JT Thomas might have performed Southern Charm‘s first-ever “f-boy exorcism” at the Season 9 reunion, but it looks like he’ll be the one in the hot seat this year should he decide to show up to the Season 10 reunion after announcing his shocking resignation from the show. As fans saw in the trailer for the new season, Thomas seemingly shifted his focus from Taylor Ann Green to Venita Aspen, who had a lot to say about their once close friendship when she sat down with DECIDER for a Zoom interview.
In the Season 10 premiere, Thomas and Aspen are closer than ever as they shop for outfits to wear to the Carolina Cup. Aspen said they became best friends after taping an episode of Watch What Happens Live together around this time last year, noting that she didn’t “feel weird” around Thomas and felt like she could “trust” him.
“We were talking almost every day,” she said. “Sorry to speak in the past tense, but that was my best friend.”
Following her breakup with her now ex-boyfriend Manny (who fans first heard about in Season 9), Aspen and Thomas attempted to strike up a romance, which was teased in the Season 10 trailer. “What I can say about that is we were two best friends trying to see if taking it one step further was going to work. And we took our time,” she said, adding that it was “sweet” in the beginning.
However, it’s no secret that things didn’t quite work out between them, with Thomas posting a photo with his new girlfriend on Instagram and Aspen subsequently unfollowing him last month. Thomas also shocked the Bravo universe when he announced he was stepping down from the show ahead of the Season 10 premiere. While Thomas said he wouldn’t be completing the remainder of his confessional interviews or participating in the show in any way moving forward, Aspen — who hasn’t spoken to her former BFF — was hopeful he would show up for the reunion.
“I really hope that he makes a decision to show up to the reunion to kind of clear the air,” she said. “Because right now, it’s everyone against JT due to the decisions that he chose to make on his own.”
In our interview with Aspen, she also opened up about Olivia Flowers leaving the show, her growing friendship with Taylor Ann Green, and an emotional moment fans will see from her and Madison LeCroy in Season 10. Check out the full interview below.
DECIDER: You’ve been on Southern Charm since Season 7, but you’ve been friends with this group since the very early days of the show. What has been the biggest change between then and now both for you and for the group as a whole?
VENITA ASPEN: Everyone has matured, and it’s been so nice to kind of see it all unfold and just to see everyone grow up and come into themselves after years and years. It’s so crazy to think about the fact that we’ve been on for 10 years, and I’ve been on for four out of the 10.
It’s like home videos!
It is! Sometimes, I watch it back and I’m like, “Oh, my God, what was I wearing? Why did I say that?“ You live and you learn.
You recently posted a photo with your mom in front of the confessional green screen. Will she be making an appearance this season?
I wish. My mom kind of stayed on the sidelines this year and for no particular reason. I feel like every single time we would go to film, she wasn’t available. She didn’t have the time. So I was just like, “You know what? Hopefully, next year we get you on.” It was like a bring your mommy to work day in my head. I brought her so she could see what it’s like for me to do green screens and behind the scenes in my job.
That’s so nice. She probably loved that.
She loved it. She was like, “Whoa, you do this?” And, “How long do you sit here?” And, “How many cameras are on you right now?” And I was like, “Yeah, see, this is why I don’t text you back immediately.”
She knows now! Well, in the premiere episode, you said you had no memories from previous Carolina Cups because you were too lit. What is it about the Carolina Cups that makes people party hardy?
Oh boy, Carolina Cup. Oh, my God [laughs]. I know I said that, but then I forgot I said that. Carolina Cup, back when I was attending, was just a world of its own. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else existed. You got there with your friends at the crack of dawn. You crack your first beer at 8 [a.m.]. You crack your last one at 8 a.m. the next day. You’re watching horses go by. You’re betting money, basically your parents’ money. It’s just a lot. But, Carolina Cup is a little different now. It definitely was the place to be when it was happening.
A little more laid-back now, I’m guessing?
