Kristin Cavallari has addressed persistent romance rumors surrounding her friendship with Austen Kroll, stating definitively that there was no romantic involvement during their recent getaway to Mallorca.
"There was zero hooking up. We weren’t even flirting or anything. He’s like a buddy," Cavallari said on Tuesday’s episode of her "Let’s Be Honest" podcast. She noted that her social media messages were inundated with questions about Kroll’s presence on the trip.
Cavallari, 39, described the "Southern Charm" alum, also 39, as "so respectful and so cool," adding that he has a "big teddy bear" persona and a "good heart." Her friend Justin Anderson, who was also on the trip, corroborated Cavallari’s account, stating there was "none of that weird tension."
Cavallari emphasized her belief in platonic friendships between men and women, citing her own history of male friendships. "I’ve always had male friends. … I’ve always enjoyed men probably because I’m basically a dude," she explained. She believes her dynamic with Kroll exemplifies this, stating, "I don’t think Austen likes me or has a crush on me."
She also praised Kroll's physical presence, calling him "hot" in person and noting his height at six-foot-five. "He makes all of us feel little," she added.
This is not the first time Cavallari has had to dispel speculation about a romantic connection with Kroll. In December 2020, after being photographed with Kroll and his "Southern Charm" co-star Craig Conover in Nashville, Cavallari took to Instagram Stories to assert her right to have male friends.
Kroll shared a similar sentiment at the time on "Watch What Happens Live," explaining that Cavallari had reached out to Conover to arrange a group dinner. The following year, Cavallari publicly denounced "gossip bulls–t" that suggested a "love triangle" involving her and the "Southern Charm" stars. In a July 2021 statement, she maintained, "I’ve never dated either one of them, I can guarantee that I’m not gonna date either one of them, and it’s possible for a grown woman to be friends with a grown man, and for that to be it."