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The Taylor, Austen, and Shep Drama Just Kicked Off in a Major Way: Get Ready for All the Surprising Reveals
See what Shep Rose had to say about Austen Kroll and Taylor Ann Green's close friendship.
Charleston's rumor mill is turning faster than ever now that the drama concerning Austen Kroll and Taylor Ann Green is officially underway on Southern Charm.
Things kicked off during Season 9, Episode 2 on September 21 when new cast member Jarrett "JT" Thomas repeatedly questioned Austen about his close relationship with Shep Rose's ex while all three men were out with Craig Conover (who had a few questions of his own).
For a complete download of what was said, as well as how Shep feels about everything, keep reading.
Jarrett "JT" Thomas' Feelings for Taylor Ann Green
While Austen and Taylor's relationship was the main topic of conversation during the guys' night out, the discussion on the matter actually began when JT criticized Shep for breaking up with Taylor in the first place. As he put it, "I am not a relationship counselor, but you were with Taylor — why did you let her go? I don't understand. It's gonna be hard to do better than her. She's, like, literally perfect."
Shep tried to avoid engaging, but JT continued, even joking that Shep should "find a way to marry that girl."
Craig, meanwhile, expressed his belief that JT's "in love" with Taylor. "When she walks in," Craig told him, "you light up."
"I light up too when Taylor walks in," Austen said, chiming in. "Does that mean I'm in love with her?"
Austen and Taylor
JT's Concerns About Austen and Taylor
JT then pointed out that Austen "spend[s] a lot of time" with Taylor, but Austen reasoned, "Taylor and I, we're like super closer. We just got so close because I was so concerned about Olivia [Flowers] and she was always calling me about [Shep]."
Shep, for his part, said he didn't care about Taylor and Austen's close friendship. "I sort of see Austen as a life raft between me and Taylor," he explained in a confessional interview. "I get information, I ask how she is, what she's up to, is she happy, how was she last week, 'cause I care."
Shep's opinion changed after JT revealed that Taylor recently had "a sleepover" at Austen's after a group night out, though.
Austen and Taylor's "Sleepover"
In response, Austen explained the reasoning for Taylor staying the night at his house, while also emphasizing that she wasn't the only one who came back to his house after the group night out.
"I was downstairs. I thought she left but come to find out, she was in the other guest room," Austen said. "I woke up the next day and she walks into my room like 'Hey!' I was like, 'Ah I didn't know you f-cking were here!'"
Has anything happened between Austen and Taylor?
Craig, more specifically, asked if the two had ever kissed. Austen said no, but Craig wasn't buying it.
"He looked down and to the left when he said that," Craig claimed in a confessional. "You only have to watch a handful of spy movies to know if you look down and to the left, that means you're lying."
Austen said multiple times that he and Taylor were just friends, though.
Taylor has maintained the same. On the Southern Charm Season 9 premiere, she said that Austen was a good friend to her even after she and Shep split. "I think the only person that actually gives a sh-t that it hurt me was Austen," Taylor told Craig. "Obviously, Olivia too, but the girls have had my back always. The only guy that's had my back is Austen."
Shep's Thoughts on Austen and Taylor's Relationship
In a confessional, Shep explained, "At the core of this, Austen is a very close friend of mine, so I have to go with what Austen says because that's what friends do; They trust each other — typically."
But in conversation with Craig, Shep was more doubtful. "I'm pretty evolved but I think it would be really f-cked up if Austen slept with her," he said. "I really don't have any idea and I'm not gonna play detective."
He later added, "I thought their relationship was really strong and it was something that I was okay with, but I didn't know about spend[ing] the night."
"Frankly, I don't know what I think of Austen," Shep concluded. "I am 50/50 on if there's something happening between them. And what am I going to do, go back in time and bust through a door? No. What can I do? Nothing. But I would not be surprised if they both looked at each other, like, 'Let's just go for it and no one will ever know.' I think it's f-cked up."
