Southern Charm fans believe Craig Conover was DUMPED by Paige DeSorbo before the holidays

Craig Conover has sparked speculation that he was dumped by Paige DeSoto when he broke his silence on their shock split.

The Summer House star finally addressed the breakup that sent shockwaves among fans in a video statement that suggested Paige ended the relationship herself before the holidays.

A smiling Craig told Instagram followers: ‘I think it’s finally time to check in with everyone… This was all very, very unexpected, to say the least. But I think I have to live, I have to start living again, whatever that looks like. Whatever my new normal looks like, I have to get started.”

“Gratitude will get you through this, with time comes clarity, all the advice I’m trying to listen to. But yes. Just before the holidays I was very shocked.

“And it’s okay. It takes two people to have a relationship, and you can’t control other people, you can only control how you react to them, so.’

“Remember to be kind to Paige, me, yourself and all that good stuff. I’m still processing everything, which is normal, I mean, a three year relationship, it’s your best friend you talk to all day, every day and then they’re just gone.

‘One day I’ll be able to talk more about it, but for now I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind messages. It was a lot of fun reading them and it’s just life and I have to take my own advice that I give when I go around and speak at these home shows “that no one is ever better off after a breakup”.

“But I guess now I have to practice what I preach and believe it and really believe in God that everything happens for a reason. But I love you all and I’ll see everyone on my trips in January, there’s a lot ahead of us.”

Based on Craig’s statement, fans felt that the breakup was not mutual.

“Whew.. that’s NOT mutual,” one X user wrote.

“So basically she blindsided him over the holidays. She also guided him for many years. I never liked her. She would never move for him,” wrote another.

“I don’t know if I feel bad,” wrote another. ‘I had a tear for a moment. I think he loved her more than she loved him.”

“I thought it was a mutual decision but it looks like she dumped him right before the holidays and he was very shocked,” one person wrote.

“Awww, she broke his heart… looks like he was blinded. That’s not good,” another commented.

Shortly after Craig shared his video, Paige posted a glamorous selfie and a slew of photos with her Giggly Squad co-host Hannah Berner during the New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic game.

“And then it becomes an ice rink again,” she captioned the post.

The caption seemed to reference a recent episode of her podcast, in which she described how she often wonders about the many uses of a basketball court.

Paige announced their split last month on an episode of the Giggly Squad podcast.

“Craig and I have decided to no longer be together,” DeSorbo revealed.

Fighting back tears, the reality star admitted that publicly discussing the breakup felt “weird,” but she made it clear that she had only positive feelings for Conover.

‘I love him. I think he loves me. I think we will remain friends,” she said, adding, “Nobody did anything. It wasn’t a bad thing.’

DeSorbo went on to describe their decision as a mature one, saying, “I think we were both just very mature and said what we wanted and what we didn’t want.” And I think being able to express in real time how you feel and what you want for your future is extremely powerful.”

Paige remained tight-lipped about the exact reasons behind her split from Craig, but described the past few years as “very transformative,” noting that both she and Conover had experienced significant growth and change during their time together.

Although she didn’t specify when they officially ended their relationship, the couple still seemed to be on good terms last month as they celebrated Thanksgiving at her parents’ home in upstate New York.

‘He’s absolutely the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. I can really say that,” DeSorbo shared, looking back on their time together.

“He was a great boyfriend, and he did everything right, and he never made me feel insecure or anything like that, so it’s almost harder when no one has done anything to be upset about, and that’s hard.”