Joe Bradley and Maddi Reese have had the talk about whether they can survive as a reality TV couple — and they’re not afraid.
“It is a little daunting being a reality TV couple,” Joe confessed exclusively to Us Weekly on Thursday, March 6. “I’ve seen some of my favorite couples on reality TV implode.”
The Southern Hospitality star noted that couples can “either take it for what it is” and let the fame experience “make your relationship stronger,” or you can “let all the haters” interfere and derail the relationship.
“I’m not afraid of that. I think we’re in a good spot. Bring it on,” Joe teased.
Joe explained that unlike a lot of reality couples who’ve broken up, he and Maddi’s dynamic dates back to before they joined the Bravo series. (When Southern Hospitality premiered in 2022, Joe and Maddi were friends and coworkers.)
“I think we’re a special case because we were best friends before the show, and I think it wasn’t forced,” Joe said. “Timing was in our favor and it kind of happened organically.”
That being said, Joe and Maddi have discussed prioritizing their relationship. “I looked at her, I’m like, ‘Hey, if it ever gets too complicated, I choose you over a TV 1,000 times out of 1,000 [times],’” he shared with Us.
Joe added, “Whatever makes her comfortable and happy, I’m going to do that.” He confessed it can be “scary” to make their relationship so public, but he knows Maddi is The One.
“There’s one thing I’m not scared of or any doubt in, [and] it’s our relationship,” he said.
Despite being confident that he and Maddi, who started dating in April 2024, are on the right path, Joe revealed he’s pumped the brakes a little on his timeline.
“I think I kind of got a little ahead of myself with a one-year plan, because it’s hard for me and Maddi to even have a one-week plan because everything changes,” Joe confessed to Us. “She’s DJing. Someone could call and be like, ‘Hey, we need you to DJ.’ And two days later [she’s there].”
During season 3 of Southern Hospitality, Joe and Maddi had a fake wedding in Las Vegas. He proceeded to ask Maddi when they would move in together, which made her panic. She expressed her hesitations, and by the season finale, which aired on Thursday, they were back on the same page.
“If you were to tell me a year ago or a year and a half ago [that] I would be in love and together with Maddi, I would call you crazy,” Joe reflected. “We live this crazy life. I think it’s smarter for me right now just to take it day by day.”
He continued, “We’re never going to be that couple that has a five-year plan, but my plan is just to keep doing what we’re doing and being happy and I know I’m going to propose. I just don’t know when.”
Joe also revealed that despite wanting to be close to Maddi, he’s learned that they need space at times — and he doesn’t want to pressure her, ever.
“This summer [we were] definitely in the honeymoon phase where I’m like, ‘Oh, Maddi’s just now going on the road. I don’t want her to be alone,’” he recalled of wanting to be by Maddi’s side.
As Maddi grew “more comfortable” being on the road, Joe said they are both OK not traveling together for every performance. He explained that when he opens his own business — he wants to start his own bar — he hopes Maddi will return the favor and be his “hype girl,” calling that “love.”
When it comes to their future, Joe teased, “No one’s going to lock down Maddi Reese. No, she’ll lock me down. I will not lock her down.”
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
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