‘Southern Charm’ Star Craig Conover Isn’t The Least Bit Upset That His Ex-Naomie Olindo Is Off The Show: “Imagine Your Ex Showing Up at Your Work and Chirping At You All Day!”

Craig Conover is one of the OGs of Southern Charm — he and longtime friend, occasional nemesis Shep Rose are the last two cast members remaining from the show’s debut season (which aired wayyyyy back in 2014). Craig has gone through a lot of ups and downs on the program over the years, but as Southern Charm is entering its 9th season, he’s finally found stability. He and his steady ladyfriend, fellow Bravo star Paige DeSorbo, are collaborating on a major renovation of Craig’s Charleston home, his ex-girlfriend Naomie Olindo has been shown the proverbial door by the show’s producers, and his Sewing Down South business is turning into a burgeoning home goods empire (watch your back, Martha Stewart!).

Craig stopped by Decider HQ in midtown Manhattan yesterday morning, one night after taping an episode of Watch What Happens Live and buzzing with excitement after learning he’ll soon be throwing out the first pitch before a game for his beloved Baltimore Orioles, in front of family, friends, and (likely) a capacity crowd at Camden Yards. (His first pitch strategy? “If you throw it hard and mess up, it looks way better than if you try to aim it. So yeah, I think I’m just gonna whip it.”) We grilled him on a wide range of topics, including:

• What it was like being on the receiving end of a misguided outburst from Taylor Ann Green, and why he didn’t tell her that Shep had cheated on her (“It wasn’t the first time that Shep stepped out on Taylor. We had seen it multiple times — and Taylor forgave him, and nothing changed in their relationship”)
• If he’s finally been able to convince Paige to go hot tubbing with him
• How he felt filming without Kathryn Dennis and Naomie (“Imagine your ex showing up at your work and chirping at you all day!”)
• His destiny to host a Bravo show about extraterrestrials that he would name … “Craig-Spiracies?”
• He and Shep’s plans to become the new Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
• And much, much more!

DECIDER: First question out of the gate. What exactly is going on with the construction at your house? Feels like it’s been going on since before COVID!

CRAIG CONOVER: It’s done — and it’s awesome. I’ve really put together an oasis. I’ve missed seeing my friends and family — I just don’t go out that much anymore — so I built a place for everyone to come hang. That’s how my parents’ house is in Delaware. You wake up and you look out back and you never know who’s gonna be over and swimming in the pool. So it’s finally together, and feels like home. It’s a lot of black and white outside, which, you know, Paige definitely has the eye for that stuff. But it’s been great. And I just had my parents in town last week. So I think towards the end of the season, you’ll get to see it.

How much input has Paige had in your whole renovation project? I know she’s not a fan of hot tubs, which seems insane? 

She likes ours! But my mom was the same way. But I was like, “Guys, it’s the same water as the pool, it all flows together.” It was a win/win for me. I had finished construction, but interior design wise, Paige really had a hand in all of it. She found the designer, and she worked with the designer. I was like, “You know, even if we don’t work out, at least I still have an awesome home.” And she was like, “You know, you’re gonna have to get rid of all this furniture if we break up. ” And I was like, “I’m definitely not. This furniture is not going anywhere, I’m sorry.” Like, the new girl will have to deal with that. [Laughs] No, but if we fortunately work out, Paige feels like this is her home. And that was the goal. So she decorated it a little kind of ’70s vintage, almost Floridian with lime greens and pinks. She thinks you can do stuff in Charleston that you can’t do anywhere else. 

Can’t wait to see the finished results! Circling back a little bit here, in the early days of the show, you were sort of leading the charge when it came to the partying side of things. But as the seasons have gone on, now you’re one of the elder statesmen, coaching people and doling out relationship advice. How has that evolution been for you?

I mean, it feels great, but it took some work. You always think you’re more grown up than you are. Ciara, our friend from Summer House and Winter House, was like “Craig, your message is usually right, but it gets lost in your delivery. You’re too reactive, and everything that you mean to say doesn’t come out correctly.” So I was able to take a step back, and started working out in the mornings, which cut my drinking by like 90%. I haven’t drank liquor in almost two years — but I drink a lot of beer and wine this season. [laughs] So it’s still plenty, but you know…

I think we get to see my change in the first episode. You know, Taylor came at me pretty charged, and I was very happy [with how I handled it]. I did get worked up eventually but I’m okay with that because it wasn’t like a hair-trigger. You know, she was coming at me for a while and then I reacted — and I think I got my message across. 

