Captain Sandy Releases Kyle from Below Deck Med After His Bullying Forces Natalya to Depart
Captain Sandy questions Kyle's future on 'Below Deck Med' after his alleged bullying leads to Natalya's exit
Captain Sandy, Kyle Viljoen, Natalya Scudder. Chris Haston/NBC/NBC; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images; Rich Polk/Bravo
Captain Sandy Yawn has reached her limit with Kyle Viljoen following his behavior that resulted in a crew member leaving.
In the latest episode of Below Deck Mediterranean, which aired on Monday, November 20, the focus shifted to the consequences of Kyle's explosive argument with Natalya Scudder. The once close friends found themselves in disagreement when Natalya supported Max Salvador's remarks about identifying as part of the LGBTQIA+ community despite being heterosexual.
Kyle unleashed his anger on Natalya, casting doubt on their friendship. The next day, while the rest of the crew enjoyed their day off, Kyle chose to join them, leaving Natalya to pack up her belongings alone. Prior to the next charter, Natalya had a meeting with Captain Sandy to inform her that she would be leaving the Mustique.
"I've been incredibly stressed. Apart from personal issues back home, there have also been conflicts within the interior. In the crew mess, Kyle and Max got into a heated argument in front of everyone. I tried to intervene and calm Kyle down," Natalya tearfully explained. "I always considered him one of my closest friends. There's been a lot going on."
The stew acknowledged that Kyle's behavior was indicative of a larger issue, mentioning, "Previously, I didn't mention anything, but Jessika [Asai] approached me in tears after Kyle aggressively confronted her in a cabin."
Sandy was taken aback by the revelation. "I need to address this matter seriously. I will speak with Kyle because his actions are unacceptable and considered bullying," she expressed. "While I value your presence, your mental well-being should never be compromised."
Natalya decided to adhere to her choice of leaving after the captain inquired about her intentions.
"I have an urge to disembark now as I am not feeling well. Though I acknowledge receiving an apology from Kyle, I still don't feel good, and it's making me feel quite sad recently."
Sandy refrained from trying to change Natalya's mind in order to prioritize her crew. "I won't force Natalya to stay, nor would I. I want her to feel supported in her decision, but I'm also angry about it. Losing Natalya will severely impact the interior team, and we'll struggle during the next charter," she explained in a confessional. "I want to make it clear that I do not support Kyle's behavior. However, considering Natalya's account of the situation, Kyle's bullying is absolutely unacceptable."
During the filming of season 8, Kyle began to question the authenticity of his friendship with Natalya. They had a previous disagreement in season 7, with Natalya feeling that she did more work than Kyle. Although they tried to start fresh on the Mustique, their attempt quickly unraveled.
Natalya departed from the boat, prompting Sandy to summon chef Jack Luby and chief stew Tumi Mhlongo to discuss the underlying tension. Taking a firm stance, Jack defended Natalya and reprimanded his colleagues for their lack of support. On the other hand, Tumi concurred that Kyle's conduct was detrimental to the unity within the interior team. Consequently, Sandy requested a meeting with Kyle to engage in a conversation.
"Kyle, I am fully aware of the events that have unfolded on this boat. And it seems that in every single instance, you are at the center of it all. Take, for example, your heated exchanges with Max, Jess, and Natalya - you always seem to be the one screaming."
This turn of events drastically changed Sandy's perception of Kyle. "I cannot fathom bringing you back. Your inability to manage your emotions is simply unacceptable in a professional environment. Your behavior amounts to bullying and incessant yelling. A person like you is not welcome onboard," she retorted, just as the screen faded to black.
Viewers will have to wait for the next episode to discover if Kyle will continue on the boat. Nevertheless, before the episode was aired, Natalya provided an update on her current relationship with Kyle.
"He is like a devil," she revealed exclusively to We on November 3 at BravoCon in Las Vegas. "It's irritating because he intentionally created problems for me and Tumi, which resulted in a rough start to the season. Thankfully, Tumi and I are now on good terms. We both acknowledge that there was one individual who was responsible for all the drama, but we have resolved our issues."
Below Deck Mediterranean airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
