‘Southern Attraction’ Star Craig Conover On The Rising Distance Between Him And Shep Rose And Austen Kroll: “They’re Mourning The Loss Of Their Bar Buddy”
At solely 24 years previous, Craig Conover — then an aspiring lawyer — signed on for a little bit present known as Southern Attraction with the objective of staying on for “three years.” Now at 36 years previous, Conover is getting into the Bravo present’s tenth season with a profitable pillow enterprise, a loving long-term girlfriend, and one eye on the “subsequent chapter” in his life as he leaves partying and consuming previously.
Throughout a go to to DECIDER’s studio following the Southern Attraction Season 10 premiere, Conover credited his girlfriend, Summer season Home star Paige DeSorbo, for being an “unbelievable affect” who has “impressed” him to faucet into his potential as he expands his Charleston-based enterprise Stitching Down South, which opened a second location in Nashville earlier this yr.
However with turning into extra relationship and business-oriented, Conover needed to make a serious way of life change. In keeping with the truth star, he “just about stopped consuming” nearly two years in the past — and whereas the choice “elevated” his drive and has largely “modified [his] life” for the higher, it additionally appeared to trigger some strife together with his mates (and fellow co-stars) Shep Rose and Austen Kroll.
“I feel Shep and Austen are having a extremely robust time mourning the lack of their bar buddy,” Conover mentioned, earlier than including, “We have been superb on the bar collectively. However I’m 36 years previous and I would like extra for my life. So I’m completely happy to be going into this subsequent chapter.”
Lately, Conover mentioned he finds worth in spending “high quality time with Paige” in addition to his workers and his companies. “I might like to spend high quality time with [Shep and Austen] too. It simply – it’s going to look a little bit completely different,” he mentioned.
Conover additionally opened up about his relationship with DeSorbo, the JT Thomas drama on this season of Southern Attraction, and which conspiracy theories have despatched him down a rabbit gap these days. Try the complete interview under.
DECIDER: As a Southern Attraction OG, how does it really feel to be going into your tenth season? Once you first signed on, did you ever suppose you’d nonetheless be right here a decade later?
CRAIG CONOVER: The objective was three years. I feel once we began Jersey Shore was in its third yr. And I used to be like, “If we are able to get to that, it means we at the very least completed one thing.” That was my benchmark. However I used to be 24 after I began filming. I’m 36 now, so a 3rd of my life I’ve shared with everybody and it’s been actually cool to see the chapters evolve and for everybody to go on this trip with us. I keep in mind our a centesimal episode, my grandfather was actually excited and proud as a result of I suppose that could be a large accomplishment for tv. And now, you realize, we’ve acquired like 160 episodes or one thing loopy. So I’m happy with it and it’s turn into a large a part of my life.
Stitching Down South is flourishing! Not solely do you will have the Charleston location, however you additionally opened a retailer in Nashville this yr. What’s subsequent for your enterprise?
That’s what we’re making an attempt to determine now. We’re sort of at this crossroads the place we’re 5 years previous and it’s going nice, however we’ve acquired lots of completely different prongs to our wheel now. And I feel over the vacations, we’re going to do some soul looking and see which path we actually wish to run in as a result of we do retailer model stuff for Kroger now, so we’re in a whole lot of their shops with our “What’s Unsuitable with My Baking” line [that] simply launched, which was actually enjoyable to do – to design some kitchen stuff. And we’re doing a line with Belk, which is thrilling, within the Southeast. And we’ve acquired a manufacturing facility that we’re opening in North Carolina the place we do sleeping pillows. So, it’s me, Amanda and Jerry – my two companions – however we’ve acquired, like, 25 workers and [we’re] simply figuring our stuff out. So [we’re trying] to be higher subsequent week than we’re at present. However it’s actually only one foot in entrance of the opposite and staying organized, however staying tight.
Do you suppose you’d ever open a New York location? Or do you wish to hold it down South?