There was a time and place for all of the partying and finding myself and, you know, filling whatever void that was. And now I feel like I’ve settled down with Paige, I found a good partner, and I want that for everyone else. Because when you look at Austen — I know he wants what I have, in the most endearing way. He is meant to be a boyfriend; he just wants one partner, but he just doesn’t know how to do it. He doesn’t know how to get out of his own way. And I think Shep does secretly, too. It’s somewhere in him. But the fact that I’m now the one giving advice — or considered to be the level-headed one — means like, probably everyone else is really messed up. [laughs]

One of the big changes this season on Southern Charm is that there’s no Kathryn. Obviously, you two were there from the very beginning and went through a LOT of stuff together. What’s your relationship like with her these days? You two were always so close.

We all miss Kathryn. She’s always been my closest counterpart on the show. To have been able to gossip with her this year would have been a blast, but I also miss her in real life. She didn’t get the best draw, you know, the best hand of cards — and she’s working through that. So we talk as much as we can. 

Shep and I actually filmed with Kathryn once (this season). I don’t know if it was allowed or not, or who knew about it. But it was important to me and Shep to do that. I hope we get to see it, but I don’t think we will. But she’s doing better, and the door is open for next season, hopefully.

Another person that didn’t return this season was Naomie. Were you a little bit happier that maybe she wasn’t there after to the awkwardness of last season?

Imagine your ex showing up at your work and chirping at you all day! Like, anyone would have had the exact same reaction. I mean, at the end of the day, that’s what was going on. And now it’s Shep’s turn. You know, Austin had to do it (with Madison), and I had to do it — it’s just the natural progression of stuff. You know, I hope she’s doing well. I think it’ll be a little less confusing this year. Like, “Why is Craig always so angry?” And I’m like, “Because my ex girlfriend’s here messing with me!”

Last October, right before BravoCon, I sat down with you and Austen, and I asked Austen about all of the chatter on social media where Southern Charm fans were hoping that he and Taylor would test the relationship waters. He told me that day, and I quote, “Taylor and I are very close. I love her like a sister. but I’m not too sure that you’re going to see a love connection happening between us.” Well, from the teaser that Bravo released for this season, it looks as if there actually was a love connection…

That was this interview, wasn’t it? I think whatever this season is about had already started BEFORE that interview. I was like, “[Austen] just lied to both of us, with a straight face?!?” This season is INCREDIBLE, and it’s a throwback to old school Southern Charm where everything actually happens on camera. The reactions are so pure, and in [tonight’s episode], I find something out and get up from the table kind of laughing, because I’m like “There’s no way that you’re that stupid! There is NO WAY that you did this!” And you get to see Shep in a place you’ve never seen him before. You’ll be like, “Why do I feel sympathy for Shep, that’s a weird feeling I’ve never had.” And you’ll see him work through some stuff. And Austen and Taylor … you know, whatever’s going on with them all comes out this season. And it’s a heck of a ride. But yeah, you somehow called the whole thing without even knowing you were doing it.

I just feel like after eight seasons of watching y’all, I have some insight! One thing that surprised me, though, was at Madison’s wedding party in the first episode, Taylor really rips into you. It seemed like a lot of misdirected anger, and I think you did a good job processing it.

[laughs] Thanks.

Did you expect anything like that, or did it just come out of the blue? 

Well, she had mentioned something similar right after [she found out Shep was cheating]. And I was kind of taken aback, because she was like, “Why didn’t you tell me Shep cheated on me?” And I was like, “What?” Like, that would never happen. But there’s more to it. The reason it would never happen is because it wasn’t the first time that Shep stepped out on Taylor. We had seen it multiple times — and Taylor forgave him, and nothing changed in their relationship. So I’m not going to run and tattle on my friend if it’s not the first time. Like, if it was the first time Shep done something dishonest to Taylor, maybe you have a responsibility to be like, “Hey, your partner might be stepping out on you.” But that had already happened — and Taylor decided to stay with him.

I was also shocked because I had a big part of babysitting Shep [on the night he almost cheated with Southern Hospitality star Mia Alario]. And I felt like I was being a very good friend to Taylor.

You threw him through a wall, as you said…

I just think it’s funny that Austen tried to get me to leave right before that. I mean, how many of us have been in the bar and been like “One more drink.” And that’s when all the bad stuff happens. I have sympathy for Taylor, because she’s a sweet girl, and I think she’s lost. But being cheated on will do that to people. I mean, the person that you trust most in life is the one that ultimately betrays you? It really messes with your head.

