Joe Bradley and Maddi Reese: A Look at Southern Hospitality’s Relationship
Joe Bradley and Maddi Reese’s connection on Southern Hospitality was evident from the beginning — but it wasn’t until season 3 that their friendship blossomed into romance.
“I’ve had feelings for her for years, but we were best friends,” Joe exclusively shared with Us Weekly in December 2024. “One day I’d wake up thinking, ‘I have a chance with the girl of my dreams,’ and the next day, I’d feel it was impossible. Our friends often said it would never happen.”
Though Joe and Maddi kicked off as best friends when season 1 of Southern Hospitality premiered in 2022, Joe concealed his feelings for her. Once Maddi became single at the beginning of 2024, he finally took the plunge.
Their relationship captured attention after Us Weekly premiered the season 3 trailer in November 2024. Notably, the video featured Maddi and Joe seemingly tying the knot in Las Vegas.
“Everything in our life tends to be spontaneous, so it suits us,” Joe remarked to Us in December, later clarifying that the Vegas wedding wasn’t legally binding. Regardless, their relationship is thriving, despite a few bumps in season 4.
Scroll down to explore the evolution of Joe and Maddi’s love story:
November 2022
Fans first met Maddi and Joe, along with their colleagues from Republic Garden & Lounge, during the Southern Charm spinoff, Southern Hospitality. Back then, both were VIP servers, with Maddi moonlighting as a DJ at the bar.
January 2023
In season 1, episode 8, Joe admitted his romantic feelings for Maddi while she was involved in an on-again, off-again relationship with Trevor Stokes. This revelation sparked tension between Joe and Trevor, and Maddi, along with coworker Mia Alario, confronted Joe for getting too close to her during this tumultuous period.
February 2023
Joe referred to Maddi as his “work wife” via Instagram, posting a photo of them together at Republic.
December 2023
Maddi revealed to Us that she was single after her breakup with Trevor Stokes, which included a string of cheating scandals aired during season 2 of Southern Hospitality from December 2023 to February 2024.
“I am focusing on myself,” she explained to Us in December 2023. “I need a drama-free zone for a couple of months.” She expressed her desire for a “stable home” and was working towards that goal.
January 2024
After they ran into each other at BravoCon in November 2023, Joe briefly dated Summer House star Danielle Olivera. A few weeks later, Us exclusively reported that Joe was seen getting close to Luann De Lesseps in New York City (Joe later admitted they had kissed).
During the same month, Joe told Us he was “taking things slow” with Danielle. By February 2024, Danielle confirmed their split.
February 2024
Following the Southern Hospitality season 2 reunion, Joe and Maddi began “hanging out,” according to Joe. He later shared with Us, “I haven’t been with or kissed anyone since last winter around February.”
April 2024
Joe confirmed to Us that he and Maddi “became boyfriend and girlfriend in mid-April,” just before they began filming season 3.
Maddi noted, “We just started dating weeks before filming, so we’re still figuring it all out.” She admitted to Us, “I feel uneasy about diving into another relationship, so watching that play out will be interesting.”
July 2024
Maddi posted photos from her DJ gig in Las Vegas via Instagram, highlighting that the Southern Hospitality cast supported her. This performance coincided with the weekend when Joe and Maddi were “married” by an Elvis impersonator (though the wedding wasn’t official).
“You’ll have to watch to see if it’s real,” Maddi teased during a joint interview with Joe in December 2024, adding to Us, “You’ll witness our journey from dating to discussing taking that significant step. I’m excited because it happened in Vegas, and it was an amazing trip.”
Joe called the wedding an “epic moment” meant to “demonstrate my love for her and silence the naysayers.”
December 2024
“We’re really happy right now,” Joe remarked to Us about his relationship with Maddi, emphasizing that he had to “allow her space and time to feel secure in deciding to date me.”
Maddi expressed that “timing was crucial” in the start of her relationship with Joe, revealing, “I always had feelings for him, but wasn’t sure if it was something more than friendship.” She added that taking that leap was “definitely worth the risk.”
January 2025
During the season 3 premiere of Southern Hospitality, Maddi and Joe affirmed their relationship status. As the season progressed, Maddi revealed that rumors spread by their friend TJ Dinch regarding Joe’s sexuality had been an obstacle for their relationship.
“Three years ago, everyone was talking about the rumor. So, I started believing TJ when he said Joe was flirty, fruity, or whatever term?” Maddi explained in the January 9 episode. “That’s why I didn’t get involved with Joe for such a long time.”
Weeks later, Joe shared his doubts about their growing relationship, confiding in the cameras, “A part of me fears she’ll become so successful that she’ll leave Charleston behind.”
“I sense she feels claustrophobic living in this small town. I adore it here,” he stated during the January 30 episode, admitting, “Ultimately, I want to be her home base.”
Joe later conveyed to Maddi that his “dream” is to “build a family” with her someday. She responded, “I do want kids. I want marriage. I absolutely do.”
March 2025
“Being a reality TV couple is a little intimidating,” Joe told Us on March 6. “I’ve witnessed some of my favorite reality TV couples fall apart.”
Despite the common trend of TV relationships ending after exposure, Joe felt confident about his future with Maddi. “We’re in a good place. Bring it on,” he joked.
“We are unique because we were best friends before the show began, and it wasn’t forced,” Joe explained. “Timing favored us, and everything unfolded naturally.”
April 2025
Joe joined Maddi at his first Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, calling it his “rookie year.” The pair spent time with The Valley’s Scheana Shay and Brock Davies.
July 2025
The couple celebrated Independence Day with a trip to the Hamptons in New York.
December 2025
Maddi and Joe finished the year with a snowy getaway to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where they enjoyed horseback riding and skiing.
April 2026
In season 4 of Southern Hospitality, Maddi and Joe encountered conflicts regarding his drinking habits and their impact on their relationship.
“Joe claimed he was working last night,” Maddi confided to friend Michols Peña during the April 8 episode, which was filmed in 2025. When she checked Joe’s location, he was “at another bar,” not at Republic, his workplace.
Maddi later confronted Joe about his alleged dishonesty, expressing, “I’m frustrated because I feel like I’m constantly tracking your location and you’re not where you said you’d be. I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
She continued, “I stand by you starting a business and improving your life. However, I don’t support you saying you’re doing that when you’re out drinking and on a binge.”
Joe responded, insisting, “I wasn’t on a binge. I returned home by 11 p.m.” He further argued that he never claimed he would be at work, stating Maddi made that up.
“I believe we need some space. Our realities feel misaligned,” Maddi confessed after accusing him of “lying” about his actions.
Joe shot back, saying, “That’s all in your f***ing head” and claimed she was “spiraling.”
Maddi, who has maintained sobriety since her teenage years, later added, “This is the first relationship where I’m more concerned about my boyfriend getting drunk than cheating on me. It’s incredibly triggering for my sobriety.”
Joe walked away during their discussion, insisting that it was “all in your head” and he had done nothing wrong.
“He’s f***ing gaslighting me,” Maddi shouted as she followed him to his car, which he denied.
“I feel like he’s out all the time getting drunk. I feel like I’m a f***ing enabler,” Maddi told Michols. “I’m uncertain if I’m mentally and emotionally okay with being with someone who drinks excessively. I don’t know what to do.”
