Captain Jason of Below Deck Down Under hopes that viewers can show empathy after the consent scandal involving Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne. In an Instagram video posted on August 9, he expressed gratitude for the kind messages and shared sympathy for those who were affected by the episodes. He also commended the production team and crew, and expressed his sincere hope that everyone involved takes this time to reflect, make positive changes, and assist others.
Jason stated that everyone has the opportunity to evolve and become better individuals by learning from both positive and negative experiences. He emphasized the importance of respecting personal boundaries. In the latest episodes of the Bravo show, which premiered on Monday, August 7, Luke entered Margot Sisson's room undressed, prompting production to intervene and remove him. Jason and Aesha Scott intervened further by arranging for Luke to stay in a hotel until he was ultimately fired the following morning. Additionally, Laura was also dismissed for supporting Luke and making unwelcome advances towards deckhand Adam Kodra.
In his message to fans on Wednesday, Jason also shared a video where he discussed his hopes for Luke and Laura. "Hello everyone, I know many of you are processing episode six and seven just like I am. I've received numerous messages in the past 24 hours from people in similar situations, some of whom were not as fortunate in their outcome. My thoughts are with them," Jason expressed in the recording. "I would like to express my gratitude to the production team for breaking the fourth wall and intervening. This allowed Aesha to approach me in a genuine manner, and we handled it the way we would as captain and crew."
Captain Jason Chambers. Courtesy of Captain Jason Chambers/Instagram
The captain proceeded, stating that he is not informed about the events or actions of the crew when they are off duty. If there is any inappropriate behavior, the production team would notify him. However, if no crew member lodges a complaint, like Adam did, he would remain unaware. As soon as Aesha brought the matter to his attention, he promptly dealt with it.
Jason wrapped up his statement by urging fans to promote "less hate" and "more love". Additionally, he emphasized that this incident occurred more than a year ago, and he hopes that all parties involved are now actively working towards personal growth and improvement.
Jason alluded to a potential dramatic firing before the second season premiered. In an exclusive interview with We in July, he stated, "It seems like some people think I'm too lenient. While I am willing to accept mistakes in areas where growth and inexperience exist, there needs to be a level of respect and decency that every crew member must uphold. There is a clear boundary that we all must adhere to in order to move forward, and you'll witness that boundary being addressed."
Following the shocking episode, fellow Below Deck star Captain Sandy showed support for Jason and Aesha through social media. She tweeted on Tuesday, August 8, "Respect to @CaptJChambers and Aesha. This was a difficult yet significant episode to watch. And commendations to the production team for taking action to protect the crew."
Margot publicly expressed her gratitude to Aesha for her unwavering support during the incident. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the stew commended Aesha for her astute awareness of the vulnerability of the situation and her brave intervention on her behalf. Margot deemed Aesha's actions as both heroic and commendable, stating that she holds her in high regard and will forever be thankful. She also extended her thanks to the producers for promptly intervening. Every day, Margot expresses her gratitude to the universe for Aesha, noting her heart of gold.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).