Since Southern Charm aired its first season in 2014, there have been several scandals and controversies that came to the surface. From Thomas Ravenel's several assault and rape charges, to Danni Baird's failed engagement, to Craig Conover lying about being a lawyer, almost all the cast have been confronted with their misconducts, both big and small, during their time on the show. While many of these scandals are minor offenses, others were taken to court for their wrongdoings. However, the drama the cast brings is a major draw of reality TV, as long as it doesn't go too far.
The Bravo reality series began with Craig, Cameran Eubanks, Thomas, Shep Rose, and Jenna King, with Kathryn Dennis as a friend of the cast. Since the beginning, Southern Charm has focused on the drama between the cast members, the money they were born into, and how their privilege has affected their lives. While Bravo fans love to see affluence sprinkled in with some drama, the cast of Southern Charm sometimes takes it too far. Here is a list of three of the messiest scandals from Southern Charm, ranked from least to most dramatic.
Madison LeCroy's Relationship With A-Rod
In January, Madison came under fire for her former fling with Kristen Cavallari's soon-to-be ex-husband, Jay Cutler. However, the scandal of their relationship quickly became old news after Craig revealed Madison was once secretly talking to a "married ex-MLB player" during one of the reunion episodes. Even though Bravo bleeped out his name, viewers realized Craig was referring to Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez. They noticed A-Rod had liked several of Madison's Instagram photos in the past, including one from July 2020 that was taken while they were filming season seven, reported US Weekly. Danni Baird also confirmed the rumor, revealing Madison and A-Rod were FaceTiming at one point. Madison later admitted they were in contact, but they were never physical.
Kathryn Dennis' Trip To Rehab
According to US Weekly, Kathryn sought treatment in California after she tested positive for marijuana in 2016. The positive test resulted in her losing custody of her two children, Kensie and Saint. She came back to the following season of Southern Charm, proving to herself, Thomas, and the audience that she is a fantastic mother to her children. Two years later, Kathryn was granted 50/50 custody after proving her recovery. However, in 2019, Thomas accused Kathryn of having a "prescription drug habit," which she denied. In addition to the prescription pills, Thomas also accused her of using illegal drugs and consuming them with alcohol. In March 2021, Kathryn lost custody of her children again and is now only allowed weekend daytime visitations.
Thomas Ravenel's Assualt Charges
The cast member most famous for his controversial scandals is alum Thomas Ravenel. In May 2018, two different women came forward to accuse the former politician of sexual assault, including his former nanny. He was arrested in September of that year due to the allegations, which he denied. The nanny claims Thomas approached her naked while in his Charleston home. She added he also touched her inappropriately and tried to remove her clothing. Bravo later cut ties with Thomas, leading to his departure from the show.