"I don't trust him" — Southern Charm’s Austen Kroll chimes on tension with costar JT Thomas

The tension between Southern Charm stars Austen Kroll and Jarrett “JT” Thomas has become a significant storyline on the Bravo series. As season 10 began airing on December 5, Kroll elaborated on his challenges in navigating his relationship with Thomas while striving to “be the bigger man— literally and metaphorically.”

The unresolved issues stemmed from their heated interactions during season 9, including a physical altercation and a controversial reunion moment where Thomas attempted a so-called “f---boy exorcism” on Kroll. In a recent interview with People on December 5, Kroll addressed the dynamic.

“I don't trust him as far as I can throw him, which actually I could probably throw him pretty far, if we're being honest,” he said.

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Tension between Southern Charm's Austen Kroll and JT Thomas

The origin of the rift

The friction between Kroll and Thomas reached a peak in Southern Charm’s season 9. The reunion episode saw Thomas delivering harsh critiques of Kroll, which Kroll later described as “horrible and awful.” Reflecting on the impact of these events, Kroll told People,

“You don't just slander someone with horrible and awful things for as long as he did at the reunion and then expect it to all be cool.”

The tension escalated further during the season 9 finale, where their disputes became physical. By the time of the season 10 premiere, Kroll acknowledged the difficulty of being around Thomas.

“Every time that you see him, you just don’t want to punch him in the face. I am trying my hardest in the beginning to fight these [tendencies],” Kroll said.

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A complicated reunion

The launch of Southern Charm season 10 saw Kroll and Thomas meet in person at the Carolina Cup horse race held in South Carolina. Thomas, who had been recovering from an ATV accident, attempted to extend an olive branch by gifting canes to several castmates, including Kroll. However, the gesture did not land well. Thomas remarked to Kroll,

“I think I was a little harsh on you during the exorcism. I’m happy as hell for you that you got a girlfriend. So, I got something for you.”

Kroll expressed doubt about the exchange, questioning whether Thomas intended to use the cane he had given him to strike him.

“I’m not fighting with you. This is your cane because you turned over a new leaf,” Thomas replied.

The gesture drew criticism not only from Kroll but also from Patricia Altschul, who commented during the episode,

“What’s next, a wheelchair?... It was kind of a stupid gift in my estimation.”

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Looking ahead

While JT Thomas has since stepped away from the show and is not expected to participate in the season 10 reunion, his past actions continue to shape the narrative. Kroll expressed his views on Thomas’s absence from the reunion in the People interview.

“In the Bravo universe, there are like three certainties: there’s death, there’s taxes, and there’s your f---ing reunion. You go to your reunion, you face the music...," he stated.

Austen Kroll expressed his belief that JT Thomas is avoiding the consequences of his actions, saying,

"It’s very apparent to me that he doesn’t want to have to face the music for all the things that you’re about to see on this upcoming season.”

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As Southern Charm season 10 progresses, viewers will witness how Kroll and the other cast members address the fallout from past conflicts while navigating their evolving relationships. Southern Charm airs on Thursdays at 9 pm ET on Bravo.