In the midst of processing that her best friend Taylor Ann Green lied to her about kissing her ex Austen Kroll, Southern charmOlivia Flowers learned that her brother Conner died unexpectedly at the age of 32.
“That was the worst moment,” Flowers, 31, tells PEOPLE.
Conner’s death happened right in the middle of filming season 9.
“It was definitely more of a challenge to finish it,” Flowers says. “But all my co-stars have been really supportive in their own way and a lot of people have come to the aid of me and my family and been there for us.”
Southern charmis Olivia Flowers He recalls his last conversation with his brother Conner before his unexpected death
That support from her fellow cast members made it bearable for Flowers to continue filming. “It was incredibly appreciated,” she says. “They are the reason I kept showing up to finish it. At the end of the day, it’s a job, it’s a commitment, and some days have been incredibly difficult. I had someone like Rod [Razavi] who could help me with that.”
Flowers calls taping the Bravo show while she first coped “a good distraction.” “It was a good escape at the time,” she says.
But Flowers admits that “it’s going to be hard to recall” episodes from that period.
“My brain has completely turned to what’s important,” Flowers says. “He put a lot of things into perspective, and [showed] as well as who my friends are and who popped out and who was there for me. And from all that, new friendships were born. That’s what you see happening in the second half of things.”
‘Southern Charm’ stars (from left) Olivia Flowers, Austen Kroll, Taylor Ann Green and Shep Rose.
Paul Cheney/Bravo
In the latest episode Southern charmFlowers continued to explore her relationship with Razavi by going out with him on Conner’s 33rd birthday.
“He’s a great listener and he’s able to give unbiased advice,” Flowers says of Razavi, 40. “I confide in him a lot throughout the season and it’s been greatly appreciated. That’s the kind of guy he is.”
Flowers also reconnected with Kroll, 36, during the episode because he got a first-hand experience of what it feels like to lose a sibling. (Kroll’s older sister died when he was a child.)
“Coming into this season, we weren’t exactly in the best place,” Flowers says of the split with Kroll. “We haven’t spoken or seen each other in a while, so there wasn’t much interaction before. When you see us at Madison’s wedding, it was really the first time we’ve seen each other in a while. All the nerves and discomfort that comes is very organic. You’ll find yourself in the season just trying to figure out where we’ll see each other next just as friends. And it was awkward.”
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Austen Kroll and Olivia Flowers at BravoCon in New York in October 2022.
Astrid Stawiarz/Bravo via Getty
At the time of Conner’s death in February, the Flowers family recalled his friendly nature and devotion to his faith in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Conner was a remarkable young man, with a gift of compassion and love for others, which made him friends wherever he went,” the family said. “His values were instilled in his faith and family. We know his absence will be felt by many for years to come.”
Southern charm Mid-Season Trailer: Shep Finds Taylor In Her Bed, Craig Plays With Fire (Exclusive)
On Instagram, Flowers called it a “blessing” to be “sister to such a beautiful soul with a soft heart and a soft voice to match.”
“He led every interaction with his big heart,” she wrote on February 14. “He attracted everyone’s attention with his sense of fashion. I don’t know what this life will be like without you. It was always the 4 of us. I can only hope that I will forever be known as ‘Conner’s little sister’.”
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Southern charm airs Thursdays at 9pm ET on Bravo.
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