Controversial Below Deck Cast Members That Should Return

May 25, 2024, 7 p.m.

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Controversial Below Deck Cast Members That Should Return

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Summary Controversial Below Deck cast members should return despite reputations for added drama.

Reality shows cast complex characters, some should have another chance on Below Deck.

Crew members sometimes get blacklisted but can redeem themselves with a second chance.

There are many controversial Below Deck cast members who should return to the franchise despite their reputations. Below Deck is infamous for its unique format, which highlights the lives of the crew working on superyachts. Crew members typically get fired or leave their superyachts for varying reasons. Throughout the Below Deck franchise, there have been crew members who stand out from the rest for being highly controversial. It can be difficult for the crew to keep up with the demands of working on a superyacht while juggling the pressure of filming a reality series.

Reality shows are notorious for casting complex characters on their show, with the Below Deck franchise included. Some of those people can return to their shows, while others have been blacklisted. Ben Willoughby is the villain of Below Deck season 11, and he’s disliked for his lack of accountability. However, just because a crew member exhibits villainous behavior, it doesn’t mean they should be exiled from the franchise. There have been crew members who do not exhibit questionable behavior but have taken time away from the show.

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8 Kate Chastain

Below Deck Seasons 2-7

Kate Chastain is the most recognizable person from the Below Deck franchise. She worked alongside Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck seasons 2 to 7. Some believe Chief Stew Kate was the worst and had a sour attitude. Kate took her job as chief stew seriously, which came off as combative and dismissive at times. In 2016, she was arrested for an alleged assault that involved her ex-girlfriend, though the charges were dropped. It was a huge story at the time, but Kate has since moved on from the case.

After season 7, Kate moved on from the show. She’s expanded her businesses, appeared on other reality TV shows, and had a son. It’s unlikely that Kate would return to Below Deck, but it would certainly make headlines if she did. Kate is still a beloved crew member of the franchise despite her dismissive work style. She’s been present in the Below Deck universe since exiting the show, starring in the rewatch series Below Deck Galley Talk. Kate will never be able to get rid of her Below Deck roots, so she might as well return to the show.

7 Dave White

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 7

Dave White was the chef during Below Deck Med season 7. He was an appropriate chef, but his controversy came from outside the kitchen. Chef Dave had a secret relationship with Chief Stew Natasha Webb during the season. She didn't want to tell the rest of the crew about their relationship, and he threatened to reveal their secret. Because of all the drama, his cooking started to suffer. Despite it all, Captain Sandy Yawn said Chef Dave was “the best chef” she had on Below Deck Med.

6 Ryan Mckeown

Below Deck Down Under Season 1

Captain Jason Chambers fired Chef Ryan Mckeown from Below Deck Down Under season 1 for many reasons. Chef Ryan was rather disrespectful to his fellow crew members and captains alike. He did not greet the guests when they came onto the charter and lacked the basic skills every chef should have. Chef Ryan was not prepared for his appearance on Below Deck Down Under season 1. With some more practice and a more positive attitude, Chef Ryan could return and excel as a chef on a superyacht.

5 Kyle Viljoen

Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 7 & 8

Kyle Viljoen knew how to stir up the drama on Below Deck Med. He first appeared in Below Deck Med season 7 and exited because of an injury. Captain Sandy invited him back for season 8 of the spin-off, and he ignited Tumi Mhlongo and Natalya Scudder’s feud before they stepped foot on Mustique. As a friend to both women, Kyle talked about them to each other. Before Kyle and Tumi made it onto the superyacht, he warned her about Natalya. Their relationship was tainted from that point, moving forward.

Naturally, Tumi and Natalya clashed when they first met. The pair couldn't get on the same page throughout Below Deck Med season 8. Kyle made things worse as he continued to text Tumi and Natalya about each other. He told Natalya what Tumi was saying about her behind closed doors. There was no reason for Kyle to meddle in their relationship. However, he’s since mended his relationship with Natalya, meaning he could come back to Below Deck with her sometime in the future. Kyle needs a break from the franchise for now, but not forever.

4 Lexi Wilson

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6

Lexi Wilson was not the best crew member on Below Deck season 6. She was highly controversial for her treatment of the rest of the cast. Lexi disrespected Chief Stew Katie Flood and Bosun Malia White and got into a physical fight with Deckhand Mzi Dempers. When she started drinking, her behavior got worse. Lexi revealed that three months before her leaving to film Below Deck Med season 6, her father died. She was likely struggling with his death and didn’t know how to cope. Her actions aren’t justifiable, but she still deserves a second chance on the show.

3 Lara Flumiani

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5

Lara Flumiani is one of Below Beck Med’s most forgettable crew members because she was only on the show for three episodes. As a second stew, she butted heads with Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier during her short stint on the show. Lara didn’t get along with anyone, and Hannah begged Captain Sandy to step in. She randomly left the boat in the middle of the night and came back, only to quit the next morning. Since leaving Below Deck Med, she’s stayed in the yachting industry, so her return to the franchise may be inevitable.

2 Ashton Pienaar

Below Deck Seasons 6 & 7

Ashton Pienaar became a fan-favorite crew member on Below Deck season 6 after his foot got caught in a tow line, and he was dragged into the ocean. His near-death experience was one of the scariest moments in the show. He was invited back for Below Deck season 7 as Bosun, but it was much different from his first time around. Ashton’s biggest flaw was his behavior when drinking. He became very aggressive when drunk, and he didn’t get along with Chief Stew Kate. Since the season, he’s become sober. If Ashton maintains his sobriety, he could return to Below Deck.

1 Hannah Ferrier

Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 1-5

Hannah is the best Chief Stew Below Deck Med has had. She served as Captain Sandy’s Chief Stew for the first five seasons of the spin-off. While Kate coined Below Deck, Hannah left her stamp on Below Deck Med. She is one of the most popular reality stars to emerge from the franchise, but she had an abrupt controversial exit. During Below Deck Med season 5, Captain Sandy fired Hannah when she found out she had a vape pen and Valium onboard with no prescription.

Her exit from Below Deck Med was a devastating blow for the series. Captain Sandy has been unable to find a resident replacement for Hannah. Instead of trying to replace her, Captain Sandy could rehire the former Chief Stew. This would undoubtedly increase the show’s ratings. However, like Kate, it’s unlikely that Hannah will come back to the show. She started a podcast, got married, had a daughter, and appeared in The Traitors Australia season 2. It would be game-changing if Hannah came back, but it probably won’t happen.

There are many former controversial Below Deck cast members that should come back to the franchise. From fan favorites like Kate and Hannah to former crew who deserve another chance like Ashton and Kyle, there’s a plethora of people to choose from. Below Deck should tap some of these yachties to reappear in one of their many franchises.