Salley Carson Calls for Public Apology from 'The Viall Files' Over Austen Kroll Interview

The 'Southern Charm' star says the podcast hosts were 'cavalier' in their questioning about Kroll's late sister.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Salley Carson, a cast member on the reality show 'Southern Charm', is calling for 'The Viall Files' podcast hosts Nick Viall and Natalie Joy to issue a public apology to her co-star Austen Kroll over their recent interview. Carson says the hosts were 'cavalier' in their questioning about Kroll's late sister, which 'came out of nowhere' and made him visibly uncomfortable. While Viall and Joy have privately apologized to Kroll, Carson believes they need to make a more public statement to take accountability for their actions.

Why it matters

This situation highlights the importance of sensitivity when discussing traumatic personal experiences, especially on public platforms. Kroll's co-stars have rallied behind him, criticizing the podcast hosts for their 'zero sensitivity' in the interview. The backlash also raises questions about the responsibility of media figures to handle delicate topics with care.

The details

During Kroll's January appearance on 'The Viall Files', co-host Natalie Joy brought up the death of Kroll's sister Kyle, who passed away when Kroll was 7 years old. Joy asked Kroll about the details of his sister's death, which many fans and Kroll's co-stars felt was an inappropriate line of questioning. Carson says the questions 'came out of nowhere' and she could tell Kroll was 'uncomfortable' answering them.

  • Kroll appeared on 'The Viall Files' podcast on January 7, 2026.
  • Carson spoke about the interview on SiriusXM's Page Six Radio on February 10, 2026.

The players

Salley Carson

A cast member on the reality TV show 'Southern Charm' who is calling for 'The Viall Files' podcast to issue a public apology to her co-star Austen Kroll.

Austen Kroll

A cast member on 'Southern Charm' whose personal experience with the death of his sister was discussed in an uncomfortable manner during an interview on 'The Viall Files' podcast.

Nick Viall

The co-host of 'The Viall Files' podcast who interviewed Austen Kroll.

Natalie Joy

The co-host of 'The Viall Files' podcast who questioned Austen Kroll about the death of his sister in an insensitive manner.

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What they’re saying

“I do think there should be a public apology for sure. They definitely did apologize to Austen but I think that it needed to be a lot bigger than that.”

— Salley Carson, Southern Charm cast member (SiriusXM's Page Six Radio)

“I've been friends with him for a while and haven't asked [about Kyle]. That's something that I feel like he should bring up when he's comfortable.”

— Salley Carson, Southern Charm cast member (SiriusXM's Page Six Radio)

What’s next

The podcast hosts Nick Viall and Natalie Joy have not yet publicly addressed the controversy or issued an apology, but Carson believes they need to do so to take full accountability.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for media figures to approach sensitive personal topics with care and empathy, especially when discussing traumatic experiences. The backlash from Kroll's co-stars highlights how insensitive questioning can deeply affect individuals and their loved ones.