"The biggest ick" — Below Deck Mediterranean fans criticize Joe's treatment of Gael

Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 released its latest episode on Monday, September 9, 2024. It saw Gael Cameron and Joe Bradley discuss their fallout, while the latter attempted to mend his relationship with the cast member. Gael was displeased with how the lead deckhand treated her, micromanaging and nitpicking her work, making her feel unworthy of her position.

Although Joe admitted he only wanted to assist her as her superior, Gael felt his condescending remarks told a different story. In the latest episode, she confronted Joe about his demeanor, urging him not to speak to her in such a juvenile manner.

Even though they ended their conversation with a hug, Gael appeared uninterested in stretching the conversation further than required. Below Deck Mediterranean fans took to X to comment on their argument. While some criticized Joe's patronizing behavior, others praised Gael for standing up to Joe.

"Get Joe off this boat now.. watching him be a jerk to Gael and really all the ladies this season has given me the biggest ick!" a fan wrote.

"Joe is a disgusting human and needs to know how to treat women," another fan commented.

"Proud of Gael for putting Joe in his place!" a netizen tweeted.

Below Deck Mediterranean fans slammed Joe for demeaning Gael.

"Joe has been on Gaels' neck, the ENTIRE season for ZERO reason. That girl works so damn hard, and he only bothers her. Her actual boss hasn't ever had a single problem with her. She's better than me, cus I would have told him ALL about himself," a user reacted.

"Joe is such a chauvinistic POS. He clearly sees woman as less than and he’s pissed Gael isn’t interested in him and needs to put her down. He’s honestly disgusting," one person commented.

"Every single season they cast a mediocre average looking misogynist that has an accent so he gets attention smfh. It's straight out of the #belowdeckmed playbook. Joe is jealous bc Gael is stunning & she's not interested in him AT ALL. Smart girl," a netizen tweeted.

"Joe needs to be getting roasted way more than he is. Absolutely disgusting the way he speaks to Gael, and about Ellie and Bri. All women are disposable to him," one fan reacted.

Some Below Deck Mediterranean fans commended Gael for confronting Joe.

"I LOVE that Gael stood up for herself with Joe, and she didn't back down when he tried to play it off!! Yes, queen!!" one user wrote.

"Yes Gael. Let his passive aggressive, bushy a** eyebrows have it," another person commented.

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What happened between Joe and Gael in episode 15 of Below Deck Mediterranean?

While Gael was tying harnesses to the boat, Joe approached her wanting to help. He then requested a conversation with her, hoping to resolve the tension brewing between the two. Although Joe admitted he had no issues with her, Gael was convinced otherwise.

"I mean, I try to put my head down, try to do sh*t, make you happy, but sometimes, you're a prick and I don't know if you convinced yourself you're not. I don't know," Gael said.

The Below Deck Mediterranean cast member added she was trying to impress someone who was repeatedly mistreating her. Seeing Joe's surprise, Gael explained she did not appreciate it when he called her a "princess." She noted that he meant it in a "sh*t way," demeaning her capabilities as a deckhand.

Gael criticized him for always checking on her to ensure she was working, making her feel like she did not "work as much." While speaking to the cameras, Gael added that people often misjudged her because she used to be a dancer and participate in beauty pageants. She despised it when people characterized her in certain ways without knowing her.

"I work my a** off not to be labeled as a princess," Gael stated.

Joe claimed she was being paranoid, however, Gael refused to budge from her standpoint. Consequently, Joe apologized to the Below Deck Mediterranean cast member, hoping they could "get over it."

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Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 airs Mondays at 9 pm ET, only on Bravo.