Did she ever circle back to apologize to you? Because I spoke to Taylor last week, and she still seemed like she had a little bit of weird resentment towards you, for whatever reason.

Look, it’s very hard to hate the person that you used to love. If she needs to direct that hate towards me, then fine, but I couldn’t have fixed her and Shep. But as you’ll see later this season, I go to an event, and Taylor kind of opens up to me and apologizes. I mean, I’m fortunate to be in a place where stuff like doesn’t bother me anymore. 

One of the new faces this season is JT, who I know is a golfing buddy of yours. What can you tells us about him? From the previews, he seems like he’s going to be a bit of an antagonist…

Yeah, he’s a professional thorn in Austen’s side. It’s incredible, he showed up to PLAY. 

JT has been around for awhile — always kind of a fringe friend, someone who was good friends with our good friends. But he’s persistent. And during COVID, we all started to hang out a lot more. And I think no one really knows where they stand with him at first, but he’s obsessed with Taylor. And so his obsession with Taylor really takes us through the season. 

One of the things that’s always been appealing to me, as a male viewer of Southern Charm, has been the friendship between you and Shep. You know, the power dynamics, if you will, between you two have shifted a lot over the years, but it seems like you guys are in a great place now that he’s been going through a really rough time. Can you talk a little bit about how your friendship has evolved as you’ve been a shoulder for him to lean on?

I think we just finally accepted each other for who we are. We’ve stopped trying to change each other and just appreciate that, even though we’re opposites on a lot of stuff, we have this bond. So we’re kind of like brothers who go home on Christmas, and for the first two to three days, they have a great time together — but four is too much. And on that fourth day, they started to fight and it’s time to go home. So we’ve learned how to spend limited quality time together. 

It’s been a blast, he’s been Airbnb’ing his house out a little bit in Charleston and has gone back to traveling. So when he’s in town, he’s started to stay with me. And you know, one or two times is fine, but one time it was three nights and I’m like, “What are you doing here? You have a house down the road!” [laughs] And so we love each other. He and I are in a great place. We’re going into a business venture soon, which is hilarious. 

Can you say anything about that, or no?

It’s a sports team, which we’re very excited about, but we can’t talk about the details yet. 

Are you two the new Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney?

[Laughs] That’s kind of the goal, right? I mean, why not? On a very smaller scale. The truth is, [Shep] was like, “I think I want to do this with you, but not you and Austen.” I said, “Okay,” and he said, “Don’t tell Austen.” And then Austen comes to me, and he’s like, “What are you doing with Shep?” And I was like, “Did Shep get drunk and tell you what he told ME not to tell you?” I think that’s why this season resembles Vanderpump Rules, but it’s not nearly as dark and no one’s trying to ruin each other’s lives. 

So I know you’re on like eight different Bravo shows at this point, but when are you going to pitch Andy Cohen a show about aliens? I know from listening to your podcast that you are like MISTER Alien. 

You might see some tinfoil hat situations on Southern Charm this year. He should at least give me a radio show on his Sirius channel. 

Pop in once a week on Radio Andy…

I think it’s Channel 102. Craig and his theories … Craig-Spiracies?!?

There you go! You need to make this happen. Last thing for you for now. Sewing Down South has been a runaway success, and I know you were recently here in NYC pitching some execs. What can you tell us about where you’re at now, and the momentum you’ve got?

It’s been a wild ride and it’s fun. It’s picking up steam. Like, we’re getting to the size that now we have HR issues to deal with. 

How big is the company now? 

We’ve got about 30 employees. We’ve got a collaboration with Kroger that we’ve been working on for a year and a half. So starting this holiday season, we’ll be in 2300 Kroger-owned stores: Harris Teeter, Mariano’s, Kroger, Fred Meyer… And then in the spring of 2024, next year, we’ll have about 50 products in all 2300 of their stores. So anywhere that you saw Martha Stewart, I’m starting to slide into that space, which has always been the goal. We’ve got an entire new candle line coming out that we make in Charleston, and Paige and I did another collection together. So Paige 2.0 comes out next month, and we’ll have holiday pillows at BravoCon. So Sewing Down South is trying to be in every room in your house … in a non creepy way.

Southern Charm Season 9 episodes are Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Episodes will be available to stream next day on Peacock.