Members of the Below Deck Down Under production team and cast recently discussed the decision to intervene and fire two castmates after they were caught on camera engaging in non-consensual, sexually inappropriate behavior. The primary objective behind their actions was to maintain a safe working environment for everyone involved. It is important to note that the production team and cast do not consider their actions deserving of congratulations; rather, they believe it was simply the right thing to do in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals on the show.
During episodes six and seven of the show’s second season, viewers witnessed multiple instances of sexual misconduct on the Northern Sun luxury super yacht by former castmembers Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne. These incidents occurred during a power outage on the boat and included non-consensual physical contact with fellow crew members. In both situations, members of the production team and fellow crew members immediately addressed the misconduct verbally and physically intervened when necessary.
Nadine Rajabi, one of the executive producers on the series, expressed the difficulties they faced during these incidents: “It was a hard night; the whole thing was very, very difficult. I didn’t realize the response that would come of this because that was not anything that we were thinking about. It’s not anything to be congratulated on because it was just about doing the right thing. I would hope that everybody would act in that way. It was about safety.”
In one particular incident, Jones entered the cabin of castmember Margot Sisson while she was sleeping, naked. When crew members intervened, he attempted to prevent them from entering the cabin, but they eventually managed to remove him. Chief steward Aesha Scott promptly alerted Capt. Jason Chambers to Jones’ behavior, leading to his removal from the boat and subsequent firing.
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In another incident shown in the following episode, Bileskalne made unwanted advances towards Adam Kodra, entering his bed without his consent. Producers immediately stepped in, and after Scott alerted Chambers once again, Bileskalne was fired. During these events, Bileskalne questioned Jones’ termination and expressed sympathy towards him, which Scott found shocking.
Although Jones could not be reached for comment by the LA Times, Bileskalne publicly apologized to both Kodra and Sisson on her now-private Instagram account. Scott, who quickly took action and is a survivor of sexual assault herself, stated that not all events from that night were included in the episodes. She revealed that she had a conversation with Bileskalne about her inappropriate behavior towards Kodra and stressed the importance of mutual respect.
Capt. Chambers emphasized the importance of protecting the mental health and safety of all crew members involved and expressed his gratitude that nothing more severe occurred. He urged everyone to respect each other and to understand that “no means no.”
Rajabi commended an audio supervisor who entered Sisson’s cabin with only the flashlight on his phone while Jones was inside. His quick thinking, including wedging his foot inside the cabin to keep Jones from shutting the door, provided valuable time for other production crew members to reach Sisson during the power outage.
The Below Deck franchise first premiered on Bravo in 2013, documenting the journey of a crew on a Caribbean voyage. Since then, the show has included drinking as a part of the series, both among charter guests and off-duty yacht crew. Rajabi explained that there are unseen moments in other episodes where people are cut off from drinking to ensure consent. While it is customary for crew members to step in, this situation was unique and has sparked discussions within the yacht industry and reality TV as a whole.
Reflecting on the incident, Rajabi shared her fear and the realization that if there were no cameras present, the situation could have been even worse. She emphasized that the intervention was instinctual and driven by a deep concern for safety: “It was ‘this cannot happen,’ and it was safety. It wasn’t a ‘What do we do? Should we or shouldn’t we?’”
In conclusion, the decision to intervene and subsequently fire the castmates involved in inappropriate behavior on Below Deck Down Under was motivated by the paramount goal of maintaining a safe working environment. The production team and cast are not seeking applause for their actions; rather, they believe it was their duty to ensure the well-being of everyone involved. This incident has sparked important conversations about consent and safety within the yacht industry and reality TV as a whole.
