KJ Dillard, a cast member on Bravo’s “Summer House,” has opened up about a difficult period in his personal life, revealing that he and girlfriend Dara Levitan briefly broke up while he was struggling with serious mental health issues. Speaking on co-star Carl Radke’s “More Life” podcast, Dillard said that before the show, work in modeling had slowed and he was in a tough financial position. He explained that the pressure was affecting his relationship, and that he was unknowingly taking out his stress on Levitan.
Dillard said his struggles were made worse because he was not in therapy at the time and had only been taking medication for anxiety and depression, without realizing he had another diagnosis. He described the period as one of the most challenging of his life and said the breakup happened after he spent time in the hospital and then entered recovery. According to Dillard, fellow castmate Mia Calabrese encouraged Levitan to step back while he focused on getting help.
The reality star said that, in hindsight, the break was the right decision. He believed staying together during recovery would have distracted him from his health and forced him to focus on preserving the relationship instead of healing. Dillard said recovery ultimately changed his life, and he emphasized that the time apart helped both him and Levitan.
During the “Summer House” season 10 reunion, Dillard had previously revealed that he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. He also said he went to the hospital for self-harm in the fall and stayed there for a week. In that emotional segment, Dillard told host Andy Cohen that he was grateful to be alive and thankful for the support he had received from those around him. He added that he appreciated viewers embracing his honesty and said he would not hide what he was going through if it could help others.
Dillard also discussed tension with former friend and castmate West Wilson during his conversation with Radke. Although Wilson helped bring him onto the show, Dillard said they are no longer close. He suggested their friendship changed after Wilson confirmed a romance with Amanda Batula. Dillard said he values forgiveness but felt Wilson was not learning from repeated mistakes. He also said he had heard concerning things about Wilson and questioned whether he was being sincere when apologizing.
Separately, Wilson and Batula issued a joint statement saying their relationship grew unexpectedly from a long-standing friendship and that they approached it carefully. The second part of the “Summer House” reunion is scheduled to air on Bravo at 8 PM ET.
