The Truth Behind Thomas Ravenel's Son's Diagnosis: 5 Shocking Revelations From The Custody Battle
The question of Thomas Ravenel's son's health diagnosis has been one of the most controversial and highly publicized aspects of the former Southern Charm star’s life, particularly in his tumultuous relationship with co-star Kathryn Dennis. As of December 23, 2025, the core of the issue remains a deeply unsettling court claim, not a publicly confirmed medical fact, which has fueled years of speculation and a brutal custody war.
The specific "diagnosis" in question—Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)—was a shocking allegation made by Thomas Ravenel in a 2019 court filing. This claim, which has never been formally verified in a public medical statement, has cast a long shadow over the well-being of their son, St. Julien Rembert Ravenel, and remains central to the narrative surrounding the family’s ongoing legal and personal struggles.
The Ravenel Family: A Comprehensive Profile of Thomas's Children and Partners
Thomas Ravenel, a former politician and reality television personality, has three children with two different women. His family life has been a constant source of public scrutiny, often playing out in court documents and on social media.
- Thomas Jonathan Jackson Ravenel:
- Born: August 11, 1962 (Age 63 in 2025)
- Profession: Former Politician, Real Estate Developer, Reality TV Star (Southern Charm)
- Parents: Arthur Ravenel Jr. and Lois Quattlebaum
- Children with Kathryn Dennis:
- Kensington "Kensie" Calhoun Ravenel: Daughter (Born March 24, 2014 – Approx. 11 years old)
- St. Julien "Saint" Rembert Ravenel: Son (Born November 10, 2015 – Approx. 9 years old)
- Child with Heather Mascoe:
- Jonathan Jackson Ravenel: Son (Born June 2020 – Approx. 5 years old)
- Kathryn Dennis (Mother of Kensie and St. Julien):
- Born: August 5, 1991 (Age 34 in 2025)
- Relationship Status with Thomas: Estranged, involved in a long-term, contentious custody battle.
The Initial Claim: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Allegation
The core of the public discussion around Thomas Ravenel's son's diagnosis stems from a legal document filed in 2019. This was a pivotal moment in the highly volatile custody dispute between Thomas Ravenel and Kathryn Dennis over their two children, Kensington Calhoun and St. Julien Rembert.
In the filing, Thomas Ravenel alleged that St. Julien had been "formerly diagnosed with FAS due to Kathryn's excessive drug and alcohol consumption" during her pregnancy.
This accusation was a direct attack on Kathryn Dennis's sobriety and parenting, using the severe condition of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as a weapon in the legal battle. FAS is a serious neurodevelopmental disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, resulting in life-long physical, behavioral, and learning challenges.
Contradictory Reports and the Custody Context
The claim of an official FAS diagnosis was immediately met with skepticism and contradictory information from sources close to the family. The context of the court filing is crucial: it was made during a period when Thomas was fighting for permanent full custody of the children, and Kathryn had a history of substance abuse issues and failed drug tests.
One source close to the situation countered the severity of the claim, suggesting that while there were discussions about St. Julien's development, the true medical issue was far less severe. This source indicated that "a lot has been made about Saint's development and behavioral problems," but the only definitive medical issue was the presence of hearing tubes in his ears.
The ambiguity surrounding the diagnosis—a severe, life-long neurodevelopmental disorder (FAS) versus a common childhood issue (hearing tubes)—highlights how the children's health became a key, and often sensationalized, component of the Southern Charm custody battle. The term "developmental delay" was often used in reports, which is a non-specific term that can be associated with many conditions, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), or simply minor issues.
The Lingering Impact of the Court Claims in 2025
Despite the initial 2019 claims, no official, independent, and public medical confirmation of St. Julien Rembert Ravenel's Fetal Alcohol Syndrome diagnosis has been released to the public as of late 2025. The claim remains a powerful, unverified entity in the public's understanding of the Ravenel-Dennis family dynamic.
The custody arrangement has shifted over the years, with Thomas Ravenel being awarded primary legal and physical custody of both Kensie and St. Julien. This arrangement was solidified after years of legal back-and-forth, often involving allegations of substance abuse and neglect against Kathryn Dennis.
Current Life and Well-being of St. Julien
In the years since the FAS allegation, both Thomas Ravenel and Kathryn Dennis have occasionally posted updates about their children on social media, though they are generally private about St. Julien's specific health or schooling details.
Thomas Ravenel’s social media often features photos of St. Julien and Kensie enjoying a seemingly normal childhood on his South Carolina estate, focusing on activities like horseback riding and family outings. These posts aim to portray a stable home environment, a key factor in the custody outcome.
Kathryn Dennis, despite her ongoing legal and personal struggles—including a highly publicized DUI case in 2024—continues to express her love for her children and share occasional "girls day" photos with Kensie, indicating she still has visitation, though her time with the children is limited. Her social media bio often emphasizes that her children are her top priority, despite the challenges.
The focus on St. Julien's "developmental issues" in the court documents highlights the complex needs of children involved in high-conflict custody cases, regardless of a specific diagnosis like Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The priority for both parents, legally, is to ensure the children's stability, education, and emotional well-being.
Key Entities and LSI Keywords Related to the Controversy
The controversy surrounding St. Julien's health is intrinsically linked to the high-profile entities and events below, providing a deeper context for the family’s situation:
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): The umbrella term for the range of effects that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, which includes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
- Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: The direct cause of FASD, which was the central accusation Thomas Ravenel made against Kathryn Dennis.
- Southern Charm Custody Battle: The years-long legal fight between Thomas Ravenel and Kathryn Dennis that brought the private details of their children’s lives into the public domain.
- Neurodevelopmental Disability: A term used to describe the nature of the challenges faced by children with FASD, affecting the central nervous system.
- Kensington Calhoun Ravenel: St. Julien's older sister, who is also a focus of the custody arrangement and is frequently featured in family updates.
- Kathryn Dennis Substance Abuse: The historical context of Kathryn's struggles with drugs and alcohol, which Thomas used as the basis for his FAS claim.
- Developmental and Behavioral Problems: The general descriptions of the challenges St. Julien allegedly faced, which were cited in court filings.
In summary, while the explosive claim of an FAS diagnosis for St. Julien Rembert Ravenel was a major headline-maker and a critical element in the custody battle, it remains an unverified court allegation. The latest updates in 2025 focus on the children’s current life under Thomas’s primary custody and the ongoing, albeit less public, legal drama involving Kathryn Dennis. The true, private health status of St. Julien is protected, but the public controversy continues to define the family's narrative.
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