Rodrigo Reyes of Bravo’s “Southern Charm” has become a fan favorite

They say a friend to all is a friend to none, but that is only when they are playing friends off against each other. Rodrigo Antonio Reyes, who found himself in the backdrop for much of the early seasons of Bravo’s Southern Charm, has arisen as the new fan favorite on the show. From his wild facial expressions, which make for the perfect memes, to his tendency to be the loyal friend, to his often-unfiltered confessionals, Rodrigo has won over the hearts of viewers. Rodrigo, who is the first and only cast member of Hispanic/Latino descent as well as the first and only openly gay cast member, discussed a range of topics on camera and off.

Rodrigo Reyes, you have become everyone’s new favorite on Southern Charm.

Rodrigo Reyes: That’s very sweet of you. I guess they saw my buddy Austen Kroll immediately and only noticed me later [laughs].

You have known a majority of the cast since the show’s inception. You finally came on Southern Charm as a Friend Of in Season 9. Then, you were bumped to full-time cast status, which you have maintained for Season 10, Season 11, and now going into Season 12. Despite being friends in real life with the cast for so long, was it still intimidating coming onto the reality show, especially given how long it has been airing?

RR: I was present since Season 1 and even filmed a lot that first season, which thank God, most of it did not air. I was very cringy and feel like I would have been canceled a long time ago. Initially when you start filming a reality show, it feels like a different form of reality until you fully settle in. ’Til this day it is still somewhat intimidating. Every time a new season starts production, you get a little nervous, including when you film the confessionals. Sometimes you genuinely don’t remember what you said or did until you get accustomed to it, which can be a good or bad thing when the show starts to air. When you have friends like these, it’s always entertaining.

Does the anxiety come from the fact the dynamics always change each season?

RR: You do wonder what will shift every time you start filming a new season. When we started filming Season 11 with Madison’s baby shower, I had no idea where we would end up only three months later, and I didn’t expect the shifts within existing friendships and issues that arose. However, we are genuine friends and hang out together all the time, which is different from other so-called reality shows. I see Austen Kroll, Venita Aspen and Salley Carson all the time. I travel with Austen often. Hence, when you are close with someone, the fights are always more personal.

It makes for authentic reality television, something which has gone by the wayside. This is why the Real Housewives franchise has suffered in ratings in recent years. Since you have been friends in real life for so long, it translates on camera, and people prefer organic reality television. On the flip side, because it affects you deeply given you are all close, it must feel like a double-edged sword.

RR: Every little thing that is said is scrutinized much more. A small remark can blow up like we have witnessed this past season. An innocent comment from Austen to Craig Conover, like the powderkeg, descended into chaos before we knew it.

Over time you have become the fan favorite. Fans consider you to be the most normal person on the cast and appreciate your balanced perspective as the voice of reason. Do you make a conscious effort to be somewhat neutral, or is that just who you are by nature?

RR: I think it’s just me by nature because I am friends with everybody and dislike having issues with people. Honestly, they all do come to me to spill the tea on each other, which is fine because I appreciate that people trust me. That said, it is difficult to navigate. I don’t want to be the gay in all the drama, yet I am the gay in all the drama [laughs].

Are you ever worried that something might get lost in translation? For example, when you have two friends complaining about each other you naturally might offer advice to both, then your words could get spun and it somehow all becomes your fault … just like in real life.

RR: I worry about that sometimes. Yet I’ve learned over time that as long as I’m honest on camera just as much as I am off camera, I don’t have anything to worry about. That’s just the path I take. I feel like other people like to spin and twist things. Most of all I should probably work on my facial expressions and not be so reactive in that way, but I guess that is better than throwing drinks on someone. My drink-throwing days are behind me.

You say that now, then next season you’ll be filming and pop off. If someone were to instigate you enough to react and take it to that level, who do you think it would be?

RR: Probably Austen, but I feel like as guys, regardless of sexuality, you can duke it out and make up the next day. Austen and I are good enough friends where we can fight and then we can find our way back to each other. My fiancé and Austen got into it post filming and had issues with each other. Yet they worked it out by now.

I think that is why Southern Charm is one of Bravo’s top-performing non-Housewives shows. You do not fight over the same thing for an extended period, which is ultimately what bores and loses the viewers. Speaking of your fiancé, congratulations on your recent engagement to your boyfriend of nine years, Tyler Dugas. How did it all go down?

RR: We went on a group trip to Santorini for my 40th birthday. I proposed to Tyler during sunset. Everyone was in on it except for him. It was a beautiful moment, and it felt nice to be surrounded by those closest to us. We love Greece; it’s our happy place.

I hope your wedding is filmed because we love to see the representation. I also feel many reality TV shows purposefully try to go the stereotypical route with gay cast members. It is nice to witness you holding the show together instead of acting a fool as the “token gay.” What else can you reveal about Charleston’s big gay wedding?

RR: I think we know where we’re going to have it. Austen and Craig just opened a wedding and event venue in downtown Charleston called The Waverly. Finally, there is a perk to being friends with these guys [laughs].

You film for countless hours, but there’s only so much production that could fit into the show. What was edited out that you wished aired, and alternatively, what do you wish never aired?

RR: During Season 10, a cast trip and a cowboy-themed party was completely cut, and I wish that aired because so many different things happened at that party. It was so chaotic, many different feuds took place, and even tortilla slaps. It was a lot. I think the viewers would have really loved to have seen that because they included clips in the initial trailer but never actually showed any of it during the season. As for what I wish did not air, I don’t have anything. I’m happy with whatever screen time I get.

Do you hope there are any changes made going into Season 12?

RR: Not at all. I’m happy with the group that we have. I like that we’re genuine friends who see each other and hang out often in real life. It makes it feel less like a job. I would like for us to stay who we are now. When you have a solid cast, just stick with it.

Some viewers feel like you’re still an enigma with a mysterious element to you. Can you speak on your life pre-fame as well as your interior design background?

RR: I am of Mexican descent, and I grew up in Arizona as one of nine children. I am smack dab in the middle. My oldest brother, who is 20 years older than me, is gay, although that did not make coming out any easier, specifically with my mother initially. My father was accepting from the beginning. For a while I played the bisexual card until I could fully process who I was. I moved to Charleston after I graduated from Arizona State University, right when the economy crashed. I had a job working at an architecture firm. Then they started laying off architects, and I fell into the Charleston staple of food and beverage. I bartended, and I served for a long time. It’s so easy to become caught up in that server lifestyle, and when I caught myself, I decided I’m going to establish my own business. Ultimately, I started my own interior design business, and I feel like it’s been nonstop ever since, which I’m grateful for.

Would you ever appear on any of those interior design shows?

RR: One thousand percent. You saw a glimpse of it this past season with the interior design work I did for Shep Rose. It ended up being a massive renovation in the end.

@roddy_rey