‘Summer House’ Star KJ Dillard Says Dara Levitan Ended Their Relationship While He Was in a ‘Terrible’ Mental Health Spiral
Photo Credit: Bravo
by Chris Tremblay Jun 3
4 MIN READ
“Summer House” Season 10 cast member KJ Dillard says his partner Dara Levitan broke up with him during the height of his mental health crisis, describing that period as the “worst place ever” and “a terrible place” financially and emotionally. He shared the timeline of the split while discussing his hospitalization, recovery stay, and recent borderline personality disorder diagnosis, emphasizing that the breakup unfolded off‑camera after filming wrapped.
In a conversation with co‑star Carl Radke on the “More Life” podcast, Dillard said that the relationship strain intensified as work dried up and he paused modeling to focus on the Bravo series, leaving him under severe financial pressure. He explained that he began “taking out” what he was going through on Levitan without realizing it at the time, which he now views as part of the larger mental health crisis that culminated in self‑harm and hospitalization.
Dillard first disclosed the extent of his mental health struggles publicly during part one of the “Summer House” Season 10 reunion, which aired May 26, where he said he was hospitalized for a week after engaging in self‑harm in the fall. During the reunion, he became emotional as he told host Andy Cohen that co‑stars Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese visited him at the hospital “almost every day,” describing them as key supports through what he called “some heavy stuff mentally.”
While in the hospital, Dillard was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a condition he said finally helped explain the intensity of his emotions and relationship patterns. He recounted that after leaving the hospital he spent “a few months” in a recovery program, using the time to focus on therapy and medication, and later told outlets that he now feels “better” and more able to face challenges instead of “running away” from them.
During the “More Life” discussion, Dillard said that the breakup with Levitan took place after his hospital stay, when he transitioned into recovery and began confronting the full weight of his mental health and financial challenges. He recalled that the split came at a time when he “hit rock bottom” and described himself as “in the worst place ever,” adding that Levitan ended the relationship “because she had to” given how much he was struggling.
Dillard also said that close friend and co‑star Mia Calabrese encouraged Levitan to take that step, believing a break would be healthier for both people while he pursued treatment. He framed the breakup not as a lack of care but as a boundary that allowed him to enter recovery more fully, telling Radke that he “needed the time” away from the relationship to work on himself in therapy and stabilize on medication.
In a separate interview cited by entertainment outlets, Dillard explained that before filming the show there was “nothing really going on” professionally, and that he paused modeling work over the summer to commit to the series, which compounded financial stress. He told Radke that the combination of slowed work, mounting bills, and unresolved mental health conditions left him in what he called a “terrible place” that he did not fully recognize at the time, and that he unintentionally displaced some of that distress into conflict with Levitan.
Public reporting indicates that Dillard and Levitan have at different times confirmed they were still together, with a Bravo update in April 2026 saying the couple remained “very much together” and had shared affectionate glimpses of their relationship on social media in the preceding months. Coverage noted that as of March the pair had reaffirmed their relationship status, amid the airing of “Summer House” Season 10, which introduced Dillard to viewers as a new cast member navigating both romance and rising public visibility.
However, by late May, outlets including Cosmopolitan and fan‑focused sites reported that the current status of the relationship was uncertain, pointing to signs such as Dillard and Levitan briefly unfollowing each other on Instagram and reducing public references to one another. Those reports also note that Levitan recently reposted an interview about Dillard’s mental health journey on her Instagram Story, signaling ongoing public support for his recovery even as fans continue to speculate about whether they are currently a couple.
Dillard has not provided a detailed, on‑the‑record update on the present state of the relationship beyond describing the earlier break and the reasons he believes the pause was necessary. As a result, major outlets continue to describe the couple’s current status as “unclear,” framing the story primarily around his mental health disclosures and the impact of his diagnosis rather than any confirmed breakup or reconciliation.
Dillard’s openness at the reunion prompted a wave of support from viewers, with entertainment outlets documenting comments from fans who praised him for speaking candidly about self‑harm, hospitalization, and living with BPD on a mainstream reality platform. Coverage describes social media posts thanking him for helping to reduce stigma and for acknowledging the support of friends, including fellow cast members Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese, who he has called “sisters for life.”
In follow‑up interviews, Dillard has said that talking about his diagnosis publicly was “the hardest thing” he has experienced but that he believes it is important to face his history instead of avoiding it. He has also shared that he is now in therapy, on medication, and writing poetry as part of his recovery process, presenting a narrative that centers ongoing care and self‑understanding rather than a single turning point.
Dillard’s account of his breakup and diagnosis adds to a growing number of reality television narratives that foreground mental health, including anxiety, depression, and complex personality‑related conditions. For viewers, his story offers a look at how intensive treatment, community support, and relationship boundaries can intersect when someone is navigating BPD and serious financial stress in a high‑profile environment.