No, I might like to. I feel we’re studying loads with the Nashville location, and it’s enjoyable. Like my companions have been fearful how I might take challenges or just like the notion of it and I used to be like, “Guys we’re human. Not each single factor goes to be good.” You simply hope to have extra wins than losses. And the Nashville retailer is doing positive. However it’s completely different than Charleston. And so I feel pop ups would in all probability be the longer term for different cities as a result of we’re this city in Hamilton, Missouri that has all of this like quilting tourism. This there’s lots of, once more, completely different concepts that we’ve. However I might like to have perhaps a vacation pop up in New York subsequent yr, like in Manhattan, as a result of our vacation stuff is so enjoyable. Should you see it subsequent yr, it occurred right here. This the place the thought got here from. It spurred proper right here within the studio.
At BravoCon final yr, you mentioned you’d love for Kathryn Dennis to come back again to the present. Are you continue to in contact along with her? And do you suppose returning to Southern Attraction is one thing she would ever think about?
I could possibly be higher with it. Typically, simply staying in contact with individuals that you simply’re not round on a regular basis, yeah, I could possibly be higher with that. However I do know she is making an attempt her hardest and I hope she’s doing properly. And I might like to see the subsequent chapter of her life on this present as a result of I’ve had a curler coaster of a trip additionally, and I’ve needed to work by means of my very own stuff. And I feel it’s nice to have a platform to share that, like, irrespective of the place your life is right here, there’s mild on the finish of the tunnel … What was the second a part of the query?
Would she ever come again?
I feel so. Yeah, I feel so, for certain. I feel the door’s open there.
Your entire Bravo universe is obsessive about you and Paige. How are you guys doing? And can she be making extra appearances on this season of Southern Attraction?
Within the spring, we dwell in Charleston, so I hope we see extra of her. However, you realize, it’s out of my fingers. However she’s undoubtedly filmed with us loads.
Fingers crossed that there’s extra!
Yeah! We like representing lengthy distance relationships on tv. So many extra individuals have them now and so many individuals are in relationships the place somebody has to go away to work for some time. And so we love splitting our time between [New York City] and Charleston. I’ve been coming, spending extra time in New York just lately, and I actually get pleasure from it. And I feel there’s an vitality to it that I suppose is clear to most individuals however I simply didn’t know as a result of I used to be by no means a New Yorker.
However we’re doing nice. And once more, we’ve been collectively for 3 years and we’ve had to determine lots of stuff. I feel, in TV, individuals have quick recollections, in order that they’re like, “They’re simply completely happy now. It should be straightforward.” It’s like, “Effectively, no, we’re identical to another couple on the market.” And I feel that’s why typically followers and viewers are a little bit upset that they don’t get that subsequent chapter instantly. However it’s as a result of we’re making an attempt to make it, you realize, final and work.
I feel it’s admirable that you simply guys don’t succumb to the stress. You do your personal factor and also you’re proud of it and that’s all that issues.
There’s lots of noise and I perceive it. However that’s the factor. Once we began courting, it wasn’t due to TV. We fell in love filming a present, which was actually cool.
It’s a modern-day love story!
Yeah, precisely!
Within the trailer, Paige mentions that Shep and Austen suppose you’ve modified because you began courting her, however once we talked to Austen, he mentioned she was “useless incorrect” about that. What’s your tackle the scenario?
Effectively, Paige has been an unbelievable affect in my life. And she or he impressed me to faucet into this potential that I had all the time dreamt of turning into. About nearly two years in the past now, I just about stopped consuming. I imply, I’m not sober, however I simply actually don’t drink that a lot anymore. And it modified my life. It’s not rocket science. Every part began to get higher and my companies began to do higher. I imply, that’s why I opened the Nashville retailer as a result of I lastly had the time and my drive elevated.
