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by WILL FOLKS
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Former reality television star Kathryn Dennis – a fixture on Bravo TV’s popular South Carolina-based Southern Charm program – is back behind bars.
Dennis, 33, was booked at the Berkeley County detention center at 6:54 p.m. EDT on Friday (October 3, 2025) after receiving a thirty-day sentence in connection with a recent arrest initiated by the Goose Creek Police Department (GCPD).
News of Dennis’ sentencing was first reported by Jameson Moyer of WCBD TV-2 (NBC – Charleston, S.C.).
Dennis’ conviction comes sixteen months after she was arrested by GCPD and charged with first offense driving under the influence (DUI) and driving with an open container of alcohol after allegedly rear-ending a vehicle at a stoplight just before midnight on May 20, 2024.
As we reported, Goose Creek officers arrived at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and Stephanie Drive in response to “a motor vehicle collision with injury.” Upon arriving on the scene, bystanders stated that Dennis “was possibly impaired” and told police they “could smell the odor of alcohol emanating from (her) person.”
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At that point, officers observed Dennis as allegedly having “glossy eyes” and also smelled “an odor consistent with the odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from her” – despite her telling officers she had not had anything to drink that evening.
After being placed under arrest, Dennis’ vehicle was searched and officers “located several mini bottles of Fireball, some of which were opened and empty.” Dennis declined to submit to a breathalyzer examination, although she later acknowledged having consumed alcohol “way earlier” in the evening.
Dennis was later transported to a regional hospital where, according to officers, she “could not recall when the collision happened.”
Six weeks ago, Dennis was sued in connection with that collision by Orangeburg County resident Larry Patrick Griffin. According to Griffin’s complaint, Dennis “made the conscious decision to drive a motor vehicle on a public roadway while under the influence and intoxication of alcoholic beverages, and/or other controlled substance(s),” resulting in a collision which caused him “serious bodily injury, pain and suffering and mental anguish” as well as “property damage.”
His complaint demands a jury trial and seeks “actual damages in an appropriate amount, for property damage, punitive damages, for the costs of this action.”
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Prior to this incident, Dennis was the focus of an ongoing investigation into a vehicular hit-and-run that injured a Lowcountry sheriff’s deputy two years ago. As we previously reported, a vehicle registered to Dennis struck the officer as she was directing traffic outside of Whitesville Elementary School in Moncks Corner, S.C. at approximately 7:30 a.m. EDT on the morning of October 20, 2023. Dennis’ 2022 Ford Bronco was then allegedly observed leaving the scene of the crash – with “a white female with dirty blonde hair” behind the wheel.
No charges were filed against Dennis in connection with that incident, however.
Dennis is tied to three of the most famous families in South Carolina political history. In addition to tracing her lineage back to prominent Palmetto politicos including S.C Senate president Rembert Dennis and former U.S. vice president John C. Calhoun, she was also the longtime partner of former S.C. state treasurer Thomas Ravenel, her Southern Charm co-star.
Dennis bore Ravenel two children – Kensington Calhoun Ravenel and St. Julien Rembert Ravenel. Dennis recently lost a lost an acrimonious court battle with Ravenel over custody of the two children.
As FITSNews has previously noted, the combustible nature of the Dennis-Ravenel relationship fueled Southern Charm’s rise – and made them both superstars. After her first season on the show, Bravo elevated Dennis to the role of a full-time cast member – a position she held for eight seasons.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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8 comments
Moms tend to spiral when you take custody away from them. Hope she gets back on track. SC has a really bad family custody history and the most unfair decisions are usually decided by male Judges. Judges who are swayed by their legislative cohorts. Family court and domestic affairs needs to be run by female Judges in my opinion. Women know women, they can smell out an abusive spouse a mile away, their decisions aren’t questioned by their gender and they wont separate a family like a male can.
One of her children has to live his life with consequences of her (allegedly) drinking while pregnant. In this case, removal is justified. Maybe they will be spared from being injured from riding in a car with her while she continues to drink.
Women know women
Izat choo Katrina?
NOBODY.CARES.ABOUT.THESE.FREAKS.WILL!
I have a feeling Mr. Griffin found out who she is and that’s the reason for the lawsuit. I am sure he will get more money than he deserves.
Who’s to say what he deserves? Her “celebrity” should have nothing to do with it.
Dennis and Ravenelle, “superstars”….bish please. They are just the natural downward progression of a family cycle when the higher achieving grandparents or great-grandparents have downstream offspring who do nothing to achieve for themselves but just ride on that family name. She’d be twirling on a pole somewhere and him tending bar at the same place but for their family wealth.