Below Deck: Ben Willoughby Is The Most Annoying Cast Member Ever (Will He Be Fired?)

Summary Ben loves causing drama and spreading gossip among the crew, leading to tension and ill feelings.

Ben shows disrespect towards women, objectifying them, and not treating his love interests with care.

Ben's overconfidence and self-absorbed attitude make him annoying, and he may be at risk of getting fired by Captain Kerry.

Below Deck alum Ben Willoughby is proving to be the most annoying cast member in franchise history, and he has the potential to get fired in season 11. Ben first appeared on the OG show's pioneering tenth season under Captain Lee and temporarily under Captain Sandy Yawn. During season 10, Ben was promoted from Deckhand to Lead Deckhand by Ross McHarg. That season he carried on a boatmance with Camille Lamb, and upset second stewardess Alissa Humber in the process.

Ben has returned for Below Deck season 11 under Captain Kerry Titheradge. He was originally lead deckhand but got promoted to Bosun after Jared Woodin left the boat for mental health reasons. Ben has five years of experience in the yachting industry and has worked in the Bosun position before. Ben originally hails from Gold Coast, Australia, and loves active sports in his free time along with traveling and photography. Ben is the Bosun on the motor yacht St. David, which is the biggest vessel in Below Deck history at 60m (197ft). Now that Below Deck viewers have gotten to know Ben, there is a lot not to like.

Ben Loves Spreading Gossip

He Can't Help Himself

Ben has a penchant for meddling in the interior department's drama, which only causes more issues and friction. Ben is not in the business of rationalizing and often takes sides and ill feelings against his crewmates based on drama he has no business in. Ben has showcased his immaturity in Below Deck season 11 when he gossiped to Stew Barbie Pascual that Stew Cat Baugh had expressed to Chief Stew Fraser Olender she was having a hard time with Barbie (via Bravo.) Not only was Ben eavesdropping, but he also maliciously tried to cause tension and sow unsettled feelings amongst the interior.

Fraser has slammed Ben's gossiping and meddling ways and characterized him as someone who needs attention. Fraser thinks Ben stirs the pot in order to draw attention and make connections with fellow crew members. Even as a Bosun, Ben cannot step into the neutral and supportive leadership role and still wants to be at the center of gossip and drama, which speaks to his character.

Ben Plays With Women's Emotions

Ben Has Not Been A Good Partner

Ben has demonstrated that he is disrespectful towards women, objectifies them, and tries to get away with whatever he can. He was obsessed with Camille in Below Deck season 10 but tried to put all the blame for the end of their relationship on her. Moreover, this season, Ben has been sleeping with Sunny Marquis, and he has not been treating her well.

When new stew Paris Field joined the crew, Ben was immediately and obviously smitten, so much so, that he went out of his way to touch Paris' waist at any chance he got. His gross actions caught the attention of Sunny, who called him out for being sleazy and overly touchy with Paris (via Bravo.) Ben also was overly flirtatious with Second Stew Xandi Olivier and failed to see how his behavior negatively affected and embarrassed Sunny.

Ben Is Full Of Himself

Ben Thinks He Is The Greatest

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Ben never has a criticism for himself but is happy to dish criticism out to others. Ben is overconfident in his Bosun abilities and abilities to be an effective leader. He lets his promotions go to his head and fails to see himself as mediocre as he is.

Ben has the audacity to touch other women in front of his love interest, which shows how much he thinks he can get away with bad behavior.

Ben comes across as annoying for his self-absorbed attitude and air that he can do no wrong.

Ben Is Feuding With Captain Kerry

Ben Could Get Fired

Custom Image by César García

On-screen, the mid-season trailer (via Bravo) showed Captain Kerry having words with Ben that are some of the harshest words Captain Kerry has ever spoken to a crew member.

"That's blatant disrespect. You're the f***ing Bosun, mate."

At this point viewers don't know exactly what Ben did to get in Captain Kerry's crosshairs, but it had to have been serious for Captain Kerry to speak to him that way. The wild incident speaks to Ben's abilities as a Bosun and his capacity to respect his captain.

Off-screen, there is even more drama between Captain Kerry and Ben. In a recent interview Captain Kerry gave, he said Ben was not his first pick for Bosun and eluded that Ben won't make it through the entire season. Ben took Captain Kerry's words as an attack on his work ethic and character.

“It is very unfortunate that Captain Kerry decided to speak out regarding my role as Bosun on the current season of Below Deck."

Ben is creating drama with Captain Kerry and taking his interview assessment as a personal attack that affects his reputation. It is unprofessional for Ben to be lashing out at his former Captain, and his social media behavior makes him seem immature and could affect his role in the Below Deck franchise in the future.

Ben Is A Hypocrite

He Can Dish But Can't Take It

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Ben has also proven himself to be a major hypocrite, which is also not a good look. Ben doesn't like when his crew members talk negatively about him and his decisions behind his back, but he has no problem stirring the pot and saying rude things about his crewmates behind theirs.

Namely, in the last episode, Ben didn't like that Deckhand Dylan Pierre Villiers talked badly about his decision to promote Sunny to Lead Deckhand over him.

"It's not about qualification, it's about attitude on deck, and for him to be going around to other crew members , is obviously not on. If anyone is upset and needs a chat about my decision, come and talk to me. Instead he's talking to the other crew. That's not okay in my books."

The Below Deck season 11 editing then showed footage of Ben from five charters prior trash-talking Jared to whoever would listen and undermining Jared's authority. Ben has showcased what awful character he has and how he does not respect authority or his fellow crewmates, making him the most annoying cast member in Below Deck history.

Below Deck season 11 airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.

Source: Bravo/YouTube, Bravo/YouTube, Bravo/YouTube