After last week’s finale, it’s the Southern Charm Season 11 reunion! The season ended with Craig and Austen at odds again. This time, because Craig refused to take accountability for his own behavior. For instance, he blamed Salley for the demise of his relationship with Charley. Speaking of Salley, she refused to give up on Austen. She thinks they could be the real deal if they gave it a shot.
What happened on Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 16?
This week on Southern Charm Season 11 “Reunion Part 1,” things only get more confusing when Salley and Austen are asked about their relationship. Austen gets grilled about how he messed up with Audrey. And after the cast calls him a narcissist, Craig complains that the reunion is a pile-on and questions coming back.
Craig is on a different page than the rest of the cast
I’d be remiss not to mention that the reunion starts with Venita and Madison signaling Shep to zip up his fly.
Craig is in rare form. At one point, he says he’s wearing an evil eye bracelet to protect from negative spirits. He got it from a magician who also sold him empathy spray. This is a joke, or performance art, right?
Craig admits he hasn’t watched the season, but he lived it. Austen says Craig remembers things differently than everyone else. Shep agrees and, notably, so does Charley. Craig calls it how he sees it and was 100% himself this season. Shep whispers, “that’s scary.”
Craig insists, “I’m in a space in my life where I look for peace.” Whitner asks if he has a different definition of “peace” than everyone else. “Yelling at people is not very peaceful,” he adds.
Austen is still upset over the things Craig said about him this season. He says they’ve parted ways, and it’s for the best.
Is Whitner the most elligible Southern Charm bachelor?
When reflecting on the single antics of Shep, Craig, and Austen this season, Andy mentions the many questions about why ladies aren’t lining up for Whitner. Rodrigo, who finally put a ring on it (after 12 years and because Madison told him to) says Whit and Craig are the two most likely to settle down.
Madison hyped him up for Venita, who was interested! But Rodrigo failed to be a good wingman for her and asked Whit about Charley instead. Whit blushes learning about Venita’s interest.
Of course, this leads to Salley explaining her comments that viewers don’t know Whitner yet. She brushes it off by saying he talks about himself too much, but all the guys do.
What went wrong with Charley and Craig?
Charley says that Craig was a great suitor while it lasted. Craig continues to blame Salley, and she is sick of it. Then Craig reveals that Salley told him Charley was texting other guys. He claims Charley promised she wasn’t, which she says is not true. Charley insists she told him she was still on Raya.
Molly is thriving, but what about those rumors?
Molly, the queen of the season, is doing great. She wins best dressed at this reunion. She’s still with her musician beau, who’s in his fifties. And she sings at By The Way regularly.
But Molly was also in an unfortunate position this season when her vaginal plastic surgery came out. Venita agrees with viewers that gossiping about it was “disgusting” and inexcusable. Molly emphasizes Venita has apologized multiple times. And, significantly, never with the dreaded “I’m sorry, but …” (put in a pin in that). The cast agrees Salley is a gossip who never should’ve repeated the rumor (although Venita shouldn’t have said it on camera!). Molly is good with both Venita and Salley now, but they have to gain back her trust. Charley says Salley can keep a secret … if you make her swear to.
Is Austen embarrassed by Salley?
When Andy asks what the ladies are looking for, Salley points to Austen. She once said the perfect guy would be Austen’s personality and Craig’s looks. Salley mentions meeting Teddi gave her baby fever, and Andy asks Austen if he’ll give her one.
The group interrogates Austen and Salley about their intimacy. Craig asks if they’ve gone “all the way.” Are we in high school? Salley clearly wants to say something, but Austen gets defensive. They admit to sleepovers, but only because they fell asleep watching Heated Rivalry. Shep, who apparently lives under a rock, never heard of the show. Craig reminds people he and Austen are Southern Charm’s Heated Rivalry.
Everyone accuses Austen of lying and insists he must’ve slept with Salley. When Madison asks if Austen’s embarrassed, Salley wonders, “are you embarrassed of me?”
Madison reveals that Austen told her Salley goes out too much, and that if she toned things down and wasn’t “out on the streets” he might be more interested. He even references her body count (Andy, thankfully, points out that Austen isn’t one to talk). Salley says she’s allowed to act like a single woman, but she’s a great girlfriend who cooks and does laundry. Madison says she’d be the most loyal girlfriend, and Andy calls her a catch. Austen snaps that they can’t bully him into dating Salley. Yikes!
Salley’s made mistakes this season (we’ll get to those in a minute) but it’s hard not to feel bad for her here. As Andy repeatedly tries to point out, she’s being held to a different standard than the eternal bachelors.
Was Audrey the one who got away for Austen?
Austen stays defensive when it’s time to discuss Audrey. He brushes aside Craig’s claims about the relationship, because he only met Audrey four times (and thought her name was Aubrey). Craig admits his comments were based on his “analysis.”
Audrey was, understandably, furious watching the season. She ended her friendship with Rodrigo because he was “complicit” in Austen’s “bullsh*t.” Andy pretends that Audrey sent a video message … and I’ll admit, he got me this time!
Madison stands by telling Audrey about Salley’s crush. Rodrigo agrees Salley caused a wedge in the couple. Austen was too drunk to remember their explosive conversation at the engagement party. But he assumes it was about Salley. Audrey wanted to confront Salley, but Austen stopped her. Whitner (and viewers) would’ve liked to see it.
Madison says Audrey will forever be the one that got away for Austen. I still think that’s Madison, actually.
Also, for the record, Austen insists his relationship with Audrey never stopped him from getting in Craig’s infamous hot tub. Also, he didn’t have FOMO over Craig’s single life.
Craig and Austen go at it again
Austen stands by his jokes about the hot tub that made Craig flip out. He says it was just a “poke.” But Craig claims that poking someone until they break is manipulation. Whitner laughs and says, no, that’s called “having an explosive temper.”
Andy brings up the infamous birthday dinner. Austen explains why he called Craig’s addiction revelation manipulative. That Bahamas conversation was supposed to be about all their issues, but ended up just about Craig’s drinking. He also claims that, after filming that scene, Craig asked producers if it made them cry.
Shep says Austen went too far. But so did Craig by bullying Austen about being in the same place he was five years ago. Craig says sorry, and adds the dreaded “but … ” which Molly and Venita acknowledge. Charley says Craig did apologize at Whitner’s party. Austen insists that didn’t happen, but we see the clip. It’s another “I’m sorry, but … ”
Did Craig yell at Salley in front of her mom?
Austen says everyone in the Southern Charm cast has a “traumatizing” story of being yelled at by Craig. Craig says “only during filming” which is not an excuse? And allegedly not true. He apparently yelled at Salley off camera in front of her mom and made her cry. Charley and Rodrigo confirm. Craig insists he didn’t yell and that everyone has bad moments.
Andy mentions how many fans responded to Whitner’s summary that Austen has a victim complex and Craig is a narcissist. Whit says he came to that conclusion because he has eyes and ears.
Craig responds, “No, narcissists are incapable of having empathy. And literally, as an empath, it would be impossible for me to be a narcissist.” I gasped when he said “as an empath.” But Austen thinks he is a narcissist. Craig calls him a “d*ckhead.”
When they go to break, Craig rambles that it’s a “pile-on” and “unfair.” He’s not sure about coming back, and it almost looks like he’s taking a mic off. We’ll have to see what happens with Part 2 next week.
Southern Charm airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo. Episodes can also be streamed on Peacock.
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