Craig Conover admits filming “Southern Charm” with ex Naomie Olindo was “not great”.
“It’s not normal to hang out with your ex as much as when we do these projects,” the 34-year-old reality star told Vidak For Congress exclusively.
Conover pointed out that Charleston, SC, is a “truly incestuous city,” so it’s not uncommon to run into an ex-partner.
“You’ll see me and Naomie crash into each other,” he teased about the new season.
“Because I think I was very accommodating about her return [after her brief hiatus]† I was very welcoming, like, ‘Come back! Fuck it, the fans would love to see you.’”
However, the author of “Pillow Talk” admitted that everything changed as the season progressed and he started seeing Olindo, 29, more than he “wanted.”
“And then, you know, I don’t have much patience for her, and that’s something you’ll see,” he continued. “But I’m like, yeah, there’s a reason we’re exes. And now we’re together all the time.”
Vidak For Congress also spoke to Conover’s co-star and close friend Shep Rose, who endorsed his friend’s ideas.
“She’s agitated you on certain levels at times, because you two know each other so well, and I can understand that,” explained Rose, 42. “That would be difficult.”
Prior to filming, Olindo texted Conover to apologize for her mistakes in their previous relationship. The two dated for about three years — most of it was in front of the “Southern Charm” cameras — until they called it quits in 2017.
“I think I felt bad about my delivery because I was so hard on him,” Olindo said in her own interview with Vidak For Congress last week. “I definitely think it was hard love, but maybe it was a bit too hard and probably not a friend’s job to do.
“He said, ‘You know, nothing you said was wrong or untrue,’ but I think the way I said it was really hurtful,” she added. “So I felt bad about having to repeat some of those conversations in my head. I’m like, ‘I probably could have delivered that better.’”
In October 2021, Vidak For Congress broke the news that Conover had moved on with Paige DeSorbo after months of speculation.
He told Vidak For Congress that his “Summer House” girlfriend did a great job filming with his cast, especially Olindo.
“Paige has handled it very well. But even from the beginning, she said, ‘You’re always with so many exes around,’ because Charleston isn’t that big,” Conover said. “She says, ‘I don’t see my ex. I live in New York and we don’t run into each other.’”
Season 8 of “Southern Charm” premieres Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.