A little more relaxed, people are dressed up more, a little more posh. No one’s cracking beers at 8 a.m., more like cracking champagne open at 1:30 or 2 [p.m.]. A little more respectable than an 8 a.m. beer.
When we saw you last season, you were seeing a new guy. If you’re comfortable, can I ask what happened with him? And more importantly how are you doing?
We decided to take a break. I felt in my heart that the things that he wanted to go after, I felt like I was holding him back from those things. So I decided to let that part of my life go, which was not an easy decision to make. But it’s one of those things where the joy you want to see for someone else outshines the joy you have together. And I’d rather see him doing better, even if that means it’s not with me. And I know that sounds so cliché, and I didn’t think that was real until I was in the moment. And I said, “Oh, wait, I get it now.” But I’m doing fine. One day at a time. I feel like I’m just kind of working my way through all of it, getting over it and being fine with it. At the beginning, you kind of rush, like, “Oh, yeah, going to the next person, I’m doing this and doing that.” And now I’ve kind of slowed down and I’m like, “Okay, no, I did make the right decision.” He’s doing great things right now and I’m very, very, very happy for him.
And you’re doing great things too, which is even more important.
Yes, I’m doing great things. I’ve had two collabs come up this year — one jewelry, one clothing. I’m thriving, no complaints. Just took my mom to the BVIs for her birthday, which was fabulous. She celebrated 71, which is crazy because she doesn’t look a day over 40. Hopefully, I get those genes. I’m begging.
I’m so happy to see that you’re thriving. Speaking of guys, you and JT are thick as thieves in the premiere episode. What brought you two closer together between the end of Season 9 and the start of Season 10?
Man, I would say, I guess just the loyal … I don’t know. I don’t know how to answer that, really. I think I’ve said this a few times before now: the first time that JT and I really got close was after a Watch What Happens Live episode that we filmed around this time last year. His mom was there and all my best friends were there, my team was there. And it just felt really good. I was like, “Okay, I can trust this kid.” I don’t feel weird around him. I don’t think he’s going to come after me or do me dirty. And then we just kind of started to build the relationship from there, which blossomed into us being best friends. I think there were a few times that I was doing dinner with his mom. There were a few times that we would just hang out, just have a good time. We were talking almost every day. But yeah, sorry to speak in the past tense, but that was my best friend.
In the trailer, we see a little romantic chemistry between you and JT bubbling up. What can you tell us about how that will play out of the show? I know some fans were coming at him for posting a certain picture on Instagram.
What I can say about that is we were two best friends trying to see if taking it one step further was going to work. And we took our time. We took it one day at a time and we played it really cool. In the beginning we were like, “Yeah, no, let’s not do too much,” because we really valued our friendship. And I guess you will just have to tune in to see how the rest unfolds. But in the beginning, it’s sweet.
One last question on this topic. As we know, JT recently resigned from the show. What was your reaction to that? And can you say anything about what might’ve led to his decision?
My reaction to that was a lot of text messages and phone calls at 6:30 in the morning when he decided to put that on the Internet. I don’t know what led him to that decision. We haven’t spoken. And I really hope that he makes a decision to show up to the reunion to kind of clear the air, because right now it’s everyone against JT due to the decisions that he chose to make on his own. Yeah, I don’t know.
And what an odd time for him to post that. It was the first thing I saw when I woke up at 6:30 and I was like, “Woah, this is random. What happened?”
That was random. I guess he was thinking about it all night and the first thing he did was post about it when he was like, “Okay, people are going to be watching and looking, so I guess I’m posting about it now.” God bless him.
While we’re talking about people leaving, how did you feel about Olivia Flowers not coming back?
I was not a fan. Yeah, I wasn’t a fan. Olivia and I, and I say this is a lot of pride, we did a really good job to work on our friendship on and off the camera. I really was excited to see her come back and to be able to show the world that this is a friendship that went from us bickering at each other to now again, that’s someone I was calling every day, texting every day, checking in on her. So I was sad to see that she didn’t come back. But I know she’s doing big things and good things and I’m very, very proud of her. And I’m happy for her new engagement.
