Summer House fans are heading into reunion part 2 with a lot to unpack after KJ Dillard opened up about the emotional end of his relationship with costar Dara Levitan.

On the More Life With Carl Radke podcast, KJ, 28, got candid about the ups and downs of dating in the public eye and the toll it took behind the scenes.

"A lot of people are supportive, and I’m thankful for them,” he said. “But then, a lot of people are hating."

While viewers watched KJ and Dara’s relationship develop during season 10 after being introduced by West Wilson, things weren’t as picture-perfect as they appeared on screen. KJ shared that during filming, he was dealing with financial stress and serious mental health challenges that eventually led to hospitalization and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

"Pre-show, nothing was really going on for me. Modeling was slow," he explained. "Financially, I was in a terrible place. Me and Dara were struggling because I was taking out what I was going through on her. I wasn’t even aware of it."

He also admitted he wasn’t in therapy at the time and was still trying to understand what he was going through. 

"I was only on one medication for my anxiety and depression, but I didn’t realize that I had another diagnosis," he said during part 1 of the reunion. 

One of the biggest revelations came when KJ addressed the breakup itself, explaining that Dara ended the relationship while he was entering recovery. 

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A post shared by Carl Radke (@carlradke)

"She had to," KJ shared, adding that stepping away ultimately gave him space to focus on his health. "Dara, I think, was gonna hang on…but that wouldn’t have been good for either of us. I needed the time, because after the hospital, I went to recover…and that’s when we broke up."

Looking back, he believes the timing, while painful, was necessary.

"If me and Dara were dating when I was in recovery, it would have been a mess," he told Carl. "I would have been focused on saving the relationship rather than focusing on my health. Recovering changed my life."

As reunion part 2 airs tonight, Bravoholics are hoping for even more clarity from KJ about where things stand now, and how both he and Dara are reflecting on the breakup.

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A post shared by Dara Levitan (@daralevitan)

And as always with Summer House, fans are split. Many are praising KJ for being open about his mental health journey and prioritizing recovery, saying it’s encouraging to see him in a healthier place.

At the same time, others are disappointed and emotional over the breakup itself, especially since many viewers believed KJ and Dara were headed toward something more serious. Some fans feel Dara should have stayed by his side during such a difficult moment, while others argue the separation may have come at the right time, before things became even more complicated with an engagement. 

Either way, KJ and Dara’s story has clearly struck a nerve with viewers, and tonight’s reunion is expected to bring even more conversation. How do you feel about this breakup? Let us know your Fan of View (FOV) below or by sending us a message on social media @fandomdaily_. 

Photo Credit: @daralevitan on Instagram.