Jarrett “JT” Thomas raised more than a few eyebrows when he announced his exit from Southern Charm weeks before season 10 was set to premiere — and his castmates took notice.
“I think it became more of this, like, he caught the house on fire and then stepped away when everyone had a reaction — and not a good one,” Madison LeCroy exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, December 4, referring to JT’s abrupt choice to leave before season 10 was done filming. “He was no longer wanted in the group,” she added.
Madison, 34, went on to explain that the show is fundamentally “about a group of people that are friends or trying to be friends,” adding that “from the very beginning” she believed JT had a motive to be the villain.”
“He realized really quick that wasn’t going to last,” she said.
JT turned heads in November when he revealed his exit via Instagram, writing, “It comes with a heavy heart to share that I have resigned from Southern Charm.”
The 38-year-old reality star noted that he would not be “participating in the 2-3 remaining green room interviews” which were being filmed to accompany the new season, which premiered on Thursday, December 5.
JT didn’t explain the reasons behind his impromptu departure, but his costars Madison, Austen Kroll, Leva Bonaparte and Taylor Ann Green exclusively dished to Us about his exit — and why they think it happened — below:
Madison LeCroy
After posting on social media about “the smallest man who ever lived,” referring to JT — and taking a line from Taylor Swift’s “The Smallest Mane Who Ever Lived” — Madison told Us that she was “a little shocked” at how JT left the show.
“He would run around with that idea [he’d leave] throughout the season,” she recalled, before noting everyone in the cast says that “at least twice a season.”
When Madison thought Us asked her if JT used the “Karen’s way” out — instead of the “coward’s way out” — she laughed. “He’s a Karen too,” she joked. “Yeah, coward, for sure. I mean, that’s the best way to describe it. When things start to get tough, you can’t just walk away.”
Despite JT’s swift exit after a seemingly tough season for him, Madison insisted the show will be “just fine” without him. “He seems to always impress me, but not in a good way,” she concluded.
Austen Kroll
Austen, 37, feuded with JT during season 9 after JT claimed Austen mistreated women, so there wasn’t a lot of love lost between the pair. Austen exclusively told Us on Thursday, December 5, that JT’s departure proved his point about the reality star.
“The announcement was a bit grandiose. My take is that — I mean the hypocrisy of it all is crazy,” he said. “The second that a mirror gets held in his face, rather than own it and take accountability he just [splits].”
Austen pointed out JT’s departure mirrors what he “said at the reunion.”
A recent sneak peek from Southern Charm season 10 appears to offer some insight on why JT Thomas quit the show. The clip, released during Bravo FanFest in Miami over the weekend, showed 39-year-old JT in a rather awkward interaction with Patricia Altschul. “Hi Miss Pat. I brought this cane for you,” JT said in […]
“I mean, I can’t wait for everyone to figure out exactly who you are,” he added. “You can wear the mask that you put on last season for only so long and it will be taken off and you will be seen.”
When it comes to JT possibly returning to the Bravo show, Austen confessed, “I don’t see a path back.” He claimed that JT burned his last bridge with costar Venita Aspen this season. “I don’t think that Venita’s very pleased with him,” he teased. (In the season 10 trailer, Venita and JT were flirty and hinted that they had feelings for each other.)
Leva Bonaparte
“JT is so chaotic, which I think makes for great TV but it’s not a show. He’s a chaotic person and he kind of has no chill,” Leva, 45, exclusively told Us on Wednesday. “It’s like if you say something to JT, I’m like, ‘Can you process it?’ … But he’s so reactive.”
Leva explained that although she thinks JT is a “good guy,” he faced a “lot of accusations” while filming season 10. “I think the Venita and JT of it all was complicated. And I think that wore on him too and wore on Venita,” she added, referring to the possible romance between the castmates.
“He came in this year with a lot. He wasn’t drinking or anything, but I think he’s an intense dude, man,” she noted. “There’s a lot in the package lot.”
Taylor Ann Green
“It didn’t really take me by surprise. It seems a little up JT’s alley to try to get everybody’s attention,” Taylor, 30, exclusively revealed to Us prior to the show’s premiere.
She confessed it’s a “little frustrating, because we’ve all had a hard season,” noting that everyone else “showed up” despite their rough story lines.
“For him to have a hiccup and then all of a sudden just bail is very selfish in my opinion,” Taylor continued. “We all do want to see him return to try to explain some things because we are all kind of in the dark as to what exactly is going on.”
She added that when Madison called him the “smallest man who ever lived” she was “giggling” because it felt accurate. “For someone to have a hard season and then not show up and speak for yourself is we go, ‘Dude, we’ve all been there and we’ve all had to do it, and you’re being the smallest little man.’ You’re not going to show up. Like, come on?’”
Southern Charm airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
