[PREVIEW] Paige DeSorbo & Craig Conover's Breakup Has Culture War Vibes

When the end of “Bravo” stars Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover’s three-year long relationship became public in December, it seemed like everything was going to be handled amicably."I have so much love and respect for Craig. I think he is one of the best people I have ever met in my entire life," Paige said on her podcast, Giggly Squad. "I will remain the biggest fan of him and want the best for him and he truly will get the best because he is the best. But with that said, I think it was just the right decision for both of us moving forward in our lives and the direction in our lives that we didn’t force."But shortly after, things started going downhill. Craig addressed the breakup on IG stories in a way that made it clear that he hadn’t precipitated it. And then the rumor mill went wild: Was there cheating involved? Had Paige moved on immediately with another man? As fans became rabid for a villain, Paige and Craig’s casts — “Summer House” for the former, “Southern Charm” for the latter — lined up behind them, ready for PR battle.Because both shows were airing in the aftermath of the split, Bravo was ready to capitalize on public interest. Season 10 of “Southern Charm” and Season 9 of “Summer House” have been littered with breakup easter eggs; freighted moments where the cracks of Paige and Craig’s not-yet-ended relationship are showing. And what we’ve ended up seeing is a breakup positioned amidst a culture war: On one side, Craig’s South Carolinian bros are ribbing him about how his girlfriend wears the pants in the relationship and isn’t ready to move to a farm and pop out a baby. On the other, Paige’s girls are calling out Craig’s “hater energy,” suggesting that perhaps he’s not secure enough to truly support a partner who is shining more than him. In this episode, we dive into the incentive structures of public relationships, the fascinating way that this breakup has been positioned on and off Bravo, and the competing visions of femininity and masculinity that are presented on “Summer House” and “Southern Charm.” Hope you enjoy! XoShare Rich TextIf you liked reading this, click the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Patreon!Give us feedback or suggest a topic for the pod • Subscribe • Request a free