Bravo’s Southern Charm has some new players this season, and one of the new cast members is Rodrigo Reyes. He’s a longtime friend of the group. Rodrigo and his boyfriend Tyler join fellow newcomers Rod Razavi and Jarrett “JT” Thomas.
Rodrigo first came to Charleston on a visit to see his then-girlfriend. She had transferred from Arizona State to the College of Charleston. Though the relationship didn’t work out, he fell in love with South Carolina.
“I’d never been to the east coast,” admits the interior designer. “It was so different than Arizona. I fell in love with the contrast of places.”
A new home and a new love for Southern Charm’s Rodrigo
When his former girlfriend fell in love and married, her husband’s best friend, Tyler entered his life and they became friends. “We started dating long distance, and eventually I moved here to be with him,” he says.
Roddy finds Charleston similar to Austin, Texas when it comes to acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. “It’s a very cultured city that understands and appreciates the differences that make up the US,” he says.
Coming from a large family (he’s the middle of nine children), his parents had very different reactions when he first came out. “My mom didn’t initially believe me,” he said in a recent interview. “She thought I was just saying something to get under [her] skin … It took her [a long time to] accept … even though my oldest brother is 20 years older than me and he’s gay. For her, it took her some time to get used to it.”
Ironically, Roddy’s dad was the complete opposite. “He literally was just like, ‘I love you. You’re my son.'”
The “machismo” expectations for men in the Latino culture were part of the way Rodrigo was raised. He was always taught to be “tough.” I’m sure that toughness has come in handy when he’s had to face off with his buddies Shep Rose, Austen Kroll and Craig Conover.
Southern Charm Season 9 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.
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