Below Deck's Ben Faces Drama After Fling With Sunny Marquis: Contacting Camille Lamb Sparks Conflict

Below Decks Ben Complicates His Fling With Sunny Marquis by Contacting Camille Lamb

Ben Willoughby and Sunny Marquis Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

Ben Willoughby shocked Sunny Marquis and Below Deck fans by breaking off their casual relationship to pursue a reconciliation with Camille Lamb.

In the episode that aired on Monday, April 29, Ben began to question his feelings for Sunny. His rekindled emotions for Camille, a past cast member from season 10 of Below Deck, further complicated Ben's decision.

"Returning to St. David feels like a trip down memory lane," Ben shared with the cameras. "When I'm with Camille, there's this immediate connection. We were like young lovers. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about her."

Ben expressed that he still holds onto hope for a future with Camille. "There's a part of me that believes there could be something between us because we had such a strong connection. Girls really have an effect on me, don't they?"

Ben needed to break things off with Sunny before he could work things out with Camille. To make matters worse, he had already been posting about Camille on social media before discussing his feelings with Sunny.

Below Decks Ben Complicates His Fling With Sunny Marquis by Contacting Camille Lamb

Camille Lamb Courtesy of Camille Lamb/Instagram

Ben took part in an Instagram Q&A where he answered several fan questions about his personal life.

Ben was asked about his current status with Camille. He replied, "Lots has happened since this season finished. All in due time you’ll find out."

When questioned about his favorite snacks on St. David for season 10, Ben shared a photo of Camille, saying, "Her."

In response to inquiries about his relationship with Camille, Ben mentioned, "I wouldn’t say it's over. Camille and I have this spark."

Sunny quickly checked out the public posts. "Oh my gosh, what a jerk," she exclaimed, feeling upset in front of Paris Field and Barbie Pascual.

Curious, Sunny's friends inquired about what Ben had mentioned regarding his relationship with Camille.

Sunny shared that it happened last year when she cheated on him. Even though they were only casually seeing each other, she found it awkward. She expressed how difficult it is to pretend like everything is fine at work when things are complicated in their personal lives.

Below Decks Ben Complicates His Fling With Sunny Marquis by Contacting Camille Lamb

Ben Willoughby was not too happy when he found out about Sunny's feelings. He expressed his frustration by saying, "We aren't even dating. What's up with you girls?" He also mentioned a conversation he had with Paris, where she questioned his actions towards Sunny.

Ben told Kyle Stillie, the deckhand, that he was going to end things with Sunny.

"I'm just not feeling it, man. I'm not happy. I've clicked with others before, but I don't think Sunny and I have that," Ben confessed. "I believe it's best to move on, buddy. I swear, women's minds will always be a mystery to me."

When Ben and Sunny met, she expressed surprise at his online comments, saying they caught her off guard. She added, "I wasn't expecting that." Ben, on the other hand, did not apologize for the pain he caused Sunny during the season.

"I was just annoyed. It seems like there's always something going on. I just want to finish the charter season strong, so I think you understand where I'm coming from," he explained. "Whether we end up sleeping together or not, it doesn't really matter to me. I don't feel like we have a strong attachment to each other."

Sunny went over the conversation with Paris and Barbie but shocked them by taking the blame on herself.

"He feels like he can't truly be himself. He always finds fault with me, like I'm toxic," Sunny, the lead deckhand, said with tears in her eyes. "I'm just trying to work through things. If there are so many issues from the start, then what am I even doing?"

Ben quickly moved on from his breakup with Sunny and started talking to Camille the very next day.

In a confessional, he shared, "Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my ex. I enjoy Sunny's company; she's cute and funny. But I don't feel that special connection with her. You can't make feelings happen, there has to be a natural spark. It's like what I had with Camille last year. That's the kind of magic I'm looking for."

Viewers of Bravo's season 10 were introduced to Ben and Camille in 2022. Despite a heated relationship, Camille's departure led them to stay in touch through text messages. They later reunited on screen, but unfortunately, Ben confirmed their breakup.

In a recent episode, fans witnessed Ben and Camille's awkward interaction during a FaceTime call. Camille seemed surprised by Ben's call and quickly updated him on her life in Florida. Ben expressed his desire to see Camille once he finished his job.

He expressed his desire to meet her just to say hello. She hesitated, mentioning that she had only arrived in town two months ago.

After their short conversation, Ben harshly criticized himself, calling himself a "loser" and feeling foolish for still holding onto something that was already over. He acknowledged the difficulty of accepting this reality, saying, "It is a hard pill to swallow. I am swallowing it again for a second time. You gotta learn it from the first time. Now I know."

Below Deck season 11 airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Peacock.

Editor's P/S:

Ben Willoughby's decision to end his casual relationship with Sunny Marquis in favor of pursuing a reconciliation with Camille Lamb has sparked controversy among "Below Deck" fans. Sunny's hurt and confusion are understandable, especially given Ben's lack of remorse for his actions. His social media posts about Camille while still involved with Sunny were insensitive and disrespectful.

Ben's reasoning for breaking up with Sunny is equally questionable. He claims to have never felt a strong connection with her, despite their intimate moments. His pursuit of Camille, with whom he had a tumultuous relationship in the past, seems more like a case of nostalgia than a genuine desire for a future together. Viewers will be curious to see how this love triangle unfolds and whether Ben's decision will ultimately bring him happiness or further heartache.