Credit: Michelle Watt/Bravo
Venita Aspen
Venita made her debut on Southern Charm in season 7 in 2020 as a “friend” of the group before transitioning to a full-time cast member the following season. Her boyfriend Manny was introduced to fans during season 9, which aired in 2023.
“I feel like [he’s] my forever person in my heart,” Venita exclusively shared with Us in September 2023. However, during an episode of season 10 that was filmed in the summer of 2024, she disclosed that she and Manny had ended their relationship when he secured a job in New York.
In the summer of 2024, Venita kindled a romance with fellow cast member Jarrett “JT” Thomas. By January 2025, she confirmed that they were in a relationship. Prior to the release of the season 10 trailer in October 2024, it was revealed that JT had disappeared. On a “Housewives Nightcap” podcast, Venita claimed that JT hadn’t ghosted her, stating, “He suddenly appeared with a girlfriend on Instagram.”
During season 10, Venita was depicted as a “homewrecker” after she claimed production showed sequences between her and JT out of order.
Venita cleared up her and JT’s relationship timeline in March 2025, exclusively telling Us, “We started dating when I got back from New York in September [2024],” noting it was months after the events transpired on the show.
“It was from September, October, November,” she recalled, adding that she and JT were “Trying to figure out, ‘OK, are we doing this? Do we actually like each other? Is it because we’re around each other all the time?’”
Venita explained that in November 2024, JT “posted that he had the girlfriend on Instagram,” which she revealed was “how I found out” he was dating someone else named Ali Pereless.
While Venita said they were “just dating” and not exclusive, she claimed JT didn’t give her a heads up before publicly announcing the other romance. Venita cut off communication with JT after the drama and didn’t speak with him again until the season 10 reunion, which filmed in early 2025.
