'Below Deck Mediterranean' top 10 controversial moments: From Hannah Ferrier's drug scandal to Luka Brunton's multiple hookups
ATHENS, GREECE: The 'Below Deck' series has consistently delivered captivating storylines that stir up controversy and spark conversations among viewers even after the season has wrapped up. With its focus on the interpersonal drama among the crew members and the high-end clientele they serve while cruising through stunning locations, it's no wonder the show has become a must-watch for reality TV fans.
However, there have been several moments on 'Below Deck Mediterranean' that have left fans in disbelief and sparked controversy. Let's delve into some of the most shocking moments in the show's history.
Malia White plays with feelings of two men (Season 2)
During season 2 on the yacht Sirocco, Malia found herself caught in a love triangle between Wes Walton and Chef Adam Glick. In a candid moment during an interview, Adam revealed that he and Malia had a pre-existing relationship prior to joining the crew in Croatia, and they made a mutual decision to keep their history under wraps. At the time, Malia was working as a deckhand, adding an extra layer of complexity to their concealed romance.
As Malia's feelings for her bosun Wes began to deepen, Adam found himself becoming increasingly envious of their relationship. This envy drove Adam to pursue Malia with even more determination, causing tension to rise between the three of them. Eventually, Adam confronted Wes and Malia about their intimate moments, leading to a revealing and emotional conversation about their complex dynamic.
Malia admitted that she had feelings for both individuals but ultimately did not want to make a decision at that moment. She expressed her desire to navigate through the charter season and maintain a friendship with both parties involved.
Adam's perspective on the situation was that he felt manipulated and deceived by her actions. He described feeling like she had complete control over him, comparing the experience to being manipulated like a skilled musician playing a flute.
Chef Mila Kolomeitseva's Nachos (Season 4)
“In nine years of working on yachts, I have never refused to take a dish out,” Hannah said when she saw Chef Mila Kolomitseva’s plate of nachos. This dish was part of a Season 4 charter dinner — Mexican-themed — but it looked more like a drunken snack than a meal you'd get on a luxury yacht.
Mila's season was filled with numerous mishaps, including serving nachos made with prepackaged cheese and licking a raw steak before cooking it for clients. Captain Sandy expressed disbelief at these incidents, stating that in all her years in the industry, she had never seen a chef behave in such a way.
Hannah Ferrier gets fired for pharmaceutical possession (Season 5)
Many fans of 'Below Deck Mediterranean' were outraged when Captain Sandy Yawn decided to terminate Hannah Ferrier from her position on the yacht due to the presence of her purported anxiety medication.
The controversy began when Malia White uncovered that Hannah had Valium on board, leading her to report the incident to Captain Sandy. Hannah also reportedly had a vape pen in her possession, which she argued was allowed in Spain and thus should not have been a cause for concern.
Despite what seemed to be a minor issue, Sandy chose to terminate Hannah's employment due to her failure to comply with maritime regulations regarding medication registration. This decision left both Hannah and fans of 'Below Deck' questioning whether Sandy's reasoning was legitimate or if she simply wanted to find a way to remove Hannah from the crew.
Captain Sandy clarified that the crew member's firing was strictly based on protocol and not personal. She stressed that allowing the crew member to continue working with unregistered medication could have jeopardized her own position. Nevertheless, this incident stands out as one of the most dramatic and unexpected firings in the history of the 'Below Deck' series.
Lara Du Preez's shocking exit (Season 5)
Not everyone is cut out for yachting, as seen during Season 5 when second stew Lara and Hannah had a rocky start and began fighting immediately. Hannah asked Lara to do laundry instead of cleaning the crew mess during one argument.
“Ah, of course. So I’m interrupting this now to come … start do something else?" Lara said, to which Hannah replied, “You’re not interrupting this. You’re not doing it anymore."
When the second stew refused to follow instructions, a physical altercation ensued, during which Hannah angrily pointed her finger in Lara's face.
Despite Captain Sandy's suggestion to reconcile, the two women were unable to resolve their differences and Lara decided to leave after the crew's first night out.
During an interview in the episode, Lara said, "I'm not a quitter, especially before a charter, but sometimes in life, you have to choose between your happiness and a job. So I choose my own happiness."
Peter Hunziker's racist post (Season 5)
Peter Hunziker, the lead deckhand on 'Below Deck Med' Season 5, initially came across as arrogant and disrespectful to bosun Malia. She quickly put him in his place multiple times for his condescending behavior, particularly his use of the term "sweetheart."
Despite already causing tension on the boat, Peter's true scandal didn't come to light until the season began airing. Bravo made the decision to fire him after a racist post on his social media surfaced.
