Fans are praising “Below Deck Down Under” stars Captain Jason Chambers and chief stew Aesha Scott — plus show producers — for the way they handled Luke Jones’ nonconsensual sexual incident with Margot Sisson.
Monday night’s episode of the Bravo reality series saw Jones entering Sisson’s bed without clothes — or permission — as the stewardess was asleep.
“Luke, we gotta get you down,” a production member said. “I gotta get you out of here because she wants to go to bed.”
Jones eventually went to the door after the light turned on and asked production, “Can you f—k off for a second?”
Seemingly intoxicated, he then repeatedly slammed the door and held it closed, trying to bar producers from stepping inside to intervene.
Moments later, a disgruntled Jones put a towel over his privates and exited Sisson’s room. He proceeded to his own bedroom, where he locked himself inside in an apparent attempt to avoid his castmates and producers.
Scott, who consoled an unnerved Sisson after the incident, quickly alerted Chambers of the situation and emotionally detailed her own experience with sexual assault prior to the show in the process.
In response, Chambers immediately forced Jones to vacate the yacht. The bosun spent the night at a nearby hotel in Cairnes, Australia, and was terminated the next morning.
“We don’t actually know what would have happened, but being in her bed naked — and she’s got no idea — it actually makes my skin crawl,” Scott said during the episode. “You have no right to put someone unconscious into that position.”
Viewers were quick to applaud Chambers, Scott and those working behind the scenes for their swift reactions.
“Last night was the most powerful Below Deck I have ever seen. Thank you to the Heroes Captain Jason, Aesha, & production 4 stepping up against sexual harassment. Aesha prevented the potential sexual assault,” one viewer tweeted.
“God Bless all 4 bringing this problem to light #BelowDeckDownUnder.”
Another added, “The #BelowDeckDownUnder producers, Captain Jason, and Aesha gave A MASTERCLASS on prioritizing the safety of employees above everything. Hats off to them.”
One more individual appreciated how Jones’ “poor behavior” was met with intolerance.
“I’ve been watching reality tv almost my whole life and I have *never* seen anything like tonight’s #BelowDeckDownUnder,” the fan tweeted.
“In a toxic industry and a franchise that ignores poor behavior by men, it was refreshing to see a woman believed and supported. Capt Jason and Aesha are gems.”
In the episode, Sisson said that she was “embarrassed” and “sad” to have been on the receiving end of Jones’ actions, but was grateful for all the support from the “BDDU” crew.
“I’m shocked and I’m processing it but I’m honestly just, I just feel so loved. It’s a lot of different emotions at once,” she said in a confessional.
Chambers, for his part, emphasized that crew members’ cabins are “safety [zones].”
“That door is our boundary, that door is not to be opened unless it’s consensual,” he elaborated. “To walk into into someone else’s room without consent, indecent, is my limit.”
Jones seemingly offered a response for his actions in an Instagram post shared this weekend.
“It doesn’t Matter what they think about you because you don’t Care,” he captioned a photo of himself lifting up his shirt to show off his abs.
“Everything we hear is an Opinion, Not a Fact. Everything we see is a Perspective. Not the Truth,” he continued. “Take Ownership and move forward.”
Jones did not immediately respond to Pvnew’s request for comment.
Sisson, for her part, thanked many of her “Below Deck” colleagues — including Chambers and Scott — while also sharing gratitude for the fans who sent supportive messages.
“I want to say THANK YOU for all the beautiful messages coming in from the viewers,” she wrote in part Tuesday on her Instagram Story.
“Each messages is truly frightening up my day and warming my heart. I promise you that I will read every single one of them, and I value each person who has taken the time to reach out.”
Jones wasn’t the only one to lose his job on Monday night’s episode.
Laura Bileskalne — who defended Jones to Sisson, claiming he was likely “only joking” and is a “sexual person” — was fired after she tried giving co-star Adam Kodra a massage without consent and for her comments made to Sisson.
“There’s a big disconnect now and it’s not where I want part of my team. You’ve actually disrespected what I set out to do,” Chambers said.
“I understood what you said,” Bileskalne responded, “and I’ll respect it.”
Despite calling both her and Jones’ firings “unfair,” Bileskalne said in an Instagram post per MSN, “My sincere apologies to Adam, I did not realize I made him feel uncomfortable and no one should be put in that position.
“And to Margot to not been able to empathize. I was 29 when the show was filmed, 30 was my life-changer. I am 31 now and I am watching it as all of you, an entertainment show.”
“Below Deck Down Under” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available the next day to stream on Peacock.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
