Bravo’s reality series, Southern Hospitality, captures the daily lives of the staff at Republic Garden & Lounge, a well-known nightclub in Charleston, owned by Leva Bonaparte from Southern Charm. Recently, Joe Bradley, one of the main cast members, revealed in a March 2025 interview with Decider that he played a significant role in bringing his longtime friend Jarrett “JT”Thomas into the Southern Charm fold.
“JT watched me start bar-backing at Republic,” Bradley shared with Decider on March 7.
He went on to say,
“He watched me start Southern Hospitality. And then, you know, two years later, they’re calling me and my friends, and they’re like, ‘Who do you think would be a good fit for Southern Charm?’ And I’m like, ‘I know this crazy guy named Jarrett Thomas.'”
JT Thomas officially joined Southern Charm during its ninth season, continuing into the tenth. His journey, however, has not been without its controversies, which include accusations from fellow cast member Craig Conover and a brief romantic involvement with Venita Aspen.
Exploring the Friendship Between Joe Bradley and JT Thomas
Joe Bradley first crossed paths with JT Thomas in 2019 at a bar in Charleston, cultivating a friendship that predates their appearances on Bravo. Before his debut on Southern Charm, Thomas was an integral part of Bradley’s social circle, observing his initial steps in the hospitality realm.
Bradley noted that their friendship has endured longer than many of his connections within the Southern Hospitality cast, including his girlfriend, Maddi Reese, and close friend, TJ Dinch. He acknowledged that joining the established cast of Southern Charm posed challenges for Thomas, especially considering the intense dynamic of its main cast.
“I think it’s hard for him,” Bradley said. “Like, we all started our show [Southern Hospitality] with equal footing. And I think it’s hard. Like those guys on Southern Charm, I actually love all of them. [But] they’re pretty intimidating. Not only as a group but they’re all like 6’5″ too.”
His fellow cast member Austen Kroll has made light-hearted remarks regarding Thomas’s height, often pointing out the striking size difference among the cast. However, in his interview with Decider, Bradley stood up for his friend’s stature.
“JT is actually not that short but next to them he looks like Lord Farquaad,” Bradley humorously commented. “I look like a short king next to these guys. So he’s not as short as people think.”
Thomas faced difficulties during his stint on Southern Charm season 10. During filming, Craig Conover accused him of using a derogatory term towards Patricia Altschul, an allegation that Thomas has vehemently denied. Furthermore, his attempt to form a romantic relationship with Venita Aspen added to the drama, which ultimately contributed to Thomas leaving the cast trip to the Bahamas prematurely.
JT Thomas’ Unexpected Departure from Southern Charm
In November 2024, well before the premiere of season 10, JT Thomas made headlines by announcing his exit from the show. He took to Instagram to express his decision, noting that he would forgo participation in the upcoming confessionals for the season.
“I informed Bravo that I will not be participating in the 2-3 remaining green room interviews remaining before [season 10] airs,” Thomas wrote. “I no longer wish to participate any ways moving forward with the TV show.”
In his announcement, Thomas indicated he needed to prioritize his mental and physical health after what he described as a particularly challenging year. Interestingly, he later made an appearance at the season 10 reunion, despite having withdrawn from filming prior to the season’s airing.
During a March 2025 Q&A on YouTube, Thomas expressed remorse for his abrupt exit and hinted at a potential return for season 11, though he has yet to finalize that decision.
“I think right now it’s let’s finish this season and one day at a time,” he stated. “It’s beautiful people in beautiful places, and it’s like you’re doing cool stuff, and it would be so hard to like not continue and keep trying to grow, you know. So, let’s finish this season and see what happens.”
In his support for Thomas, Joe Bradley emphasized his understanding of his friend’s struggles during this tumultuous time.
“I’m rooting for him,” he conveyed to Decider.
Catch Southern Charm every Thursday at 9 PM EST on Bravo.