‘Below Deck’ Alum Calls Out ‘Trainwreck’ Casting After Nathan Gallagher DV Conviction, Other Scandals: ‘Going Down the Wrong Path’

Below Deck alum Ben Willoughby says Bravo needs to take a tough look at its casting process after several recent scandals. 

Ben Willoughby says ‘Below Deck’ casting needs to change 

In a recent Instagram reel, the deckhand-turned-bosun called on the network to tighten up its standards when selecting people for the show. The popular franchise set in the world of charter yachting has faced number of troubling incidents, including a domestic violence case involving Below Deck Mediterranean cast members Nathan Gallagher and Gael Cameron. Earlier this month Gallagher was convicted in Australia of assaulting Cameron. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, but Gallagher, who is Irish, has apparently left the country. 

“This has got to change. Casting knows exactly who they’re hiring. Everyone goes through a psych exam. And I’m struggling to understand why the network puts these characters in the spotlight,” said Willoughly, who appeared on seasons 10 and 11 of Below Deck.  

“Nathan just seems to be a trainwreck,” he added. 

Willoughby also called out Gary King from Below Deck Sailing Yacht, who was been sued for sexual assault, and Luke Jones from Below Deck Down Under, who crawled into a drunk coworker’s bed naked. Production crew intervened and removed Jones, potentially preventing a sexual assault. Captain Jason chambers fired Jones the next day. 

One commenter hinted that there were other troubling Below Deck moments that fans didn’t know about. 

“I say show the footage that didn’t make the cut from my season,” wrote Cathy Skinner from Below Deck Med. 

‘Below Deck’ alum is ‘disheartened’ by show’s direction

The Bravo personality said he was discouraged by recent casting decisions on Below Deck and its spinoffs.

“It just has me so disheartened with the way Below Deck is moving forward,” Willoughby said, adding that the casting team – whom he stressed that he liked – seemed to be prioritizing people who were willing to push boundaries as part of their quest for fame. 

“They’re going for people who want stardom, who want to be an influencer. And they want that spotlight so bad,” he said. 

However, some pointed out that Below Deck has long had a problem with badly behaved cast members. 

“I don’t think anyone can say earlier seasons were better – I think every season the men come on and basically their first conversation is about which stewardess they think they are entitled to,” one person wrote. 

Nonetheless, stronger vetting is a must, Gallagher argued. Otherwise, more troubling incidents are likely to happen in the future.  

“Something in the Below Deck casting world needs to change. Because we’re just going down the wrong path with these kind of guys,” he said. “Honestly, I’m over it.” 

For more​​ news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.