Below Deck Sailing Yacht star Gary King has been accused of sexually assaulting staff and branded “scary for women” – weeks after Below Deck Down Under became embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal.
Samantha Suarez, 27, who first joined Below Deck in Season 10’s makeup department, claims the 35-year-old King tried to impose himself on her while filming Season 4 in Sardinia in the summer of 2022 while he was heavily drunk.
She goes on to claim that despite reporting the incident to producers, King was allowed to keep his job on the show — and other crew members also claimed they saw King inappropriately touching on the cast and crew. King declined to comment on the publication.
Suarez, who lives in Atlanta, met 35-year-old King, who joined the show as first officer for season two in 2021 – first meeting upon his arrival in Sardinia, with crew members staying at the DoubleTree by Hilton Olbia-Sardinia during filming .
Suarez, who lives in Atlanta, first met King upon his arrival in Sardinia. The crew members stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Olbia-Sardinia during filming.
Allegation: ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ star Gary King has been accused of sexually assaulting staff and branded ‘scary for women’ – weeks after ‘Below Deck Down Under’ became embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal
The cast stayed on the yacht before filming and on days off for the cast – who served aboard the Parsifal III – and the production team stayed at the same hotel.
As well as hair and make-up, Suarez helped the talent manager tell the cast apart due to the strict Covid protocols and get them food and water to their rooms.
Suarez claims she told producers when everyone arrived that some cast members, including King, were “difficult” and refused to stay in their rooms.
She claims on a “dark day” in July she escorted a drunk King back to his room after he was filming interviews for the show – and claims producers fed him a “significant amount” of alcohol.
Suarez claims King started acting strange in his hotel room, on his balcony shouting at the other cast members to find out their room numbers so they could meet up.
After allegedly trying to stop him from leaving the room, she said she told King she had to go to help other cast members.
She claims King asked her not to leave, after which she joked she would “sit outside his door” to make sure he didn’t leave the room.
Suarez claims King suggested that she go to bed with him and again asked her not to go – despite knowing she was in a relationship.
Accused: Samantha Suarez, 27 – who first joined Below Deck in season 10 in the makeup department – claims to Rolling Stone that the 35-year-old King tried to get drunk while filming season 4 in Sardinia in the summer of 2022 to impose on her.
She left and promised to come back with snacks and water, but claimed when she returned King opened the door in his underwear and asked her not to leave – after asking him to take a crate of water from her hand.
Suarez claims she told him she had other cast members to look after and said she was leaving.
She claims as she turned for the door, “King came up behind her, grabbed her, held her to his body, and refused to let go” — even after she allegedly tried to “kick and elbow him, to get rid of him”. .’
Suarez claims she broke free of his grasp and walked to open the door to leave, with King “slamming the door behind her.”
She said, “At that point, I didn’t know what was going to happen.” I freaked out. It just happened so fast.
Suarez says she then got a call from the talent manager and King then let go of the door and walked into the hallway.
She said: “I’m freaking out and he’s like, ‘What’s up? What’s going on?” And I’m like, “Just leave me alone.” He tried to get behind me and put his arm around me. He’s in his underwear down the hall and everything is weird and shitty, so all I’m like is, “Just go back to your room and don’t come out.”
Suarez says she told producers what happened “immediately” when she saw them in the production office – and claims a co-executive producer contacted her the next day to discuss the incident.
She then says she had another meeting with him, executive producers Courtland Cox and Vivian Choi, and the show’s talent manager and said she doesn’t feel comfortable around King, doesn’t want to be alone with or around him or style and style his hair.
Suarez claims Cox apologized and promised the producers would speak to King, saying he would be fired if anything else happened.
She further claims that King was removed from the hotel by the producers the next day and the cast and crew were free for the rest of the days – he was told to sleep on the boat.
Suarez claimed she stayed in her hotel room for a week after the incident due to a deterioration in her mental health and was debating whether to leave the show.
The publication reports that Suarez emailed Zach Klein, COO of 51 Minds Entertainment, to report the incident, claiming that King was “laughing the entire time” during the alleged incident.
In her email, she said, “It seems to me that it was taken as a misunderstanding rather than physical assault/sexual harassment… My feelings/emotions regarding what happened feel diminished.” I can’t help but think if it had been a crew member it would have been handled differently. I honestly feel quite traumatized by the whole situation.’
Allegedly: Suarez claims King “came up behind her in a hotel room, grabbed her, held her to his body and refused to let her go” — even after she allegedly tried to “kick and push him to get him away.” to free”
After the email to Klein, an HR rep for Banijay America, the parent company of 51 Minds reportedly contacted Suarez – and after speaking to them, arranged to meet her with a consultant.
Suarez claims this rep told her the company had opened an investigation into the alleged incident – and told her they had spoken to crew members and King about it.
Two other crew members – who wish to remain anonymous – told the publication that Suarez told them about the alleged incident – and one, who is still working on the series, said they “constantly” saw King women on set with his behavior unsettling.
They said, “He’s scary to women.”
Another unnamed crew member who later in the same season claims she saw King grab a female cast member’s butt and continued to touch her “inappropriately” even though she said “no” and told him to stop.