Reporting to date emphasizes that Dillard continues to frame the breakup with Levitan as part of a broader journey toward stability, rather than as a simple end to a relationship storyline. He has consistently highlighted the care shown by his friends and by Levitan herself, suggesting that their decision to step back from the relationship during his “terrible” period was rooted in concern for the well‑being of both people.
Hospitalization, Diagnosis, and Recovery
Dillard first disclosed the extent of his mental health struggles publicly during part one of the “Summer House” Season 10 reunion, which aired May 26, where he said he was hospitalized for a week after engaging in self‑harm in the fall. During the reunion, he became emotional as he told host Andy Cohen that co‑stars Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese visited him at the hospital “almost every day,” describing them as key supports through what he called “some heavy stuff mentally.”
While in the hospital, Dillard was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a condition he said finally helped explain the intensity of his emotions and relationship patterns. He recounted that after leaving the hospital he spent “a few months” in a recovery program, using the time to focus on therapy and medication, and later told outlets that he now feels “better” and more able to face challenges instead of “running away” from them.
‘She Had To’: How the Breakup Happened
During the “More Life” discussion, Dillard said that the breakup with Levitan took place after his hospital stay, when he transitioned into recovery and began confronting the full weight of his mental health and financial challenges. He recalled that the split came at a time when he “hit rock bottom” and described himself as “in the worst place ever,” adding that Levitan ended the relationship “because she had to” given how much he was struggling.
Dillard also said that close friend and co‑star Mia Calabrese encouraged Levitan to take that step, believing a break would be healthier for both people while he pursued treatment. He framed the breakup not as a lack of care but as a boundary that allowed him to enter recovery more fully, telling Radke that he “needed the time” away from the relationship to work on himself in therapy and stabilize on medication.
In a separate interview cited by entertainment outlets, Dillard explained that before filming the show there was “nothing really going on” professionally, and that he paused modeling work over the summer to commit to the series, which compounded financial stress. He told Radke that the combination of slowed work, mounting bills, and unresolved mental health conditions left him in what he called a “terrible place” that he did not fully recognize at the time, and that he unintentionally displaced some of that distress into conflict with Levitan.
Relationship Status Remains Unclear
Public reporting indicates that Dillard and Levitan have at different times confirmed they were still together, with a Bravo update in April 2026 saying the couple remained “very much together” and had shared affectionate glimpses of their relationship on social media in the preceding months. Coverage noted that as of March the pair had reaffirmed their relationship status, amid the airing of “Summer House” Season 10, which introduced Dillard to viewers as a new cast member navigating both romance and rising public visibility.
However, by late May, outlets including Cosmopolitan and fan‑focused sites reported that the current status of the relationship was uncertain, pointing to signs such as Dillard and Levitan briefly unfollowing each other on Instagram and reducing public references to one another. Those reports also note that Levitan recently reposted an interview about Dillard’s mental health journey on her Instagram Story, signaling ongoing public support for his recovery even as fans continue to speculate about whether they are currently a couple.
Dillard has not provided a detailed, on‑the‑record update on the present state of the relationship beyond describing the earlier break and the reasons he believes the pause was necessary. As a result, major outlets continue to describe the couple’s current status as “unclear,” framing the story primarily around his mental health disclosures and the impact of his diagnosis rather than any confirmed breakup or reconciliation.
Fans and Cast Respond to His Mental Health Journey
Dillard’s openness at the reunion prompted a wave of support from viewers, with entertainment outlets documenting comments from fans who praised him for speaking candidly about self‑harm, hospitalization, and living with BPD on a mainstream reality platform. Coverage describes social media posts thanking him for helping to reduce stigma and for acknowledging the support of friends, including fellow cast members Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese, who he has called “sisters for life.”
In follow‑up interviews, Dillard has said that talking about his diagnosis publicly was “the hardest thing” he has experienced but that he believes it is important to face his history instead of avoiding it. He has also shared that he is now in therapy, on medication, and writing poetry as part of his recovery process, presenting a narrative that centers ongoing care and self‑understanding rather than a single turning point.
A Reality TV Storyline Grounded in Mental Health
Dillard’s account of his breakup and diagnosis adds to a growing number of reality television narratives that foreground mental health, including anxiety, depression, and complex personality‑related conditions. For viewers, his story offers a look at how intensive treatment, community support, and relationship boundaries can intersect when someone is navigating BPD and serious financial stress in a high‑profile environment.
Reporting to date emphasizes that Dillard continues to frame the breakup with Levitan as part of a broader journey toward stability, rather than as a simple end to a relationship storyline. He has consistently highlighted the care shown by his friends and by Levitan herself, suggesting that their decision to step back from the relationship during his “terrible” period was rooted in concern for the well‑being of both people.
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