Taylor Ann Green on Real Reason She & Austen Kroll Hooked Up

Credit: Cindy Ord/Bravo, Bryan Bedder/Bravo

In a preview for the new episode of Southern Charm, Taylor Ann Green said she and Austen Kroll were “pushed” toward romantic involvement because of their mutual “brokenness” from their past splits.

Before the season began, reports surfaced that Taylor and Austen were hiding their romance, which was shocking to many fans – given that Taylor is best friends with Austen’s ex Olivia Flowers, and Austen is good friends with Taylor’s ex, Shep Rose.

During a restaurant scene, Taylor was speaking one-on-one with Olivia, who told Taylor that their male castmates were questioning Austen and Taylor’s friendship at a “guys’ night.”

Olivia said Shep seemed “a little shook” by the allegations.

“Nothing is going on, and I will put my hand on a Bible,” said Taylor. “There is nothing going on.”

Olivia, however, claimed Austen was acting “tongue-tied” when asked to discuss it further.

“So what exactly is it that Austen is so tongue-tied about?” asked Olivia.

Taylor answered, “After New York, when we were both not in good places with each of our [exes] — he was not in a good place with you, I was not in a good place with Shep — but we created such a bond in the midst of that vulnerability and that just absolute brokenness and the two of us being pushed together because of our situations.”

“I was like, ‘I mean, Austen, is this something we explore?’” Taylor added. “I was the one who said it. I was like, ‘Is this something we’re meant to explore?’”

“You and him being together?” asked Olivia. Taylor responded, “Correct.”

Southern Charm season nine airs on Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.