In a sneak peek from the January 2 episode of Southern Charm, Austen Kroll is seen confronting his longtime friend, Craig Conover, about the growing distance in their friendship. Austen, 37, expresses that he misses hanging out with Craig and feels that they’ve drifted apart.
“I miss my buddy, and that’s where I’m coming to you from,” Austen admits. He notes that while they still communicate, Craig isn’t someone he reaches out to for casual activities like lunch or drinks. “If I’m going to lunch, you’re not on my phone call list,” he says. Austen is frustrated that Craig’s usual response to these invitations is that he’s busy with his gardening.
Craig, 35, seems caught off guard by the conversation and quickly defends himself. He challenges Austen’s claim by asking when the last time Austen tried to schedule something with him was. “That’s a you thing,” Craig responds. “I’m not a f—ing mind reader.” He thought their friendship was fine and suggested setting up regular plans, like a weekly tee time.
However, Austen doesn’t seem to appreciate Craig’s sarcasm, especially since Craig’s absence from important group events, such as Patricia Altschul’s birthday dinner, has left a mark. In one example, Austen recalls a time when Craig canceled their golf plans on a Sunday because he had to tend to his garden.
In response, Craig explained that he didn’t want to waste time on golf when there were other things to prioritize. “It was work. … That’s what makes me happy now is working and making money,” he says, justifying his decision.
Austen, who joined Southern Charm in 2017, has had a long-standing friendship with Craig. The pair even opened a bar called By The Way together. However, Austen feels that Craig has become more reclusive and wishes for him to strike a better balance between work and socializing.
Earlier this month, Austen shared with Us Weekly that he wishes Craig would spend more time with him and his girlfriend, Audrey. “Craig is like a hermit,” he added, feeling that Craig’s intense focus on work has led to him missing out on social activities.
While Austen supports Craig’s success with his businesses like Sewing Down South and Spritz Society, he hopes their friendship doesn’t fade due to Craig’s busy schedule. He jokingly added that upcoming conversations with Craig about their friendship may seem childish but are necessary. “The message is there,” he quipped.
