Below Deck Sailing YachtstarGary Kinghas been hit with a lawsuit alleging he, Bravo, NBCUniversal, and 51 Minds Entertainment all conspired to cover up his alleged sexual misconduct during production and allegedly punished the accusers through blacklisting.Gary has been a mainstayon Bravo, appearing most recently inBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5, where the crew work on sailing yachts versus the standard mega-yachts seen onBelow Deck,Below Deck Mediterranean, and others.Gary first appeared as the first officer duringSailing Yachtseason 2, and has appeared on it since, despite serious allegationslobbied against him.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Gary King is now facing additional accusations after a new lawsuit was filed.
Rolling Stoneobtained documents that were filed on behalf of formerBelow Deckcrew members Samantha Suarez and Grey Duddleston. The pair worked as a hair and makeup artist and camera operator, respectively. According to their lawsuit,during production ofSailing Yachtin the summer of 2022, Samantha was tasked with bringing Gary a case of water and snacks, but when she knocked on his door, Gary, clad only in underwear, allegedly refused to accept the water and snacks, forcing her to enter his room.
As Samantha attempted to leave the room,Gary allegedly physically restrained herand trapped her in the room. Rolling Stone quoted the lawsuit as saying, “Suarez managed to break free, ran towards the door and started to pull the door open when King, who was chasing her, got both his hands on the door and slammed it shut keeping her trapped, menacingly laughing and staring at her with evil dilated eyes. Suarez was sure she would be [assaulted].” After Samantha was able to free herself, Gary allegedly followed her into the hallway and tried to comfort her.
Samantha immediately reported the alleged encounter to the show’s production company, 51 Minds. Her partner at the time, Grey, also claimed that he’d witnessed Gary acting inappropriately with crew and cast members, including things like making lewd remarks and grabbing at private parts.Grey and Samantha are also alleging that they’ve been effectively “blacklisted” from the industryafter filing these complaints, amid alleged attempts to brush the initial accusations under the rug.
What Lawsuit Means For Gary King & Below Deck
Reality TV Productions Have Been Criticized For Unsafe Working Conditions
It’s not the first time a reality TV show production has come under fire for unsafe working conditions.In the summer of 2023, there were reports of a reckoning movementwithin the reality TV world, in which former Bravolebrities like Bethenny Frankel, Leah McSweeney, and Eboni K. Williams detailed allegations like cast members being plied with alcohol, rampant racism, mental health crises, and sexual harassment on sets. Many of those lawsuits are still ongoing.
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In this case,Gary’s troubles appear far from over. As one of the main cast members onBelow Deck Sailing Yacht, he has become a face of the series. Bravo was criticized for pulling Gary’s image from marketing materials promoting season 5 following initial reporting of the complaints while still keeping him on the series. There has been no word onBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 6and whether Gary will return, but Bravo will no doubtface pushback if they continue employing Gary.
Our Take On Lawsuit Against Below Deck’s Gary King
Gary Must Be Held Accountable
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Cast
Below Deck Sailing Yacht is a spin-off of the Below Deck reality television series. Premiering on Bravo, the show follows the life of a Yacht crew as they attempt to navigate a busy Charter season in which many customers make use of a 177-foot sailing yacht. Over the first three seasons, the yacht has been to Greece, Croatia, and Spain.
