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'Below Deck': Rayna claims Wes isn't Black, fans say she isn't 'Blackness' gatekeeper'

Wes was really taken aback by Rayna's hurtful statement and felt that she 'threw him away' by questioning his Blackness just because he was of mixed race

After teasing the bubbling tension between deckhand Rayna Lindsey and chief stew Heather Chase for much of Season 9 of 'Below Deck', the season finale finally featured the two ladies addressing their issues. A very upset Rayna made it very clear that she can never get along with a White person who uses the N-word and for that reason, she can never bring herself to forgive Heather.

The chief stew was left feeling puzzled at Rayna's sudden outburst as she was under the impression that Rayna had accepted her apology and forgiven her. Heather fell on her knees and begged Rayna for her forgiveness and explained that her drunken behavior shouldn't be excused but hoped that the deckhand could understand that her apology was heartfelt and sincere. Unfortunately for Heather, Rayna was in no mood to forgive or forget, and sadly Wes O'Dell got caught up in the crossfire when he tried calming his fellow deckhand. Rayna snapped at him by declaring that he wasn't a Black man so he could never understand her angst and agony.

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Wes was really taken aback by Rayna's hurtful statement and felt that she 'threw him away' by questioning his Blackness just because he was of mixed race. The next morning when Wes expressed how he was hurt by Rayna's statement and that for her to question his Blackness wasn't fair to him. Rayna defended her stance by citing how Wes was from the islands so he wasn't aware of the issues she faced in the States. When Wes pointed out that he studied in the States and spent a considerable amount of time there, Rayna was still dismissive toward him.

After watching Rayna's behavior towards Wes, several fans took to Twitter to call out Rayna for her hurting Wes. A fan tweeted, "Ok not cool how rayna talked to Wes in this situation at. You shouldn’t question another black person blackness cause they don’t have the same reaction or way to deal with issue as you #belowdeck." Another fan wrote, "Rayna blaming "so much liquor was involved" for her behavior toward Wes (& Heather), but telling Heather that being drunk is no excuse for her behavior. Pick a lane, Rayna. (She's right, H shouldn't have said it. But she also shouldn't have said what she did.) #BelowDeck." "I've been riding with Rayna this whole season, but she lost me with that f***ed up shit she just said to Wes. Rayna is not the blackness gatekeeper. #BelowDeck," added a fan.

Another fan shared, "Wes is a black man. For Rayna to downplay his struggles was despicable. She couldn't even apologize to him. #BelowDeck ." "Rayna has the right to feel however she wants, and act accordingly. But telling Wes that his experience as a black man isnt valid, just no. #belowdeck," seconded a fan. "Nope just nope. Rayna gets zero sympathy after that attack on Wes!! She can float on a raft out into the ocean!! #belowdeck," expressed a fan.

'Below Deck' Season 9 airs every Monday at 8/7c on Bravo.

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