Southern Hospitality Recap: Gay Rumors About Joe's Delayed Maddi Romance

During the latest episode of Southern Hospitality, Maddie Reese revealed that rumors about Joe BradleySex delayed the start of their relationship – once TJ Dinch it was a crime.

“Three or four years ago, TJ spread a lot of rumors that I was gay,” Joe told the 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 s—. He just told me he's gay.”

Maddie, who is currently dating Joe, has admitted that the news in town is making her hesitant to act on her feelings for him.

“Three years ago, everyone was talking about rumours,” Maddi recalls. “So, I believed TJ when he told me that Joe was flirting, or having fruit, or what's the name? Gay.”

He admitted, “That was the reason 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 slept with Joe. I sleep with Joe. He likes to p—,” she said.

Joe said he confronted TJ when he heard the rumours, but TJ denied starting them.

“I said, 'Why the f— would you say that to people?' And he said, 'No, I would never say that. I will never tell anyone that. I promise you I didn't do it,'” Joe told the cameras, admitting, “Being a very trusting person, I believed you. And now I'm paying for it.”

Joe said his one-time best friend “makes you believe you can trust him and he's going to fire you.”

Despite being accused of spreading rumors about his sexuality, Joe contradicted TJ by telling people that he was dating her. Luann de Lesseps in January 2024 when he said he told her the truth in confidence.

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

Us broke the news in January 2024 that Joe and Luann, 59, were spotted cozying up in a New York City hotel after meeting while seeing each other. Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.

In season 2 Southern Hospitality reunion next month, TJ told the boss Andy Cohen He was “99 percent” sure that Joe and Luann were connected. Joe denied the allegations.

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

TJ, however, remained adamant that Joe not only kissed Luann but also “cheated” on his then-girlfriend, Danielle Oliveraonce The Real Housewives of New York City alum. (Danielle, 36, confirmed her split from Joe in February 2024.)

Related: 'Southern Hospitality' Premiere: Where Do Emmy and Will Stand, Most Loved Ones?

Courtesy of Emmy Sharrett/Instagram The cast of Southern Hospitality got hot during the season 3 premiere — and not everyone was talking. “You will–you!” TJ Dinch warned Emmy Sharrett in the first few minutes of the premiere on Thursday, January 2, after many of the actors said that her boyfriend, […]

Joe played coy about what happened to Luann in season 3, but confirmed that Us in December 2024 that he “kissed” her. He said he wasn't trying to hide anything, but he was still angry with TJ for breaking his trust.

Those trust issues have been front and center this season — especially since Maddi is still friends with TJ, which Joe admits worries him. (Joe and Maddie were told only Us (that they had been dating since April 2024, which was when the cameras started dating.)

“It also pissed me off that you were friends with him,” Joe tells Maddi in the new episode, referring to his conversation with TJ at the team party last week.

However, Maddi insisted 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] and going to the grave—, obviously he knows that, but there's no reason why he shouldn't be your friend.”

Joe said, “My problems with TJ run deep.” Maddi pointed out that they “don't talk to the elephant in the room.”

Fans will continue to see Joe and TJ's drama unfold in new episodes. In fact, Joe only told Us before the season when TJ's “idea” will “make a lot of sense once you watch it.”

He teased, “Some people think he has feelings for me, [but] I think that's a long time ago, but who knows? This season everyone will find out the true nature of TJ and why he acts the way he does to me.”

Southern Hospitality airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 pm ET.