Southern Hospitality Summary: Gay Rumors About Joe Hold Up Maddi Romance

During the latest episode Southern hospitality, Maddie Reese revealed that rumors of Joe Bradleytheir sexuality delayed the start of their relationship—and TJ Dinch he was at fault.

“Three or four years ago, TJ spread a lot of rumors that I was gay,” Joe said. novice Austin Stephan during the Thursday, Jan. 9, episode of the Bravo show.

Unsurprised by the revelation, Austin told Joe that TJ was “telling me the same s—. He would straight up tell me you’re gay.”

Maddie, who is currently dating Joe, admitted that she was hesitant to act on her feelings for him because of the stories around town.

“Three years ago, everyone was talking about that rumor,” Maddi recalled. “So of course I kind of believed TJ when he told me that Joe was flirty, fruity or what?” Gay.”

She admitted: “That was the reason I didn’t see Joe for so long.”

Maddi said that since she started seeing Joe, she can confirm that the rumors are not true. “Of course I slept with Joe. I’m sleeping with Joe. He likes p-,” she declared.

For his part, Joe said he confronted TJ when he heard the rumors, but TJ vehemently denied starting them.

“I said, ‘Why would you tell people?’ And he said, ‘No, I would never say that. I would never tell anyone. I promise you I didn’t,” Joe told the cameras, admitting: “Because I’m a very trusting person, I believed it. And now I’m paying for it.”

Joe claimed that his one-time best friend “makes you believe you can trust him, and then he quits.”

In addition to allegedly spreading rumors about his sexuality, Joe took issue with TJ telling people he’s hooking up with Luann de Lesseps in January 2024 when he said he told him the truth in confidence.

“That’s when it hit me. TJ is the one telling people I’m gay,” Joe said during Thursday’s episode. “Because it is the mouth of the South.

Our in January 2024 broke the news that Joe and Luann, 59, were spotted getting cozy at a hotel in New York after they met during a performance See what happens live with Andy Cohen.

During season 2 Southern hospitality reunion next month, TJ told the host Andy Cohen he was “99 percent” sure that Joe and Luann were hooking up. Joe he denied the charges.

TJ revealed during the season 3 premiere, which aired on January 2that he hadn’t spoken to Joe in months since their reunion drama.

However, TJ remained adamant that not only did Joe kiss Luann, but he “cheated” on his girlfriend at the time, Danielle Oliverwith The Real Housewives of New York alum. (Danielle, 36, confirmed hers and Joe’s distribution in February 2024.)

Joe was somewhat coy about what exactly happened with Luann during the Season 3 premiere, but he did confirm Our in December 2024 that he “kissed” her. He claimed he wasn’t trying to hide anything, but was still angry at TJ for breaking his trust.

Those trust issues have been front and center this season — especially since Maddi is still TJ’s boyfriend, which Joe admitted worries him. (Joe and Maddi exclusively said Our that have been dating since April 2024which is right around the time the cameras caught it again.)

“I was also kind of annoyed that you were so chummy with him,” Joe told Maddi during the new episode, referring to her conversation with TJ at the group party the week before.

However, Maddi argued that her friendship with TJ should not affect her relationship with Joe.

“You can be friends with someone and have boundaries,” she told her friend. “You know you can’t trust (TJ) with your beyond the grave s-, you obviously know that, but there’s no reason why he can’t be your friend.”

Joe claimed, “Me and TJ’s issues are much deeper.” Maddi pointed out that they “don’t address the elephant in the room.”

Fans will continue to see Joe and TJ’s drama unfold with each new episode. In fact, Joe exclusively said this Our before the season that TJ’s “thinking” would “make a lot more sense once you look at it.”

He teased: “Some people think they have feelings for me, (but) I guess that’s in the past, but who knows? This season, everyone’s going to find out a little bit about TJ’s true colors and why he treats me the way he does.”

Southern hospitality airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9pm ET.