The Bravo universe basically shifted on its axis when Paige DeSorbo finally said out loud what everyone had been whispering about for months. It wasn't just a rumor anymore. On a December 30, 2024, episode of her Giggly Squad podcast, Paige confirmed she and Craig Conover were over. Just like that, the "power couple" of reality TV—the crossover romance between Summer House and Southern Charm—hit a wall that no amount of charming Charleston hospitality or New York City wit could climb over.
It’s been a year since that announcement, and honestly, the dust is still settling.
For three years, we watched them navigate the I-95 corridor. He was building a dream house in South Carolina; she was cementing her status as a fashion mogul in a Manhattan apartment she refused to leave. We all saw the "marriage talk" coming a mile away, but nobody expected it to end with a podcast mic and a very confused Craig.
The Breakup Timeline Nobody Can Agree On
The weirdest part about the Paige DeSorbo breakup isn’t that it happened—it’s how differently both sides remember the "end." If you listen to Paige, it was a mature, slow-burn realization. She told her listeners that they actually split around Thanksgiving 2024. According to her, it was a mutual realization that they were just moving in different directions. She even gave him a "pass" to act like they were still together while he did press for Southern Charm season 10 because she wanted to be respectful of his work.
Then there’s Craig’s version.
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Craig didn’t just disagree; he seemed totally blindsided. By January 2025, he was on Instagram Stories saying the split was "very, very unexpected." He later went on Watch What Happens Live and straight-up accused Paige of lying by calling it "mutual." In his head, he was ready to move to New York. He was ready for the ring. He thought they were in the "forever" phase.
"I have so much love and respect for Craig. I think he is one of the best people I have ever met... but it was the right decision for both of us moving forward." — Paige DeSorbo, December 2024.
The discrepancy here is huge. It’s the classic "he said, she said" of the Bravo world. Did Paige check out months earlier while Craig was picking out engagement rings? Probably.
Why the Long-Distance Dream Died
You can’t talk about this breakup without talking about the geography. Charleston and New York are two different planets. Craig wanted the suburban life—the house with the yard, the kids, the "settling down" of it all. Paige? She’s a city girl through and through.
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During the later seasons of Summer House, the tension was palpable. Every time Craig brought up moving or marriage, you could see Paige’s fight-or-flight response kicking in. She wasn't ready to give up her career momentum for a life of Lowcountry oyster roasts. And honestly, can you blame her? Her career with Giggly Squad and her fashion partnerships exploded right as Craig was ready to slow down.
There were also those nasty rumors. After the split, the internet went wild with cheating allegations. Some people claimed Paige was messaging a new guy; others said Craig was seen acting single long before the official announcement. Paige shut those down fast, though. She insisted there was no "third party" and no scandal—just two people who grew into different versions of themselves.
The Aftermath and the "Never Say His Name" Rule
Fast forward to the Summer House Season 9 reunion in mid-2025. Things got cold. Like, ice-cold. Paige dropped a line that immediately went viral: “He will never hear me say his name again.”
It was a total Ariana Madix move, but without the "Scandoval" level of betrayal. Or was there more to it? Rumors started swirling that Craig had sent a "cease and desist" to stop Paige from talking about the breakup on her podcast. While lawyers on Reddit argued there was nothing to "cease," the damage was done. The friendly exes narrative evaporated.
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By late 2025, the separation was total.
- Paige's pillow collection was quietly scrubbed from Craig's "Sewing Down South" website.
- They stopped following each other on social media.
- Paige officially announced she was leaving Summer House after seven seasons, citing a need for a fresh start.
What's Next for Paige and Craig?
As we sit here in early 2026, Paige is living her best life in New York, reportedly eyeing a spot on the Real Housewives of New York reboot or her own spinoff, In the City. She’s leaning into being single and focusing on her "front row at Fashion Week" energy.
Craig, meanwhile, is still the king of Charleston. He’s been open about how hard the split hit him—even admitted to crying to ChatGPT about it (yes, really). But he’s also back on the dating scene, looking for someone who wants the life he’s built in the South.
The biggest lesson from the Paige DeSorbo breakup is a tough one: sometimes love isn't enough when your zip codes and five-year plans don't align. It doesn't mean the relationship was a failure; it just means it reached its expiration date.
If you're dealing with a long-distance relationship or feel the "marriage pressure" mounting, take a page from Paige's book:
- Trust your gut over the timeline society (or your partner) sets for you.
- Be honest about your desire to stay in your lane, even if that lane is a busy Manhattan street.
- Recognize when you've changed. It’s okay to not be the same person you were when the relationship started.
The Bravo cameras might have stopped rolling on their romance, but both of them seem to be finding their footing in their separate worlds. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to stop saying his name and start focusing on your own.