” Maddi recalled. “So, of course, I kinda believed TJ when he told me Joe is flirty, or fruity, or what’s the word? Gay.”
She confessed, “That was the reason why I did not hook up with Joe for a long time.”
Maddi said since she began seeing Joe, she can confirm the rumors aren’t true. “Obviously, I’ve slept with Joe. I sleep with Joe. He likes p—,” she declared.
Joe, for his part, said that he confronted TJ when he heard the rumors, but TJ vehemently denied that he started them.
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“I said, ‘Why the f— you would say that to people?’ And he said, ‘No, I would never say that. I would never tell anyone that. I promise you I didn’t do it,’” Joe told the cameras, admitting, “Since I am a very trusting person, I believed it. And now I’m paying for it.”
Joe claimed that his one-time best friend “makes you believe you can trust him and then he’ll f— you over.”
In addition to allegedly spreading rumors about his sexuality, Joe took issue with TJ telling people that he hooked up with Luann de Lesseps in January 2024 when he said he told him the truth in confidence.
“That’s when it hit me. TJ’s the one telling people that I’m gay,” Joe said during Thursday’s episode. “Because he’s the mouth of the South.”
Us broke the news in January 2024 that Joe and Luann, 59, were spotted getting cozy at a New York City hotel after they met during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
During the season 2 Southern Hospitality reunion the following month, TJ told host Andy Cohen he was “99 percent” sure that Joe and Luann hooked up. Joe denied the allegations.
TJ revealed during the season 3 premiere, which aired on January 2, that he hadn’t spoken to Joe for months since their drama at the reunion.
TJ, however, remained adamant that not only did Joe kiss Luann but also “cheated” on his then-girlfriend, Danielle Olivera, with the Real Housewives of New York City alum. (Danielle, 36, confirmed her and Joe’s split in February 2024.)
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Joe played somewhat coy about exactly what transpired with Luann during the season 3 premiere, but he did confirm to Us in December 2024 that he “kissed” her. He claimed that he wasn’t trying to hide anything but was still upset with TJ for breaking his trust.
Those trust issues have been front and center so far this season — especially since Maddi is still friends with TJ, which Joe confessed worries him. (Joe and Maddi exclusively told Us that they’ve been dating since April 2024, which is right around the time the cameras picked back up.)
“It was also kinda pissing me off that you were being so buddy-buddy with him,” Joe told Maddi during the new episode, referring to her conversation with TJ at a group party one week prior.
Maddi, however, maintained that her friendship with TJ shouldn’t affect her relationship with Joe.
“You can be friends with somebody and have boundaries,” she told her boyfriend. “You know you can’t trust [TJ] with your to the grave s—, you obviously know that, but there’s no reason he can’t be your friend.”
Joe claimed, “Me and TJ’s problems are way deeper.” Maddi pointed out that they aren’t “addressing the elephant in the room.”
Fans will continue to see Joe and TJ’s drama unfold with every new episode. In fact, Joe exclusively told Us ahead of the season that TJ’s “mindset” will “make a lot more sense once you watch it.”
He teased, “Some people thinks that he has feelings for me, [but] I think that’s in the past, but who knows? This season everyone will kind of find out TJ’s true colors and why he’s acting the way he is towards me.”
Southern Hospitality airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
