Credit: Farreno Ferguson/Bravo
A Bahamas Breakthrough
During a March 2025 episode of Southern Charm, Kroll and Conover had a breakthrough after months of friction in their friendship. The costars were on a trip to the Bahamas, which was filmed in summer 2024, when Conover confided in Kroll about his ongoing struggles with alcohol.
“Austen, I know that you love me. But do you have a hard time not hating me?” Conover asked while sitting at a bonfire. Kroll laughed before admitting, “Sometimes, sure. I have the same thought about you, Craig.”
When asked what makes him so “mad” about Conover, Kroll said he was an “embellisher.” Conover took offense, replying, “I’m a lawyer and a storyteller.”
A few minutes later, Conover pulled Kroll aside to have a deeper conversation about why his recent life changes — staying in and not hanging out with Kroll as often — were necessary for his health.
“I feel like where all the disconnect has come because you’ve created this wonderful image that you are terrified of disappointing someone or something that now in order to maintain this I need to sit at my house and not see me with a beer or something,” Kroll told Conover.
Kroll explained, “It’s like Craig doesn’t want to hang or do this because he’s got the image to protect. You’ve just gotten drunk on nice guy Craig. I just want you to loosen the reins a little bit.”
Conover confessed, “I can’t because I don’t have any lease on myself. That’s any addict. I was like, ‘F—. Me, like, trying not to be an alcoholic is now affecting my friendship with Austen.’”
Conover revealed that he was tearing up because he was “in the trenches by myself trying to better myself. Then you were like, ‘You’re never with me anymore.’ I’m like dude … ‘I can’t. I gotta stay on my couch. I leave my couch I’m going to drink a bottle of Jager and do dumb s—.’”
Kroll was taken aback by Conover using the term “addict” because he’d never told him that before. Conover noted he’d “never said it out loud” but said that was his truth — he’d been trying to cut out liquor because it was taking over his world.
While Kroll told the cameras that Conover’s “addiction doesn’t excuse from being an a——,” he said it does afford Conover more “grace” on his end.
“I’m sorry that I never told you,” Conover said, apologizing for letting his recovery affect their “time together,” noting it was so he could “get better.” They ended the conversation with a hug and saying “I love you.”