Leva Bonaparte “checked in” on both Craig Conover and Paige DeSorbo after the couple called it quits on their three-year relationship.
The “Southern Charm” star told Page Six that she sent Conover a text message but hadn’t talked with him in person prior to filming their reunion last week.
“I was like, ‘Hey, I just want to let you know that I want to make sure that you’re OK. Like, I’m here. I hope you’re recovering well,’” she explained, adding that Conover “hearted” the message.
Bonaparte, 45, later messaged DeSorbo, 32, on Instagram after seeing some of the “negative” comments she was receiving online after announcing the split.
“I don’t ever like to see like a girl being dragged, and so I was like, ‘I hate that anything feels negative to you, but also like hope you’re doing well, you’re both going to do great. You’re allowed to make a decision. You’re allowed to change your mind about things or move on from things,’” she shared.
The “Southern Hospitality” star further applauded DeSorbo for speaking about the breakup in a “very mature and very graceful” way when she first shared the news on her “Giggly Squad” podcast in December.
“Marriage is the biggest decision of your life –– the biggest decision,” Bonaparte pointed out. “This is a person you’re partnering on life with, so I encourage people to make the right decision, and I encourage everyone having an opinion about it to allow people to make the right decision.”
Bonaparte urged fans to “give them grace,” because “no one’s navigating breakups perfectly.”
“It’s never anyone’s best self in a breakup,” she added. “You can attempt, but also, it’s very hard in a breakup. The smallest thing can feel triggering, because you’re both hurt. The person who decides to walk away is probably very hurt –– and the person who maybe wasn’t sure that they should break up. Either way, feelings are very heightened, right?”
The restaurateur shared the sentiment after DeSorbo denied that she ever “physically” or “emotionally” cheated on Conover, 37, when fans spread “baseless” rumors that she was unfaithful to her ex.
DeSorbo further claimed that she asked Conover to shut down the speculation, but he did not publicly do so and later defended his decision.
“I don’t want to be involved,” Conover said on “Watch What Happens Live” last week. “I got broken up with. I’m the ex-boyfriend moving on with my life.”
The Sewing Down South founder later reiterated that he was “shocked” by DeSorbo’s decision to end their relationship and claimed he was “blindsided.”