Bravo fans brace yourselves! One of reality TV's most talked-about couples Paige Desorbo from Summer House and Craig Conover from Southern Charm have officially called it quits. After three years of dating it's over and things sound a little complicated. Let's dive into the details and unpack what went down between Paige and Craig.
'Pretty Much Done' Early On? Craig Reveals Paige's Doubts and His Addiction Struggles
Turns out trouble was brewing for a while. In a recent episode of Southern Charm Craig confessed some pretty heavy stuff . He admitted that Paige was having serious doubts about their relationship way earlier than we all thought. Apparently Paige was feeling like Craig wasn't the guy she envisioned marrying. Ouch.
Craig got super honest about his issues with alcohol. He even called himself an "addict" which is a big step for him to say publicly. He realized he needed to change when he saw Paige's reaction to his drinking. According to Craig Paige basically gave him an ultimatum without actually saying it . He saw it in her face and knew he was risking losing her.
He said Paige was his "rock" during his recovery journey. He credits her for sticking by him when he was hitting "rock bottom". It sounds like Paige was a huge support system for Craig as he tried to get healthier and deal with his drinking habits.
Career Clash and Different Life Goals? Why Paige and Craig Couldn't Make it Work Long-Term
Busy schedules and different priorities also played a major role in the breakup. In a Summer House episode Paige and Craig had a really honest conversation about their long-distance relationship. Paige is super focused on her career right now with her podcast Giggly Squad her fashion gigs and just being a boss babe in NYC.
She admitted she felt guilty sometimes about putting career first but also that she just isn't ready to slow down and have kids yet. Craig on the other hand seems to be wanting a more settled life maybe even kids in the near future. He even told Paige he didn't see their relationship working out if she was going to be this busy forever.
Paige basically told Craig straight up "I don't ever want to live a slow life." It sounds like they just wanted different things at this point in their lives. Craig even confessed he felt like he was in a "submissive relationship" implying Paige's career was always taking precedence.
Austen Kroll Weighs In: Friendship Strain and Craig's 'Addiction' Revelation
Craig's bestie Austen Kroll has also been talking about the breakup and Craig's struggles. In a recent Southern Charm After Show Austen shared his perspective on his friendship with Craig . He admitted he still feels like he has to "walk on eggshells" around Craig even after their heart-to-heart in the Bahamas.
Austen praised Craig for being open about his addiction but wishes Craig had taken more responsibility for how his behavior impacted their friendship over the years. Austen pointed out times when Craig seemed unhappy even when claiming to be doing better and questioned why everyone still felt like they needed to be cautious around him.
Shep Rose agreed with Austen saying he felt intimidated by Craig's behavior. Madison LeCroy even confessed to Austen that she was also afraid of Craig's "unpredictable outbursts". It sounds like Craig's struggles were affecting more than just his relationship with Paige they were impacting his friendships too.
Breakup Breakdown: Key Factors in Paige and Craig's Split
- Different Life Goals: Paige wants a fast-paced career-focused life while Craig seems to crave settling down.
- Long-Distance Challenges: Their busy schedules made it hard to prioritize the relationship and spend quality time together.
- Craig's Addiction Struggles: Craig's issues with alcohol put a strain on the relationship and caused Paige to have doubts.
- Communication Issues: Craig felt he couldn't confide in Austen about his struggles highlighting communication breakdowns in different relationships in his life.
- Conflicting Priorities: Paige's career demands and Craig's desire for a more traditional relationship created tension.
What's Next for Paige and Craig? Moving On and Focusing on Themselves
Paige and Craig's breakup definitely seems to be amicable. Paige has said Craig is "one of the best people I’ve met" and Craig thanked everyone for their kind messages while he processes everything. They both seem to be handling the split maturely even though it's sad for fans who rooted for them.
For now it looks like Paige is going to keep crushing it in her career and Craig is continuing to focus on his sobriety and his businesses. Maybe in the future they will find their way back to each other but for now it seems like they are both choosing different paths. What do you think about Paige and Craig's breakup? Were you surprised or did you see it coming?