Below Deck: Why Paris Field's Treatment Of Chef Nick Tatlock Wasn't Out Of Line

Summary Chef Nick's disrespectful behavior towards Paris is impacting morale onboard, creating a negative work environment on Below Deck season 11.

Chef Nick's sexist comments towards Paris crossed a line, eroding any respect she may have had for him as her superior.

Paris's insubordination towards Chef Nick stemmed from Fraser's failure to acknowledge and respect the chef's authority.

Paris Field and Chef Nick Tatlock have butted heads since he was hired to replace Chef Anthony Iracane on Below Deck season 11, but here's why her treatment of him wasn't out of line. Chef Nick joined the Below Deck season 11 cast with a bang, speaking bluntly about how his age and experience make him better than the younger folks onboard. Chief Stew Fraser Olender and stew Paris were unimpressed with his stubbornness, inefficiency, and bizarre remarks. However, Paris' disdain for Chef Nick took center stage in a recent episode.

There's only one charter left in Below Deck season 11, but the cast is poised to go out with a bang, as the feud between Paris and Chef Nick recently heated up. Paris chose to listen to Chief Stew Fraser's preferences rather than Chef Nick's, causing trouble in the interior. Despite Fraser being Paris' immediate superior, Chef Nick holds a higher rank, and his commands should take precedence in matters concerning meals and plating. Her attitude brought Fraser's leadership style into question, but Paris wasn't completely out of line. Here's why.

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Chef Nick Doesn't Respect Paris

It's Impossible For The Interior Crew To Work With Him

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While Chef Nick is Paris' direct superior, he has been blatantly disrespectful towards her since day one of the latest charter. He makes fun of her and disregards her input, preferring to work alone. This could just be a difference in style, but it's impacting morale onboard. However, Chef Nick isn't just disrespectful towards Paris: it seems to be a pattern of behavior and part of his personality.

Chef Nick has a complete disregard for teamwork. While the St. David crew has become a cohesive unit, Nick marches to the beat of his own drum. Throughout the charter, he rebuffed any attempts at feedback or constructive criticism, displaying a stubborn refusal to acknowledge the expertise of his colleagues. His actions scream disrespect for the collective effort required to deliver exceptional service, which Paris was trying to combat in the past few episodes.

The Chef ranks above Chief Stew onboard the St. David.

Paris is required to respect Chef Nick's rank, and she failed to do so in the past charter. However, her behavior stemmed from confusing instructions from Fraser mixed with Chef Nick's past dismissal of the stew. He may rank above her, but it's difficult to work alongside someone when there isn't mutual respect.

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One of the ways in which Chef Nick disrespects Paris is through sexist commentary, adding to the animosity between them. What truly soured their relationship was his inappropriate commentary towards Paris. In an attempt at camaraderie, Nick made uncomfortable remarks about Paris' body, including comments about her food intake and weight. This behavior crossed a line, making Paris uncomfortable and eroding any respect she may have had for him.

While Paris may have brushed off his remarks, eating plain mayo out of the container in a confessional, they were nonetheless inappropriate and disrespectful. Chef Nick owes Paris an apology for his insensitive comments, yet it remains uncertain whether he fully comprehends the extent of his misconduct. It's understandable that Paris became prickly towards Chef Nick. He didn't respect her and made sexist comments about her body and ability to get a boyfriend, which put her on edge.

Chef Nick should have been chastised for his behavior towards Paris, but his commentary went unchecked.

Chef Nick seems like someone who harps on women to get attention, and that might be what he's doing to Paris. However, that treatment undoubtedly created a negative relationship between the pair, making it difficult for Paris to respect him as her superior. It didn't help that Fraser also disrespected Chef Nick, creating animosity throughout the interior crew.

Paris Wants To Do Her Job Well

Fraser And Chef Nick's Lack Of Communication Is Not Her Problem

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Ultimately, Paris' insubordination was Fraser's fault, as the stew just wanted to do her job well. She's still fairly new to the charter and wants to make sure the food she's serving is presentable for the guests. However, that job gets more difficult to do when Fraser consistently undermines the chef. She wasn't sure who to listen to and chose the one that made her look better.

Throughout Below Deck season 11, Fraser's consistent prioritization of his own wishes has set a precedent. As one of the highest-ranking officials with three stripes, Chef Nick's instructions should hold sway over both Fraser and Paris. Fraser's failure to acknowledge and respect the chef's authority contributed to Paris' insubordination. While she should've deferred to Chef Nick's authority, Paris' behavior in the latest episode was understandable given their past.

Below Deck airs Mondays at 9 pm ET on Bravo.