Summary
Below Deckhas remained one of the most popular shows in the Bravo universe, and there have been plenty of shocking moments throughout the franchise. Between explosive love triangles and intense firings, there’s never a shortage of drama while sailing the high seas. It’s the captain’s job to keep the yacht running smoothly, but various personalities working together through an entire charter season can be tough. However, there are definitely shocking moments that stand the test of time.
The latest season ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanis well underway, andCaptain Sandy Yawn deals with poor performancewithin her crew. While Chef Jono Shillingford was a weak link in the beginning, he turned things around. However, there are indications of a deadly mistake ahead. Unfortunately for Captain Sandy, her bosun, Iain Maclean, continues to struggle, andstews Bri Muller and Elena “Ellie” Dubaichare embroiled in a feud. However,Below Deck Mediterraneanseason 9pales in comparison to some of the shocking moments of the past.
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10Luke Jones Attempted Assault Of Margot Sisson
He Was Fired For His Misconduct
Luke Jones was involved in a shocking and serious incident inBelow Deck Down Underseason 2 where he was accused of attempting to assault his co-star Margot Sisson. The incident occurred after a crew night out where Luke, Margot, and others had all been drinking.Margot was drunk and made it known that she wanted to go to bed, but Luke, who was also drunk, entered Margot’s cabin without her consent while she was asleep and naked.
He climbed into her bed, which, luckily, alarmed production. The camera crew immediately intervened, with producers stepping in and ordering Luke to leave the cabin. Chief Stew Aesha Scott was also alerted and ran to Margot’s room to ensure her safety. The next day, Luke was called to the bridge, whereCaptain Jason Chambers fired Luke on the spotfor his inappropriate and predatory behavior, emphasizing that such actions would not be tolerated. It was a horrible chapter inBelow Deckhistory.
9Captain Sandy Yawn Firing Hannah Ferrier
Captain Sandy fired Hannah Ferrier duringBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 5, in an incident that has become one of the most talked-about moments in the show’s history. The firing occurred after bosun Malia White reported to Captain Sandy that she found a package of Valium and a vape pen with CBD in Hannah’s cabin. Malia’s decision to report the items sparked a significant amount of controversy, butHannah ultimately broke maritime law.
Although Hannah insisted that the Valium was prescribed by her doctor for anxiety and that the CBD vape was legal, Captain Sandy argued that the failure to disclose the medication and the presence of the vape pen put the safety of the crew and charter guests at risk. The fallout from the incident was rife with controversy, butCaptain Sandy and Hannah’s explosive feudhas since ended.
8Ashton’s Pienaar’s Near-Fatal Accident
He Was Dragged Alongside The Yacht
Ashton Pienaar’s near-fatal accident onBelow Deckseason 6 was definitely one of the most harrowing and shocking moments inBelow Deckhistory. The accident happened during a routine procedure where the crew was setting up to tow a tender, which is a small boat used to ferry guests to and from the yacht. Ashton, the former bosun, was attempting to secure a towline when his foot got caught in the rope, which quickly tightened and dragged him overboard into the water. Terrifyingly, the tightening of the rope around his ankle could have pulled him underwater or caused severe injury.
Captain Lee Rosbach later noted that Ashton’s accident was one of the scariest moments of his yachting career.
What made this accident particularly dangerous was thatAshton was being dragged along with the yacht, which was still moving forward. If not for the quick actions of fellow crew member Rhylee Gerber, who noticed the situation and immediately alerted Captain Lee Rosbach, Ashton’s fate could have been much different. Another crew member, deckhand Ross Inia, quickly jumped into action by cutting the rope, freeing Ashton from the life-threatening situation. It was a truly terrifying moment inBelow Deckhistory.
7Kate Chastain’s Departure
She Clashed With Ashton
Kate Chastain was one of the most beloved cast members in theBelow Deckfranchise, but during season 7, tensions between Kate and Ashton escalated to a breaking point, making it one of the most controversial seasons in the show’s history. Their issues reached a peak during an incident where Ashton, who was drunk, got aggressive with Kate during a crew night out. Ashton punched the interior of a van and lashed out at Kate, which was shocking.
Throughout the season, Kate and Ashton clashed over basically everything. Ashton’s misogynistic behavior created a toxic work environment, and Kate wasn’t having it.Kate later revealed that this season was particularly challenging and exhausting for her, contributing to her decision to step away from the show. She chose to prioritize her mental health and step away, with her conflict with Ashton as a catalyst.
6Rocky Dakota’s Jump Overboard
She Shocked The Entire Crew
Raquel “Rocky” Dakota was a third stew under Kate and had a difficult time adjusting to the hierarchy in yachting, leading to clashes with Kate and other crew members. The shocking overboard incident happened after a particularly intense argument with Kate and other crew members. Feeling overwhelmed and unsupported,Rocky impulsively decided to jump off the yacht into the water.