Following Bravo's decision, the production company removed all scenes featuring Peter from the season. This scandal, along with Hannah's firing during the same season, became one of the most talked about incidents in Bravo history.
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Lexi Wilson's dramatic hot tub fight (Season 6)
The altercation involving second stew Lexi Wilson on 'Below Deck Mediterranean' was truly unforgettable, marking one of the most explosive fights witnessed on the show. The tension escalated when Lexi made a startling declaration in one episode, declaring that she was done being "nice."
This ominous warning set the stage for a heated confrontation, culminating in Lexi's alarming threat to physically harm chef Mathew Shea. The intensity of the situation left viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering how the conflict would unfold and what consequences would arise from Lexi's volatile behavior.
In a later scene, the yacht crew spontaneously decides to engage in a game of Truth or Dare while relaxing in a hot tub. It is a classic party game known for stirring up drama and excitement, but rarely does it end well in real life. Unfortunately, this instance was no different. As the game progressed, tensions began to rise and things took a turn for the worse when Lexi became confrontational and started hurling insults at her fellow crew members.
The situation escalated even further when she took a bold and inappropriate dare, pushing her boundaries by forcefully exposing herself to Lloyd Spencer. The atmosphere in the hot tub quickly became tense and uncomfortable, leaving everyone on edge.
Lexi's outburst didn't stop there. She went on a tirade, hurling insults at the entire crew and physically pushing Mzi Dempers in the galley. It was a scene unlike anything ever seen on the 'Below Deck' series, marking it as one of the most chaotic altercations in the show's history.
Chef Mathew Shea's multiple exits (Season 6)
The chef initially left because of a leg injury, came back, but then quit during a crew night out. "They can find some f**ker to do their s**t. Good luck. You'll have some f**king asshole chef now," he said while hitting cameras after a fight.
The following day, Mathew made his way back to the yacht, only to find out that Captain Sandy had already found a replacement chef, assuming he had left for good. Despite this, Mathew decided to stay and assist with cooking for the guests while the new chef was in quarantine as a precaution against the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Mathew ultimately ended up completing the remainder of the season on board, but during the Season 6 reunion, he didn't hold back his criticism, claiming that Captain Sandy was among the most difficult captains he had ever worked with.
Ruan Irving's fake documents fiasco (Season 8)
The eighth season of Bravo's popular show 'Below Deck Mediterranean' kicked off with a bang in September 2023 when Captain Sandy was informed of a potential issue with her bosun Ruan Irving's documentation.
Ruan confessed that he had only brought copies of his medical license on board and was instructed to have the originals sent to him. This revelation set the tone for what would prove to be a tumultuous season full of twists and turns on the high seas.
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After receiving a call from the Port Authority regarding discrepancies in Ruan's Yachtmasters paperwork, Sandy was taken aback to discover that someone else's photo had been mistakenly attached when scanned online.
Despite expressing surprise at the news, Ruan assured Sandy that he would retrieve the correct paperwork. However, once he disembarked from the boat, Ruan made the decision not to return as promised.
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Luka Brunton's several hookups with crew members (Season 8)
Throughout his time on the 'Below Deck' franchise, Luka Brunton took full advantage of the opportunity to engage in romantic relationships with multiple women on the boat.
In the preview for the show, Luka could be seen kissing Natalya, Haley, and Jessika, all while mentioning his intention to not allow himself to become too distracted by the women.
Jessika, when asked about her connection with Luka, initially referred to him as a friend, but then quickly labeled their relationship as "f**k buddies." Luka's behavior caused a stir among the crew as he made advances towards almost every female member on the boat.
Natalya Scudder and Kyle Vilojean's beef (Season 8)
Natalya and Kyle both made their highly anticipated return to the interior crew for the eighth season of 'Below Deck Mediterranean', and viewers were eagerly awaiting the continuation of their ongoing feud.
Things turned messy between the two during the previous season, as Kyle found himself in hot water for allegedly throwing Natalya under the bus by informing a charter guest that she had neglected to clean the VIP suite. Despite his denials at the reunion, where he insisted that he never criticized Natalya's work ethic, she remained skeptical of his intentions. The unresolved conflict between the two crew members promised to add even more drama and intrigue to the upcoming season.
Despite appearing to have reconciled, the two individuals were shown engaging in another heated argument in the trailer for season 8 of 'Below Deck Med.'
Kyle defiantly declared, "You will never control me," while Natalya challenged him by asking for his name and asserting that she will not back down throughout the charter. The tension rose as Natalya insulted Kyle, labeling him as a "horrible person," prompting him to retort by saying, "fit in the shoebox honey, so are you."
'Below Deck Mediterranean' Season 9 premieres June 3, 2024, at 9 pm ET on Bravo.