Fans Drag Natalie Joy Over Awkward Austen Kroll Interview as Paige DeSorbo Reacts.
Fans are sounding off after a recent episode of The Viall Files sparked major backlash over how Southern Charm star Austen Kroll was questioned about a deeply personal family tragedy.
During the podcast episode, Austen was discussing his time on Southern Charm when host Nick Viall’s wife, Natalie Joy, abruptly shifted the conversation to the death of Austen’s sister, Kyle. Longtime viewers of the Bravo series may recall Austen previously opening up about the heartbreaking accident, which occurred when they were children.
Natalie prefaced the subject change by acknowledging the shift in tone, saying she was “quickly jumping out of Southern Charm,” before asking Austen about the age at which his sister passed away. Austen, visibly uncomfortable, confirmed that he was just seven years old at the time.
As the conversation continued, Natalie pressed further, asking how Austen’s family managed to stay close after the loss. Austen explained that the eventual birth of his younger sister, Katie, played a major role in helping his family heal, describing the period between the tragedy and her birth as an incredibly dark chapter for his parents.
While Austen handled the questions with grace, viewers couldn’t help but notice his physical discomfort. At one point, his leg was visibly shaking as the questions continued. Despite offering Austen the option not to answer, Natalie proceeded to ask increasingly specific details, including whether he had been present when the accident happened.
Austen confirmed that he was there but drew a clear boundary when asked to name the location, indicating he did not want to discuss the town where it occurred.
The exchange did not sit well with fans.
Viewers expressed their frustration, calling the interview “icky,” “tacky,” and unnecessarily invasive. Several fans pointed out Austen’s body language, noting how uncomfortable he appeared throughout the conversation.
As the clip continues to circulate, many fans are calling for greater care when discussing grief and loss, especially when it involves deeply traumatic childhood experiences.
For now, viewers seem united on one thing: some topics require far more sensitivity than what they felt was shown during this interview.
– Tyler