Last season, you were definitely Team Olivia. How was your friendship with Taylor Ann this season?
The friendship that I have with Taylor this season is growing. And there will be a few moments this season where you kind of see I set the stage for the growth. We’re extremely cordial. We just haven’t gotten to the point of being closer than that yet. If she calls me right now, I’m going to answer. But it’s not like we’re going to dinner yet and getting drinks yet – [that] type of friendship. I’m hopeful it’ll get there.
We saw Taylor Ann set her boundaries by blocking Shep.
Oh! Oh, alright, I don’t think I knew that.
Oh yeah, she said that in the premiere episode. Do you think there’s a chance they can have a friendship like Madison and Austen someday?
No.
That ship has sailed.
Yeah, and I think that the fun thing about Madison and Austen is that they knew the relationship didn’t work and they knew they would be better as friends because those two together as friends is so funny. Everyone’s excited when they’re in the room together. Meanwhile, when Shep and Taylor walk into a room together, we’re like, “Oh, shit, what’s getting ready to happen?” You know what I mean? So, no.
I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I get that vibe through the TV screen.
And Taylor is showing that she’s happy and excited to be with the current guy she’s with. I will just say I’m happy for her on the outside looking in. I just hope that it’s happy and loving.
Yes, that’s what we all hope for. You and Craig’s girlfriend Paige DeSorbo are both big in the fashion space. Have you two shared tips and tricks with each other?
No, but when you see this, Paige, give me a call, because I would love to do that. We haven’t yet. I was so excited to see that she was here more this year while we were filming because we got to hang out a lot more. But that is a relationship that I want to grow more into. As you know, I’m best friends with Ciara [Miller]. I feel like we’re always together, but we haven’t had our moment yet. So I’m just like, “Okay, one day, it’s going to happen.”
There should be a big crossover episode with Summer House and Southern Charm.
We need it. I literally spend my Christmases in New York at Ciara’s apartment while she goes away for her renewal retreat. Me and my mom. I watch Jasper. I hang out with all of her New York friends. So we just need the crossover.
Yes, I’m here for it! There were some newbies this season, Molly and Salley. What did you think of them and their respective connections to Craig and Shep?
I didn’t know about the Craig-Molly thing until I watched the trailer with everyone else. I said, “Oh! Okay.” So that was news to me. Molly’s a cute girl. I think Molly might end up being a fan favorite. She’s herself. She’s kooky. She’s weird in the best way possible. And she definitely brings a comedic relief.
Sally’s connections were like … I was like, “Okay, so if you were here, and they were there, and then that means you were here at…” It was a lot. Love her, but it was a lot.
Bravo audiences first saw Salley on Season 2 of Southern Hospitality. Did you see that the trailer for Season 3 just dropped? Are you friendly with that crew?
I’m friendly with some of the crew over on the Southern Hospitality side, but I was actually watching the trailer right before I started interviews. I haven’t seen it yet. When she came on, I tried to just put all that aside. I was, “Okay, I’m just going to approach Salley as she is in front of me.” People are like, “She was on this show, she was on that show.” And I’m just like, “Okay, sure, so be it, but who am I getting in front of me right now.” I cannot see her and Joe Bradley together. I am so sorry. I’m so sorry. I hate to be the bearer of bad news.
What else can you tease about the rest of this season?
I’m excited for the fans to see that there is a moment this season where some of the girls get together and we really open up, and some of us release emotions that we typically don’t. Myself and Madison being those two girls, we don’t really let people in. And in this moment during the season, we let the girls in. And that was very nice to have happen and I feel like it’s going to be really great for the audience to see as well – another side of the both of us.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Southern Charm Season 10 premieres on Thursday, Dec. 5 on Bravo.
