‘It was about safety’: Why the leaders on ‘Below Deck Down Under’ fired 2 castmates for misconduct
In the wee hours one spring day last year, a situation was unfolding just off Cairns, Australia, inside the Northern Sun luxury super yacht that’s at the center of Bravo’s “Below Deck Down Under.”
Members of the hard-partying and rambunctious yacht crew, fresh from finishing a multiday charter, were stumbling back to their quarters after a drink-fueled night out — such celebratory outings are a regular occurrence once the crew has completed a trip catering to the needs of demanding guests. It’s rarely a quiet return. This time, though, the inappropriate behavior displayed by two crew members, bosun Luke Jones and second steward Laura Bileskalne, led to their termination from the crew and the end of their time on the series: Each tried to get in bed with castmates who didn’t give their consent.
Heavy drinking is not uncommon on the compulsively watchable “Below Deck” franchise, whether it’s charter guests living it up during their luxe stay or off-duty yacht staff unwinding after days of exhausting work. The
