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Amid rumors of Rudy Pankow<\/strong><\/a> and Madison Bailey<\/strong><\/a> having a falling out, a source exclusively tells Life & Style<\/em> what things were like behind-the-scenes of Outer Banks<\/em><\/a> season 4.<\/p>\n \u201cApparently there were times when filming together was difficult,\u201d the source reveals, adding that the tension is \u201cnot something they\u2019re ever going to admit to because it just reflects badly on the show and on everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n However, \u201cThere were a lot of whispers that things soured between them,\u201d the insider continues. \u201cThey were very close friends at one point and something did seem to happen to break that bond, which obviously would make filming together a struggle at times. They\u2019re both super professional so it didn\u2019t cause issues on the set or with their performances, but there was a lot of gossip flying around about how strained things were between them the moment the cameras were off.\u201d<\/p>\n Rudy, 26, and Madison\u2019s Outer Banks<\/em> characters \u2013 JJ and Kiara \u2013 were a couple on the show. However, their onscreen romance didn\u2019t start until season 3 after fans noticed their chemistry and begged writers to have them get together. Passionate shippers have blamed Rudy and Madison\u2019s real life girlfriends, Elaine Siemek<\/strong> and Mariah Linney<\/strong>, for their apparent falling out, claiming that jealousy got in the way of the actors\u2019 friendship.<\/p>\n \u201cThe really awful part for both of them is the way their girlfriends got dragged into the drama,\u201d the source admits. \u201cThe horrible things that their fans have said online and the comments they\u2019ve left on social media have been brutal. That has caused the most hurt<\/a> by far and it did make them both quite defensive and protective.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Netflix stars stood up for their significant others on social media in 2021 when the negative comments first started flooding in.<\/p>\n Rudy and Madison, 25, have never addressed the widespread rumors of a falling out, but theories intensified after JJ was killed<\/a> in the season 4 finale. Many fans have speculated that the actor asked to leave the show because he didn\u2019t want to work with Madison anymore.<\/p>\n Life & Style\u2019s<\/em> source reiterates what cocreator Shannon Burke<\/strong> previously said about the shocking death: It was \u201calways\u201d the plan. \u201cThe writers felt like this was the right time,\u201d the insider explains. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean there weren\u2019t tense times between him and Madison, but it would be unfair to say that was the reason he\u2019s leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n Days after the finale aired, Rudy took to Instagram to reflect on his time on the show. \u201cBeing grateful doesn\u2019t begin to explain it,\u201d he wrote, along with a series of photos that Madison was tagged in. \u201cHonestly words in general explaining 5 years of memories, blood, sweat and passion with this special cast, crew, writers, producers, artists aren\u2019t possible. So for now, giving a huge THANK YOU, thank you to all them and to YOU for the treasure hunt of a lifetime. And lastly to my pall JJ Maybank, thank you. I\u2019ll love you forever.\u201d<\/p>\n While fans were devastated that JJ was killed<\/a>, there have been hints that he could return in some form for season 5, which will be the last season of the show. \u201cNever say never,\u201d cocreator Jonas Pate<\/strong> teased.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n