{"id":216226,"date":"2026-01-12T17:28:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T17:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/12\/nick-viall-natalie-joy-blasted-over-austen-kroll-interview\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T17:28:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T17:28:44","slug":"nick-viall-natalie-joy-blasted-over-austen-kroll-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/12\/nick-viall-natalie-joy-blasted-over-austen-kroll-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick Viall &#038; Natalie Joy BLASTED Over Austen Kroll Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Nick Viall and Natalie Joy are under fire.<\/p>\n<p>Even people who don\u2019t normally defend Austen Kroll feel sorry for the <em>Southern Charm<\/em> star after this ambush.<\/p>\n<p>There are ways to talk to someone about a family tragedy \u2014 like a sister dying when they were both children.<\/p>\n<p>And folks? This is not it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Nick Viall and Natalie Joy and Austen Kroll.\" class=\"wp-image-545084 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_austenkroll_01.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On \u2018The Viall Files,\u2019 Nick Viall and Natalie Joy interviewed Austen Kroll in January 2026.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: YouTube)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-interview-questions-seldom-need-to-be-ambushes\">Interview questions seldom need to be ambushes<\/h2>\n<p>Following a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jBGh60GwuYU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">episode<\/a> of <em>The Viall Files<\/em>, hosts Nick Viall and Natalie Joy got some flack from the audience.<\/p>\n<p>In the episode itself, the two sat down with <em>Southern Charm<\/em>\u2018s Austen Kroll.<\/p>\n<p>At first, the interview went more or less as you might expect. They discussed his role on the Bravo series.<\/p>\n<p>Around 10 minutes in, however, there was a hard pivot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cQuickly jumping out of <em>Southern Charm<\/em>,\u201d Natalie said, \u201cbut going into your childhood, I didn\u2019t know this about your sister passing at 9.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Going Deeper with Austen Kroll\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jBGh60GwuYU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>When Austen was 7 years old, his older sister tragically died.<\/p>\n<p>In 1994, the Kroll family was on a hike. <\/p>\n<p>Austen\u2019s older sister, Kyle, fell off of a cliff during that hike. <\/p>\n<p>Losing a sibling is cause for grief for anyone. Losing a sibling as a child is an almost unthinkable loss.<\/p>\n<p>Austen took the abrupt shift with grace, saying: \u201cOkay, we are switching gears.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Austen Kroll on The Viall Files.\" class=\"wp-image-545085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Austen Kroll on The Viall Files.\" class=\"wp-image-545085 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_austenkroll_01.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Was Austen Kroll fully prepared for some \u2018The Viall Files\u2019 questions? <span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: YouTube)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-was-austen-okay-with-these-questions-he-was-very-polite\">Was Austen okay with these questions? He was very polite<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cSorry and you obviously don\u2019t have to answer,\u201d Natalie continued. (This part, at least, showed some sensitivity)<\/p>\n<p>She asked: \u201cMy question is \u2026 how did your family, because you\u2019re obviously so close to your family, your parents and Katie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Natalie continued: \u201cHow did your family keep y\u2019all together during that time?\u201d <\/p>\n<p>As you can see for yourself, and as many fans have pointed out, this is when Austen\u2019s leg began to shake.<\/p>\n<p>A leg tremor can simply mean caffeine or ADHD \u2026 but it can also be a visible sign of emotional distress.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DTPFVrJDNel\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<p>As Austen continued speaking, he said that the birth of his younger sister, Katie, was \u201cthe biggest blessing that the Kroll family could have gotten.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He likened the time after Kyle\u2019s death as his family\u2019s \u201cdark ages.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Austen expressed: \u201cThat quite literally was like our whole family rebirth \u2026 life could begin again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t long before Joy asked: \u201cWere you there when she fell?\u201d He was. \u201cWhat was this cliff?\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Austen diplomatically declined to specify even the town, let alone the cliff, sharing that the hiking trail \u201cgot wiped off the map buy a hurricane and there\u2019s no love lost with my family on that one.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Natalie Joy and Nick Viall on The Viall Files.\" class=\"wp-image-545086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Natalie Joy and Nick Viall on The Viall Files.\" class=\"wp-image-545086 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0112_nickviall_nataliejoy_01.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Natalie Joy and Nick Viall got some pushback from fans for their \u2018The Viall Files\u2019 questions.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: YouTube)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-they-didn-t-mean-any-harm-but-this-was-just-not-a-good-interview\">They didn\u2019t mean any harm, but this was just \u2026 not a good interview<\/h2>\n<p>As you can imagine, there was a lot of backlash \u2014 particularly for Natalie Joy, who seemed to ask the more insensitive questions.<\/p>\n<p>This loss has obviously defined a huge aspect of Austen\u2019s life. (At least, that\u2019s obvious to us; perhaps it was not obvious to Natalie)<\/p>\n<p>Austen acknowledged that his therapist has noted that his avoidance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2023\/10\/shep-rose-blasts-austen-kroll-taylor-ann-green-for-reprehensible-hookup-that-probably-never-happened\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">commitment<\/a> may stem from this childhood trauma.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, fans \u2014 even those who are critical of some of Austen\u2019s behavior at other times \u2014 are expressing their disappointment with Nick and Natalie\u2019s interview.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a way to discuss something like this, for the guest and, frankly, for viewers. And wow, this was not the way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/01\/nick-viall-austen-kroll-dead-sister-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes Nick Viall and Natalie Joy are under fire. Even people who don\u2019t normally defend Austen Kroll feel sorry for the Southern Charm star after this ambush. There are ways to talk to someone about a family tragedy \u2014 like a sister dying when they were both children. And folks? This is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":216228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-216226","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216226\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}