I feel Shep and Austen are having a extremely robust time mourning the lack of their bar buddy. I’ve different mates in my life which can be very completely happy for me and it doesn’t have an effect on them one bit that I don’t go to the bars each night time, however that’s as a result of they’ve their very own lives that they’re residing. And I feel Shep and Austen are nonetheless making an attempt to determine their place on the earth. I imply, particularly Austen. We have been superb on the bar collectively. However I’m 36 years previous and I would like extra for my life. So I’m completely happy to be going into this subsequent chapter. It’ll be enjoyable to take the viewers with me. However I feel Austin nonetheless has a troublesome time with it, which it’s a private drawback for him. Like, I’m freely giving one factor for the remainder of my life. I’m sorry that he’s having hassle with it.
It looks like you’re doing nice and leaving that stuff behind is all a part of rising up. They’ll meet you there sometime.
Thanks. And you discover worth in different stuff. I discover worth in high quality time with Paige now and my workers and the companies. And I might like to spend high quality time with them too. It simply – it’s going to look a little bit completely different.
Once we talked to Leva, she mentioned that Shep has actually grown up this yr. Do you agree with that evaluation?
I imply, Shep’s precisely who Shep’s all the time been. I might like to know … yeah, I’ll should … I don’t even know the way she acquired there. That’s good. I do know he’s making an attempt and I do know he needs to be higher. I feel he discovers that he was happiest in a relationship. I don’t know if it was essentially with Taylor, however that was his final relationship. And he sees Austen in a relationship now and me, and I feel he needs that calmness and that construction. And so he does put his coronary heart on the market this yr and it is going to be a wild trip for everybody concerned. I give him kudos and a really early one of many VIPs as a result of he’s so clear and shares all of it with everybody. And he’s good Shep proper now. Good Shep is superior. Dangerous Shep is horrible. And hopefully good Shep sticks round.
It looks like you have been the one to confront JT about what he allegedly mentioned about Patricia Altschul. If it was mentioned on-camera, why do you suppose he was making an attempt so onerous to disclaim it?
Look, the JT factor was attention-grabbing. Charleston’s a small world, and all of us have such histories with one another, however there’s ebbs and flows within the friendships. We’ll get to see this yr – I attempt to assist him loads. I’m one of many few forged members that may comply with movie with him and I do it very often and me and Shep do. And one thing simply wasn’t clicking. However after I was filming with him, it appeared like – I imply, you’ll get to see it. Now, the teaser has a fruits of 4 months of stuff that comes out and really what you see within the teaser relies off a scene that you simply haven’t seen but.
It’s simply humorous as a result of I’ve been by means of lots of stuff. I was like Shep, the place I believed if I might persuade everybody I used to be doing okay that that meant I used to be doing okay. JT will get himself into some hassle this yr. However it’s his second season and that’s simply what occurs. Like, your second season is hard. It’s robust for everybody throughout the board. So we’ll see what occurs. If I used to be a playing man, I might say – I imply, I do wish to gamble, so I’m a playing man and I might put my chips on that we’ll see him finally. You all the time acquired to inform your facet of the story. And it’s onerous to not do this.
However the starting of the season with the tip of the season teaser is a little bit disconnected, so we’ve a enjoyable trip to go on till then.
Earlier than we go, what’s the newest conspiracy principle that has despatched you down a rabbit gap?
It’s not that juicy, however I feel that we didn’t construct the pyramids. I feel we discovered them. I simply don’t suppose we’ve the know-how. I imply, we don’t have the know-how at present to even replicate the precision of them. And there’s pyramids all around the world that share commonalities. And there was no option to talk to one another in historical civilizations. So I simply personally imagine that we’re loads additional superior technologically than we’re conscious of at present in some unspecified time in the future in historical past. However that’s a enjoyable one simply to find out about.
There’s a extremely loopy case of a man that noticed a large within the Appalachian Mountains – he’s not alive anymore – on Tik-tok. In order that’s a loopy rabbit gap to go all the way down to.
I imply, they sort of stole my conspiracy theories, although. Congress admitted like two weeks in the past that the aliens have bases beneath the ocean. So, like, I’m sort of the calm sounding one now. So yeah, I imply that that simply occurred in Congress. So I’ll stick to the pyramids.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Southern Attraction airs on Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo. New episodes can be found to stream the subsequent day on Peacock.
