“Southern Charm” Season 12 began production on April 7, with multiple cast members already spotted filming together in Charleston. The confirmation came from Craig Conover himself. In a video shared to Madison LeCroy’s TikTok, Craig declared: “We are back, baby. We are f*cking back!” — putting to rest any lingering questions about his return after a turbulent Season 11 finale.
Warning: Video contains profanity.
Who’s Confirmed Back
Fan account @queensofbravo confirmed on April 7 that everyone from Season 11 would be returning for the new episodes. That means Craig Conover, Austen Kroll, Madison LeCroy, Salley Carson, Rodrigo Reyes, Shep Rose, Venita Aspen, Molly O’Connell, Charley Manley, and Whitner Slagsvol are all expected back.
According to Reality Blurb, Madison was spotted in a joint Instagram Story with Salley Carson, Rodrigo Reyes and his fiancé Tyler Dugas shortly after filming began. Austen was also spotted out and about with cameras, as the cast appeared to poke fun at Salley’s love of a night on the town with a “Bar Rat” sign.
A New Face Is Coming
The Queens of Bravo account also teased that at least one new cast member is joining the group for Season 12. Fans are already speculating about an unidentified brunette woman seen in a heated conversation with Austen on camera (video above), with theories pointing to his ex-girlfriend Audrey Pratt, James Kennedy‘s ex Ally Lewber, “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Bronwyn Newport, or model Allie Newman.
The Craig and Austen Situation
The biggest question heading into Season 12 is whether Craig and Austen’s friendship has any road left. The Season 11 finale ended with Austen calling Craig a “lost soul” and declaring he was “done once and for all” after years of tension came to a head at Patricia Altschul’s Carolina Day soiree.
Craig’s behavior during the season’s Mexico trip — where he accused Salley Carson of interfering in his personal life and confronted Venita Aspen for getting involved in his feud with Austen — became a major flashpoint, with cast members calling his behavior a “psychotic break” and a “f***ing tornado.”
Shep Rose weighed in on the feud in February, suggesting Austen had spent too long in Craig’s shadow. “I think for a long time, Austen was in the sidecar of Craig driving the motorcycle, and I think Austen’s had enough of that,” Shep told NBC4 New York. He added that he believed the friendship could be repaired — but only if both were willing to be “contrite.”
Despite all of it, both men are back in Charleston and filming together. Early clips already show Conover and Kroll on camera together, adding another layer of intrigue given where their relationship stood at the end of last season.
The Salley and Austen Wildcard
The Season 11 finale also ended on a surprising note for Salley Carson and Austen Kroll, with the two sharing a flirty, rom-com-worthy moment that has fans buzzing about a potential new couple heading into Season 12. Given that Salley spent much of Season 11 in a love triangle with Craig and Charley Manley, a pivot toward Austen would shake up the group dynamic considerably.
Craig’s New Rumored Romance
Adding another layer to the Season 12 setup: Craig is already generating headlines for his personal life before a single episode has aired. Reports are circulating that he is romantically linked to country singer Kelsea Ballerini, who famously bid on a date with him at a charity auction during Season 2 back in 2014.
However, it has since been confirmed that the two are not dating.
Craig’s mystery woman is still TBD.
No premiere date for “Southern Charm” Season 12 has been announced.
“Southern Charm” airs on Bravo and streams on Peacock.
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