Venita Aspen is opening up about her friendship with Salley Carson and her strained relationship with Craig Conover as season 11 of “Southern Charm” continues to unfold.
In a recent interview with Parade, Aspen addressed the tension surrounding Carson’s connection with Conover and clarified whether she gave her friend an ultimatum. The Bravo star also shared where things stand today with Conover after he publicly said they would “never be friends.”
Venita Aspen Addresses Salley Carson Friendship
Aspen explained that her concerns about Carson dating Conover came from a place of friendship, not control.
“As any good friend should do, I know the type of man she wants to be with, and I just did not think that [Craig] fit the criteria,” Aspen said. “And I didn’t want her to continue to waste her time going after something that wasn’t worth her time to me.”
She pushed back on the idea that she forced Carson to choose between them.
“If people think I came across like, ‘You have to pick him or me,’ that’s just not the case,” Aspen continued. “Listen, call me a bad friend if you want. I’m sorry — but God forbid I was just trying to look out for my best friend.”
Aspen said Carson and Conover were spending significant time together during that period.
“They were hanging out, like, every day, almost,” she said. “I think that Craig likes a yes man, and Salley was his yes man. And I think that Salley really did enjoy the idea of a potential possibility with Craig.”
Aspen also shared that her friendship with Carson had been supportive before the romance entered the picture.
“She showed up for me when I needed her to when I was having some health scares, I showed up for her when she had health scares, vice versa,” Aspen said. “But I know I’m no longer here to give advice when I’m not being asked to give advice as to what she should do.”
The ‘Southern Charm’ Star Shares Where Things Stand With Craig Conover
Aspen and Conover’s relationship took a turn in March 2025 following back-to-back appearances on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.” Aspen revealed on the show that she was “Team Paige,” referring to Paige DeSorbo after her 2024 split from Conover.
When asked about Aspen’s comments during his own appearance on WWHL, Conover said he no longer wanted to be associated with her, citing additional remarks she allegedly made.
As season 11 aired, viewers saw more of their fractured dynamic. Aspen said on a December 2025 episode of the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast that she still doesn’t fully understand why Conover remains upset.
“I wish I could sit down and ask him [why he is still upset], if I’m being honest,” Aspen said. “Like, ‘Hey, why are you so mad at me?’ You don’t know to this day. I just assume it’s always the Paige stuff — and if that’s it then we have got to move on from that.”
Aspen confirmed that Conover has since blocked her on Instagram.
“Craig basically went out loud and said that he could never be friends with someone like me,” Aspen explained. “Now he has me blocked on Instagram. Life comes at you fast, huh?”
Despite the tension, Aspen said this season allowed her to be fully herself.
“This is the first season out of the five that I’ve been on where I feel like I was fully myself,” she said. “No matter how difficult they may be or how they came across, just to make sure that my peers are doing the right thing.”
Catch all the drama on when new episodes of “Southern Charm” air Wednesdays on Bravo.
This is venita backpedaling on her rage on someone’s podcast. She should listen to her beautiful mother. Run fast Carl, writing on the wall!