JJ’s death at the end of Outer Banks season 4 has raised questions among the show’s fans about why Rudy Pankow is leaving the show. One widespread theory is that a falling out with costar Madison Bailey – who plays JJ’s love interest Kiara – was partly to blame for the shocking storyline.

Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey’s Rumored Drama Explained

JJ and Kiara were not initially a couple on Outer Banks, but fans noticed Rudy and Madison’s chemistry early on in season 1 and begged for them to get together. Passionate shippers flooded social media with comments about their wishes for the beloved characters. Amid the show’s early success, Rudy and Madison both began new relationships – he went public with Elaine Siemek, an Outer Banks assistant, in November 2020, while Madison confirmed her relationship with girlfriend Mariah Linney in June 2020.

By the time season 2 of Outer Banks came out, fans noticed that Rudy and Madison weren’t interacting with each other as much on social media and in interviews. Many viewers have claimed that they posted far less photos together this time around and blamed Elaine and Mariah for it. The women became targets and began receiving an influx of hateful comments on social media.

Things got so bad that Rudy had to jump in and come to Elaine’s defense in August 2021. “Unfortunately I’m here to call out the disrespect and harassment someone who I love dearly is getting on a daily basis,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “It has gotten to the degree where lies are being spread and accusations are being said that go beyond the normal ‘hate.’ Not only is she not what she is being accused of being, she is the complete opposite and actively is so. Accusing someone you don’t know of being abusive and manipulative is not ok, especially when you don’t know the relationship personally.”

He also explained why he kept things so private with Elaine and insisted they were “very happy” in their relationship. “I know I might not actively show it on social platforms just how happy we are together, but this is my personal decision to keep most of those moments for myself,” Rudy continued. “To those who are creating such displeasure and opinions about the one I love and my relationship, it’s time to stop. In this era of social engagement and enlightenment I want to express the importance to spread positivity and needing to know when it is unfair to express your own distaste for something or someone, especially when you can do it behind an anonymous identity. I was always told the best version of yourself is your most humbled self… I make this statement as my most humbled self and would be so grateful if we all would move forward in positivity and respect.”

While speaking with Cosmopolitan in October 2024, he recalled the post and explained, “I think a lot of people can intertwine a narrative and what they want to believe. And they take it out on someone that doesn’t deserve it. That’s unfortunate and it’s hard. And what’s even more unfortunate is that it’s not in my control. That’s why I spoke up – no one should go through something like that.”

Around the same time, Madison slammed fans who accused Mariah of dating her for “clout” and addressed rumors that her girlfriend “doesn’t like” Rudy. “I mean, that’s not true,” she said on Instagram Live. “That’s just not true. She likes them both [Rudy and Elaine]. I got on the f–king phone with Rudy this morning because of y’alls f–king bulls–t.”

Madison also addressed fans who were begging for her and Rudy to date off the show too. “We never had any romantic relationship and y’all are like, ‘They belong together.’ No we don’t,” she said.

Drama at the ‘Outer Banks’ 2023 Cast Dinner

Despite fans already sensing tension between the two couples, many have theorized that the drama fully exploded at a cast dinner in June 2023. Rudy, Elaine and Madison were all in attendance at the gathering, along with other cast members. Afterward, Madison and Elaine reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram, according to fans. Elaine also reportedly unfollowed Mariah and Mariah and Rudy allegedly unfollowed each other.

It’s unclear what happened at the dinner that led to the apparent unfollowings. Life & Style reached out to reps for Rudy and Madison and have not heard back as of publication.

Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Seemingly Use Stunt Doubles in ‘Outer Banks’

The group was in the middle of filming Outer Banks season 4 at the time of the dinner. At this point, JJ and Kiara were in a relationship on the show after getting together in season 3. However, fans complained that their chemistry was off in the season 4 episodes.

There was one particular scene that appeared to show the actors using body doubles while cuddling near a fire. The camera continuously cuts back and forth between both of their faces throughout the scene, never showing them in the same frame.

“The fact that Rudy and Madison refused to record it together and they had to use stunt doubles just shows their unprofessionalism to their work,” one person wrote on X. “And they weren’t even supposed to be doing anything huge in that scene, just hugging a bit.”

Many fans also wanted Kiara to have a more visceral reaction to JJ’s death at the end of season 4. However, Rudy praised her performance, telling Cosmopolitan, “I knew everyone was on board to bring their all and I felt that from everyone. Madison and I brought it, and I know we crushed it. It was emotional, but I think deep down, everyone was on the same page. ‘Let’s make an impact.’ And we did that.”

While many fans have speculated that Rudy asked to be written out of Outer Banks because of this drama, the show’s creators said they always planned for there to be a big character death ahead of the final season.

“We thought that one of the Pogues would die almost in the very beginning in season 1 and we were pretty sure that it was going to be JJ” Shannon Burke told Cosmopolitan. We just weren’t sure when we were going to play that card. We knew this would be JJ’s season. This is JJ’s story. And we realized pretty early on, like, ‘OK, we’re going to play this card now.’”