Southern Hospitality Recap: Gay Rumor About Joe Delayed Romance Maddi

During the latest episode of Southern Hospitality, Maddie Reese revealed that rumors about Joe Bradley‘s sexuality delayed the start of their relationship — and TJ Dinch was to blame.

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

Austin wasn’t surprised by the revelation, telling Joe that TJ “used to tell me the same thing s—. He would tell me straight away that you were gay.”

Maddie, who is currently dating Joe, admitted that the stories around town have made her hesitate to act on her feelings for him.

“Three years ago, everyone was talking about the rumour,” Maddi recalled. “So, of course, I kinda believed TJ when he told me that Joe was flirty, or fruity, or what’s the word? Gay.”

He admitted, “That’s the reason why I didn’t contact Joe for a long time.”

Maddi said that since she started seeing Joe, she can confirm that the rumors are not true. “Obviously, I’ve slept with Joe. I sleep with Joe. He likes to p—,” he declared.

Joe, for his part, said he confronted TJ when he heard the rumours, but TJ mercilessly denied that he started them.

“I said, ‘Why does he drink — would you tell people that?’ And he said, ‘No, I would never say that. I would never say that to anyone. I promise you I didn’t,’” Joe told the cameras, admitting, “Being a very trusting person, I believed him. 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’ll f— you over.”

As well as spreading alleged rumors about his sexuality, Joe took issue with TJ telling people he had a crush on Luann de Lesseps in January 2024 when he said he had 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.”

Us news broke in January 2024 that Joe and Luann, 59, see them getting cozy in a hotel in New York City after they met during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.

During season 2 Southern Hospitality reunion the following month, TJ told the host Andy Cohen he was “99 percent” sure that Joe and Luann were hooked. Joe deny the allegations.

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

However, TJ was still adamant that Joe not only kissed Luann but also “cheating” on his girlfriend at the time, Danielle Oliverawith the Real Housewives of New York City alum. (Danielle, 36, confirmed her and Joe’s share in February 2024.)

Joe played it a little coy about what happened with Luann during the season 3 premiere, but he confirm to Us in December 2024 that he had “kissed” her. He claimed he wasn’t trying to hide anything but was still upset with TJ for breaking his trust.

Those trust issues have been front and center so far this season — especially since Maddi is still friends with TJ, and Joe has admitted it worries him. (Just said Joe and Maddi Us that they have been dating since April 2024which is right around the time the cameras picked up.)

“It was a bit of a disappointment to me too that you were such a friend to him,” Joe said to Maddi during the new episode, referring to his conversation with TJ at a group party a week earlier.

Maddi, however, said that her friendship with TJ should not affect her relationship with Joe.

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

Joe claimed, “Me and TJ’s problems 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 just said Us preseason that TJ’s “mindset” will “make a lot more sense once you watch it.”

He said, “Some people think he has feelings for me, (but) I think that’s in the past, but who knows? This season everyone will get to know TJ’s true colors and why he acts the way he does towards me.”

Southern Hospitality airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 pm ET.