Concerns about Below Deck alum Gary King’s continued appearance on Below Deck Sailing Yacht have been renewed as he faces a bombshell lawsuit with stunning new accusations. Gary’s behavior has been problematic since he first joined the cast of BDSY in season 2, with his talents as First Officer overshadowed by his excessive partying and string of boatmances. Gary’s season 4 appearance was particularly abrasive, as viewers witnessed his aggressive pursuit of Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher despite her romance with Chief Engineer Colin MacRae. Allegations that surfaced after the season aired cast an even more disturbing light on Gary’s misdeeds.

In August 2023, accusations of Gary’s attempted assault on a member of the production crew came to light. Astoundingly, Gary was still permitted to appear in Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5. Now, Gary’s accuser is suing him as well as production for covering up his alleged misconduct. The lawsuit claims Gary admitted to wrongdoing, yet he was not fired despite his continuing pattern of sexual harassment. The concerning allegations cause me to question how Gary was allowed to keep his job while so many past Below Deck crew members have faced much more severe discipline.

Hannah Ferrier

Below Deck Mediterranean Chief Stew

As Chief Stew in Below Deck Mediterranean’s first five seasons, Hannah Ferrier’s status as a fan favorite made her termination one of the franchise’s most shocking. Hannah faced the wrath of Captain Sandy Yawn after she discovered her Valium and a CBD pen. Hannah had not registered her prescriptions, which was a serious infraction resulting in her dismissal.

While Hannah broke the rules, her firing was one of the most controversial in Below Deck history. Hannah was treated like a criminal, and it seemed like Sandy was shaming her for having anxiety. The matter was also brought to Sandy’s attention by Bosun Malia White amid her feud with Hannah. While Malia claimed to be prioritizing the guests’ safety, I suspect that she intentionally set Hannah up to get revenge.

It doesn’t seem fair Hannah was fired for not following the rules, yet production seems to bend over backwards to accommodate Gary.

Hannah’s firing makes me wonder how Gary was able to remain on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 after being accused of a violent assault. Hannah didn’t hurt anybody, while Gary was accused of serious crimes. It doesn’t seem fair Hannah was fired for not following the rules, yet production seems to bend over backwards to accommodate Gary.

Emma Crouch

Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 Deckhand

As a deckhand, Emma Crouch worked alongside Gary on Parsifal III. Gary noted Emma’s subpar performance early in the season, and he seemed to embrace the opportunity to take her under his wing and hone his leadership skills. However, Gary’s patience soon ran out. He failed to communicate with Emma and iced her out, leading to diminishing confidence that damaged her initiative. Emma may have lacked experience, but her poor performance was a result of Gary’s ineffective leadership.

Gary turned on Emma when he brought his concerns to Captain Glenn Shephard, who fired her. While Gary appeared torn up about his role in the matter, he should have done more to guide Emma and help her keep her position. I believe Gary may have sabotaged Emma, contributing to her self-doubt by refusing to work with her. Instead of firing Emma, Captain Glenn should have focused on Gary’s lack of communication with his team, which put Emma in an impossible position.

Laura Bileskalne

Below Deck Down Under Season 2 Stew

The Below Deck Down Under season 2 crew endured incredible turmoil within a short time. Bosun Luke Jones was fired after attempting to assault Stew Margot Sisson. Immediately after, Stew Laura Bileskalne made insensitive remarks to Margot and appeared to sympathize with Luke. Once Captain Jason Chambers became aware of Laura’s aggressive advances towards Adam Kodra, she was also fired.

Laura and Luke’s firings were certainly warranted, and they showed Captain Jason’s ability to make difficult decisions in the best interest of his crew.

However, I can’t ignore the similarities between Laura’s situation and Gary’s. Both exhibited aggressive and insensitive behavior, yet Gary has continued to take on a leadership role. This highlights the double standard when it comes to acceptable behavior in Below Deck. Laura and Luke’s terminations renewed faith that the franchise valued its crew’s safety, but I’m disappointed that Gary’s victims were denied the same protection.

Below Deck season 11 Chef Anthony Iracane’s firing by Captain Kerry Titheradge came amid difficult circumstances for the chef. His performance declined as rude guests chipped away at his confidence. Anthony was struggling, and he took his failures very personally. Despite his shortcomings, Anthony always remained calm and committed to guest satisfaction, making him one of the most level-headed chefs to appear in the franchise.

Anthony was stunned by Captain Kerry’s decision, but his actions after his termination prove what a class act he is. He stuck around to clean the galley despite his heartbreak. The mood on the ship was somber, which was a testament to the respect the crew had for Anthony.

It’s hard to imagine Gary having such a calming presence on Below Deck Sailing Yacht. He does his job well, but his rambunctious and reckless behavior has run its course. Gary’s redeeming qualities aren’t enough to justify his continued appearance in the series. Now that even more serious accusations have been leveled against Gary, I hope the franchise finally cuts ties with him for good.