We’re not sure when or why The Viall Files became so popular, but after this latest episode with Austen Kroll, plenty of fans are ready for them to pull the plug. Nick Viall and his wife, Natalie Joy, hosted the Southern Charm star in a recent episode, and they’re facing major backlash for their whacky line of questioning about a deeply personal tragedy.
The Viall Files hosted Austen Kroll
If you didn’t know, Austen from Southern Charm faced a major family tragedy when he was a child. During a family hiking trip, his 9-year-old sister Kyle fell from a cliff and died. This happened in 1997, and Austen has talked about it on the show on several occasions.
Obviously, it’s a sensitive subject, but Natalie and Nick didn’t treat it like one on their show. During their interview with Austen, they transitioned from discussing Southern Charm drama to bringing up this heartbreaking tragedy as if it were nothing.
Natalie said, “Quickly jumping out of Southern Charm, I’m sure we’re gonna jump right back into it, but going into your childhood, I didn’t know this about your sister passing at 9.”
What kind of transition is that? As the harebrained interview continued, you could see Austen becoming visibly uncomfortable. His leg was shaking as the couple continued pressing him for increasingly intrusive details about the accident.
“Weird question, but like what is your younger sister’s relationship with your sister who passed?” Nick asked, gesturing with his hands. “In a kind of almost spiritual way?”
Meanwhile, Natalie wanted to know how old Austen was when it happened. She also asked whether or not he was there on the hiking trip. At one point, she asked the incredibly stupid question, “What is this cliff?”
Despite being clearly uncomfortable with the insensitive questions, Austen managed to keep the conversation going. He’s a professional, but plenty of fans are dragging Nick and Natalie because they aren’t.
One person on YouTube wrote, “This is the problem with any influencer having a podcast, maybe get some training on how to do your job professionally and with class.”
Another added, “That was vile. We’ve seen this man in TEARS when he talks about his sister on TV. And you just jump in like it’s a question about a ham sandwich.”
Southern Charm airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo. You can stream it the next day on Peacock.
TELL US – DID YOU WATCH THE VIALL FILES EPISODE WITH AUSTEN? DO YOU THINK NICK AND NATLIE OWE HIM AN APOLOGY FOR THEIR INSENSITIVE LINE OF QUESTIONING?