They also claim that a drunk King grabbed another production team member’s genitals during filming at a beach club in Sardinia.
The crew member claims he reported the alleged incident over the walkie-talkie to the executive producer, director and other people in the control room monitoring the live footage – but says, “No one took notice.”
They further allege that a producer then personally asked King to stop, but that King then allegedly grabbed a cameraman’s genitals during a break. They also claim that the incidents were filmed but never televised.
The crew member said, “It was crazy.” There have been several incidents of sexual harassment in front of several producers, after that person received multiple verbal warnings.
The production team member said after speaking out about the alleged harassment, she was not asked to return to the show after years of working on the franchise. Suarez also claims she lost her role on the series after reporting the alleged incident – while King was allowed to stay.
King was involved in a love triangle with Daisy Kelliher (center) and Colin MacRae (right) last season. Last month he captioned a photo of himself with Kelliher and McCrae on Instagram: “The last season of #belowdecksailing wasn’t my best, after watching a few episodes I know I still have a lot to do and grow have.”
Suarez also alleges that 38-year-old lower deck boss Ross McHarg made “strange, lewd, sexual, rude comments” to her while she was filming Season 10 in 2022.
McHarg did not respond to requests for comment from the publication.
She says she was escorting male cast members from a car to her hotel when McHarg allegedly began making the comments, which she says led to the other cast members telling him to “shut up.”
She claims she told a producer but didn’t file a formal complaint or contact human resources. A spokesman for 51 Minds Entertainment confirmed this to the publication, but said the production company launched an investigation when it became aware of the allegation.
Suarez and three other employees who worked on the production say that human resources held sexual harassment and cultural sensitivity training prior to each season.
Producers are said to be asking their staff to report any incidents over their walkie-talkies, and someone in the control room will respond – after being instructed not to interact with crew members.
Another crew member said they felt the show needed an “intimacy coordinator-type position.”
King was involved in a love triangle with Daisy Kelliher and Colin MacRae last season.
Last month he captioned a photo of himself with Kelliher and McCrae on Instagram: “The last season of #belowdecksailing wasn’t my best, after watching a few episodes I know I have a lot of work and growth ahead of me have and will do anything to become a ‘better person.’
Below Deck star: Suarez also claims that 38-year-old Below Deck star Bosun Ross McHarg made “strange, lewd, sexual, rude comments” to her while she was filming season 10 in 2022. McHarg did not respond to requests for comment from the publication
A Bravo spokesperson told in a statement, “Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.” We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate policies and training in place in the workplace and a clear process for reporting concerns. The concerns raised by Ms. Suarez in July 2022 were investigated at the time and action was taken based on the findings.
A spokesperson for 51 Minds Entertainment, Below Deck’s production company, added, “51 Minds is committed to creating an environment where every member of the cast and crew of our productions feels respected and most importantly, safe.” Minds provides mandatory harassment and awareness training at the beginning of each new season for every series it produces, and establishes a clear process for how and to whom questionable activity must be reported.”
“Any complaint submitted will be promptly investigated and based on the findings appropriate action will be taken to ensure the safety of our cast and crew up to and including termination.” As for the Mr. King incident reported by Ms. Suarez, it was the case was investigated and reviewed immediately after it was submitted, and production acted accordingly based on the findings.”
Last month, ‘Unter Deck: Down Under’ was embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal when naked boatswain Luke Jones climbed into the bed of a sleeping co-star.
Jones was later fired from the show because of the incident and Laura Bileskalne was subsequently fired after lobbying for him.
Terrifying: Last month, ‘Unter Deck: Down Under’ was embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal when naked boatswain Luke Jones climbed into the bed of a sleeping co-star, Margot Sisson
A naked Jones (pictured) is seen climbing into the bed of a sleeping Margot – before the producers intervene
An emotional Aesha Scott briefed Captain Jason on the incident, claiming Luke was trying to “take advantage of Margot’s intoxication.”
Jones was filmed “without consent” climbing into Margot Sisson’s bed, who was sound asleep in her underwear. The producers immediately told Jones to stop, but he slammed the door in their faces.
At the previous dinner, Margot explained that she was “really drunk” and chef Aesha Scott even told deckhand Culver Bradbury that she was keeping an eye out for her.
Despite Margot’s drunken state, Luke repeatedly tried to flirt with her, asking her to “snuggle” with him while they sat in the back seat of a car together.
“No, let’s go,” she replied, before making it clear that she just wanted to “go to bed” by herself.
Aesha later tearfully claimed Luke tried to “take advantage of Margot’s drunkenness” while she was “completely unconscious” in bed.
Captain Jason then went to Luke’s room and ordered him to spend the night in a hotel.
Captain Jason fired Luke the next day. On the way out, Luke told Jason he was “sorry” and that he was “so disappointed” in himself for acting like this
The next morning, Jason gathered the remaining crew members and informed them that Luke would be fired.
Stewardess Laura spent the rest of the day sympathizing with Luke, explaining that he simply should have been given a “warning” and shouldn’t have been fired.
She even told Margot that the firing wasn’t “fair” and that he was just “joking” and “drunk,” before implying that Margot might be responsible for the incident.
As a result, Captain Jason eventually fired Laura as well and beat her up for not respecting boundaries