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The hit Bravo series Below Deck Mediterranean has become a mainstay in the reality TV world. It follows the lives of crew members working aboard luxury yachts as they navigate the challenges of catering to high-end clients while dealing with their interpersonal dynamics. As one of the five spin-offs of the Below Deck franchise, the show has captivated audiences for nine seasons.
Below Deck Mediterranean offers a glimpse into the world of yachting, where the crew's professional and personal lives frequently collide. However, this collision has also led to several scandals over the years, leaving fans shocked.
The five scandals that have notably shaken the series include:
- Malia White's love triangle in season 2
- Pete Hunziker's off-camera racism in season 5
- Hannah Ferrier's drug stash in season 5
- David and Natasha's surprise history in season 7
- Ruan Irving's false paperwork in season 8
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5 Scandals of Below Deck Mediterranean
1) Malia White's love triangle in season 2
Season 2 featured a love triangle between deckhand Malia White, bosun Wes Walton, and chef Adam Glick. The turmoil began when it was found that Malia and Adam were in a previous relationship before joining the yacht in Croatia. They planned to keep their past hidden from the rest of the crew, but tensions flared when Malia developed affection for Wes during the charter.
Adam, feeling envious and deceived, began chasing Malia more aggressively. This caused a conflict among the three crew members. Malia acknowledged having feelings for both Wes and Adam, saying:
"Did I have feelings for both of you? Yes. But did I reach a point where I was ready to choose someone? No. I just wanted to get through the charter and stay friends."
The tension peaked and Adam responded:
“She played me like a f—king flute.”
2) Pete Hunziker's off-camera racism in season 5
During season 5 in June 2020, Below Deck Mediterranean faced backlash due to the off-camera actions of one of its crew members, Pete Hunziker. The lead deckhand was criticized for sharing an offensive meme on social media that featured a Black woman in shackles.
A source close to Bravo told Variety at the time that the post led to widespread condemnation and resulted in Bravo taking swift action by firing Pete from the show. Although the incident did not take place on camera, it had a significant impact on the season. The network edited the remaining season 5 episodes to reduce Pete's appearances, ultimately removing him from the show.
In July 2020, Pete apologized via an Instagram post (now deleted) and expressed regret for his behavior. Recognizing the harm the meme had caused, he admitted:
"A little over three months ago, I thoughtlessly reposted a meme without realizing how hurtful it was. I am genuinely sorry to those I’ve offended. I support equal rights for all people."
3) Hannah Ferrier's drug stash in season 5
In season 5 of Below Deck Mediterranean, Chief Stewardess Hannah Ferrier was discovered to have hidden Valium on board. The drama began when Captain Sandy received a photo from an unknown crew member, depicting a pack of Valium, a vape pen, and a lighter among Hannah's possessions.
Hannah and Captain Sandy clashed over the finding, with the latter questioning the legality of the medication aboard. Hannah, who had been open about her anxiety issues, justified herself by noting that those were prescribed.
After the episode aired, Hannah took to X on August 11, 2024, to clarify the matter. She shared a snapshot of the prescription label on the Valium box and wrote:
"I like Malia’s arranging skills. So that’s prescribed Valium, CBD (which is legal in Spain), a lighter (not sure what this has to do with anything) and my passport holder... And for anyone who’s interested the prescription is on the other side of the box as shown... #belowdeckmed"
Despite Hannah's justification, the event resulted in her departure from the show, effectively ending her term as Chief Stew.
4) David and Natasha's surprise history in season 7
In season 7 of Below Deck Mediterranean, Natasha Webb and David White became involved in another scandal after Dave sent Natasha threatening texts, calling her derogatory names like "wh*re" after a night out. Natasha later claimed that the show edited the situation to make Dave appear more sympathetic. During her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on August 9, 2022, she noted:
"The texts were pretty threatening… and none of it was really shown."
Dave, on the other hand, expressed deep regret for his actions. The same year, he stated in an interview with Decider on August 9:
"What I did and what I said were completely out of line... there's no excuse for what I did. To be honest, I can’t watch the episode... Do I deserve a second chance? I was out of order."
5) Ruan Irving's false paperwork in season 8
One of the most recent incidents occurred during Below Deck Mediterranean season 8, which premiered in September 2023. The season got off to a rough start when Captain Sandy Yawn learned that her bosun, Ruan Irving, had apparently given fake documentation.
Sandy received a call from the Port Authority, she discovered that Ruan's Yachtmaster documentation had another person's photo attached when scanned online. This discovery put doubt on Ruan's reliability and raised questions about his qualifications.
Ruan later admitted to bringing copies of his medical license and stated that he was waiting for the originals to be mailed to him. Despite his assurances to acquire the right documents, Ruan decided not to return to the yacht after leaving.
Catch new episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean every Monday at 9/8c on Bravo, and stream them the next day on Peacock.
