Leva Bonaparte Admits ‘Southern Charm’ Was ‘Becoming Too Much’: ‘Not Everybody Works’ (Exclusive)

Leva Bonaparte is spilling the tea on why she said goodbye to Southern Charm after 10 seasons — and throwing a little shade at her former castmates in the process.

“I work a lot,” Leva, 46, exclusively told Us Weekly at BravoCon 2025 on Saturday, November 15, revealing that taking a break from the “drama” has been nice.

Leva then took a little jab at her former costars, claiming, “Not everybody works, let’s keep it real. I actually work, and then I’m with my kid. I don’t have a nanny, you know what I mean?”

The reality star owns multiple businesses in Charleston, including Republic Garden & Lounge, which is the focus of Southern Charm spinoff Southern Hospitality. She is also the mother of Lamar “Little” Jr., whom she shares with husband Lamar Bonaparte.

Leva confessed on Saturday that the flagship series was “becoming too much” prior to her departure, which she announced in March.

“I was like, ‘You all don’t need me.’ There’s all these young girls, I don’t know what’s going on over here,” Leva said, seemingly referring to her male costars’ ever-changing relationship status with younger women.

This season, fans will see Austen Kroll in a relationship with Audrey Pratt. But Austen, 38, revealed at BravoCon that he’ll end season 11 as a single man. Craig Conover and Shep Rose, meanwhile, came into the season single and ready to mingle, according to the Bravo trailer. Craig, 36, even finds himself in a love triangle after his 2024 breakup from Summer House alum Paige DeSorbo.

Leva revealed to Us that the dating lives portion of the show also factored into her decision to walk away.

She recalled thinking, “I’m good on this. I can’t. I’m just gonna get mad. I’m gonna get mad if one of you date them, and I’m just gonna sit here and just look mad like, ‘Don’t date him. Don’t date him. Don’t do it.’”

Despite being critical of the Southern Charm casts’ love lives, Leva will appear on the show from time to time, including the season 11 premiere on Wednesday, November 19.

“I mean, when they call me, I’m going to show up,” Leva told Us of her cameo. “A good portion of them are my good friends. So, when they call, I’m going to show up.”

Leva was a part of the Southern Charm cast since its 2014 premiere, beginning her journey as a “friend” of the main group. She was upgraded to a full-time cast member during season 7, which aired in 2020.

After 10 years on the show, Leva confirmed her exit in March, telling her social media followers she was leaving on “great terms.”

“I am in a place now in my life where I want to have time to focus on Boys and my Joys. And need some time for a life reset on what is aligned for me!” she wrote via Instagram at the time.

Leva also noted, “I don’t have a very salacious personal life to share but I do have a lot going on,” referring to her businesses.

“I love my friends on Charm [and] wish them the best and I’ll show up when they need me — maybe you’ll see me at a party or two throughout their new season!” she teased.

Leva went on to confirm that she will remain on Southern Hospitality, focusing her “energy on the business and the show that has really found its footing this year.”

When it comes to what fans can expect from season 4 of Southern Hospitality, Leva told Us on Saturday her employees are all “messy” in the best way possible.

“There’s a lot of poor decisions,” she revealed. “I think our new cast members are amazing, and I think you’re going to meet a really fun gentleman.”

Season 11 of Southern Charm premieres on Bravo Wednesday, November 19, at 9 p.m. ET.