Captain Lee was concerned for her safety, and Rocky was quickly retrieved from the water. Rocky’s emotional struggles and the pressure she felt in the yachting environment became overwhelmingly clear after the jump, but she expressed regret and apologized to Captain Lee and the crew. Rocky’s impulsive behavior and the wild overboard jump contributed to her reputation as an overly dramatic stew, and the moment will live on inBelow Deckhistory forever. Unsurprisingly, Rocky hasn’t returned to the franchise.
5Captain Jason Chambers Firing Laura Bileskalne
She Defended Luke Jones
Captain Jason Chambers had to deal with a lot of drama onBelow Deck Down Underseason 2. He eventually made the decision to fire Laura Bileskalne after a series of troubling incidents, which happened in close succession with Luke’s firing for similar reasons. Laura, who was a stew on the yacht, was involved in inappropriate behavior that mirrored Luke’s sexual assault allegations. Luckily, Captain Jason didn’t waste time on making the right decision.
Laura made unwanted advances towards deckhand Adam Kodra, ignoring his boundaries and leading to a highly uncomfortable situation. Laura also made insensitive comments regarding the separate incident involving Margot and Luke. She downplayed the seriousness of the situation andsuggested that Margot should have been more open to Luke’s advances. Captain Jason took immediate action once he became aware of these incidents, and Laura was swiftly fired.
4Gary King & Ashley Marti’s Hook Up
Was Gary Able To Consent?
Gary King and Ashley Marti’s hookup was one of the more controversial and shocking moments in theBelow Deckfranchise. Gary, the first mate onBelow Deck Sailing Yacht, had a reputation for being a bit of a flirt on the show. Ashley Marti, a third, made it clear early on that she was interested in Gary, and she pursued him throughout the season. Despite Gary initially having feelings for Daisy Kelliher, and hooking up with others, Ashley was determined to get his attention.
The hookup occurred after a crew night out when the team returned to the yacht. There was a lot of deserved controversy about their encounter because Gary was pretty drunk at the time, raisingquestions about whether Gary was able to consent to Ashley’s advances. The hookup led to significant tension within the crew, particularly because Daisy had also developed feelings for Gary, and she was caught in the middle of the drama between Gary and Ashley. Ashley’s aggressive pursuit of Gary and the way their hookup played out didn’t sit well, and she left the franchise.
3Captain Sandy Yawn Firing Alissa Humber
Captain Sandy fired Alissa Humber duringBelow Deckseason 10, and it was a decision that stirred up quite a bit of drama on the show. The main reasons for Alissa’s dismissal were her disrespectful behavior and insubordination. Throughout the season,Alissa had issues with her attitude towards Captain Sandy and Chief Stew Fraser Olender. Hierarchy is important in the yachting industry, and Alissa didn’t seem to respect that order.
One of the final straws for Captain Sandy was when Alissa sarcastically responded to her during a tense situation on board, calling her “Sandy” instead of “Captain Sandy,” which was seen as highly disrespectful. Sandy was already frustrated with the crew, and Alissa’s attitude was the final straw. Captain Sandy felt that Alissa was undermining her authority and not taking her role seriously, leading to her decision to fire Alissa from the crew. Alissa felt like she was being scapegoated or targeted, making it a shocking moment inBelow Deckhistory.
2Daisy Kelliher & Gary King’s Hookup Being Revealed
The Hookup Shook Up The Crew’s Dynamics
InBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 3, the revelation ofDaisy and Gary’s hookup became a shocking and significant plot point, even leading to the future explosive love triangle between Daisy, Gary, and Colin MacRae. The hookup, which occurred off-camera after a crew night out, added considerable drama to the season. The revelation of their hookup led to some serious awkwardness, especially because Gary was a flirt with other crew members.
Both Daisy and Gary addressed the situation in their confessionals, with Gary expressing regret and Daisy downplaying the incident as a one-time event. The fallout from their actions impacted their professional relationship and Gary’s interactions with other crew members. It also set the stage for the drama between Daisy, Gary, and Colin, which was one of the mostexplosive love triangles inBelow Deckhistory.
1Kate Chastain’s “Rocket Ship” Towel Arrangement
The Towels Might Have Reminded Guests Of Something Else
Chief Stew Kate was always well known for her sense of humor onBelow Deck, but her “rocket ship” towel arrangements were especially shocking and hilarious. While Kate often did fun towel designs for the charter guests, the “rocket ship” towels were evocative of a male body part. The towels were undoubtedly hilarious, while not particularly professional, showing thatBelow Deck’s shocking moments can be both serious and fun.
Below Deckis one of the best reality TV franchises in history, and there have been plenty of shocking moments throughout. While some are more serious, like Ashton’s near-death experience, others are more lighthearted and funny, like Kate’s towel designs. AsBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 continues to unfold, there are sure to be more shocking moments to add to the list. However, someBelow Deckmoments really stood the test of time.
Below Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.
Below Deck
Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client’s needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.
