'Southern Charm' Star Shep Rose Shows Ugly Side In Video Mocking Woman Collecting Cans
Not so charming.
Instagram For many of its fans, Bravo's Southern Charm is a fabulous escape to a different world, unlike the one they inhabit. It's like a soap opera come to life, full of drawling handsome men and glamorous women. But beneath that veneer lays something much darker, something that its fans are only just now seeing for the first time themselves. Who is Shep Rose? He's one of the stars of the hit show and considered by many to be the heartthrob of the franchise. But his recent actions are underlining something even his most ardent admirers are hard-pressed to ignore: Shep Rose has a mean streak a mile wide and you do not want to be on the receiving end of his ire.
1. The News About Shep
I went to school in the deep South, at a school in the middle of the old boy's club. It was a bizarre bubble for this Northern girl, but on the flip side, it gave me a sense of perspective about the South that a lot of my peers don't have. To that end, I've often admitted to having a soft spot for Shep and the other boys on Southern Charm, because to them the bubble is all they've ever known. However, bubble or not, what Shep Rose did on Monday was deplorable. He made an Instagram Story of a woman in New York collecting cans to recycle for money and can be heard saying: “Look at me. Nice cans! I mean, the cans you have!” The woman hid her face, though Shep says she laughed at his joke.
2. The Fans React
People were appropriately outraged by the video. The fervor only grew when someone on Twitter posted it saying: “Is this Southern Charm? … Cheap way to get ‘laughs’ from followers but there is nothing funny about homelessness. I’m DONE w/ him.” It was a shocking video and the fact that Shep shared it makes it clear that he didn't give the situation the right amount of thought or consideration it deserved. In a way it mirrors something else that happened on this season of Southern Charm that underlined Shep's privilege; he called cast member Austen Kroll's on again off again girlfriend Madison Lecroy "poor white trash." Shep may say that he doesn't care where someone was born, how much money they have, etc. until the cows come home, but the truth lays in actions, and his were definitely mean.
3. Shep Bites Back
To me, the most shocking thing about the entire story isn't that Shep posted that video. I get it. You get loaded in New York City. You're a rich white guy and a Bravo star. You have a whole spin-off show about how everyone wants to date you. The ego is an incredible beast. But it was how Shep responded to criticism of his poor behavior that really flummoxed me. Shep replied on Twitter saying: “Omg. I offended you! Ok. Here’s the plan, sensitivity training 5 times a week. Then intensive therapy (hot yoga?) followed by a public flogging in the town square. Then i move to Siberia and live in an igloo for 4 months. At this point. I think I’ll be cleansed of your disapproval.”
4. A Real Apology
Eventually, Shep seemed to see the error of his ways. Either that or Bravo made him apologize. Or he realized just how bad the optics of the whole thing were and how they would impact his Q factor. Whatever the reason for it, Shep issued a statement of apology on Twitter: “I know some people were upset about the video from Sunday night. It was a stupid joke and bad idea all around. Also a bit out of context. I spent a few minutes with her talking and telling jokes. She laughed a little. But Yeah, wasn’t cool or funny. Mea culpa.” It reads like an honest apology, and in fact, if he'd made it when he was first called out by his fans for his shoddy behavior, I might buy it as one, but coming this late and given his other bad behavior, it's hard to swallow.
5. This Season Of Southern Charm
The Real Shep has been visible more and more often lately on Southern Charm and this season is no exception. When we were first introduced to him, Shep seemed like a total dreamboat. He was funny, he was intelligent, he liked to read, but he also liked to go out on the town. Nowadays, that bit is getting old and tired and so is Shep. He looks exhausted, he's frequently injured (a bad knee, the latest complaint) and the chipper optimism is often replaced with a sneer and judgment, not just of people he doesn't know, but of his own friends. The way he talks down to Austen about his relationship with Madison is as transparent as it is appalling. The guy also adopted a dog and named it after Craig, a long-time friend, and co-star who he systemically tears down under the guise of humor.
6. He Isn't The Biggest Offender
Believe it or not, there's a reason Shep is still a fan favorite: he's not the worst guy on the show, not by a long shot. I don't want to say too much about him because the man is notoriously litigious, but former Charmer, Thomas Ravenel was arrested for cocaine use and arrested again for sexual assault, to say nothing of the treatment of his now ex Kathryn Dennis. The men on Southern Charm aren't charming, they are desperate, searching and deeply wounded. We've seen most of them use marijuana on camera, but we don't need to see them use cocaine to know that they are all partying a little too hard and losing their proverbial grips on what is real.
Rebecca Jane Stokes is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York with her cats, Batman and Margot. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime.