Explosive Showdown on Below Deck Med: Captain Sandy Considers a Shakeup with Tumi Mhlongo and Natalya Scudder in Jeopardy
Captain Sandy considers removing Tumi Mhlongo and Natalya Scudder from the boat as their feud escalates on season 8 of 'Below Deck Mediterranean'
Tumi Mhlongo and Natalya Scudder's conflict has escalated to a critical level, prompting Captain Sandy to intervene. Bravo previewed a forthcoming episode of Below Deck Mediterranean where Tumi and Natalya engage in a heated argument before their boss. Sandy takes charge and requests to meet with both stewards in her captain's bridge.
Sandy admonishes Natalya, stating, "You have not given her a fair opportunity. I will not tolerate this." She then directs her attention to Tumi, who holds a leadership position, emphasizing the need to overcome current conflicts. Sandy adds, "I am ready to dismiss both of you from the boat."
Since Tumi joined the boat prior to the second charter, tension between the stews has reached unprecedented levels. Tumi's previous delay with Kyle Viljoen in immigration resulted in Natalya assuming the chief stew position temporarily. However, upon Tumi's arrival, conflicts between the two stews emerged immediately.
"Undoubtedly, she demonstrated exceptional competence in crafting the charter, and I would eagerly welcome the opportunity to collaborate with someone of her caliber. However, it is worth contemplating how she would react if someone were to address the situation with the same fervor as she did initially. I am quite certain that she would not respond favorably to such behavior," voiced Tumi in the opening moments of the episode. "Maintain empathy in your interactions, but also stand your ground."
Captain Sandy. David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for New Look
Following a tense first meeting, Natalya shocked her coworkers by referring to Tumi as “a f—king bitch.”
"She must acknowledge the effort I put into setting up the workflow and ensuring the boat is in a favorable position. There is a proper approach to taking on this role, which involves a respectful transition and entering with positive vibes," she emphasized.
In previous episodes, viewers witnessed Natalya engaging in conflicts with both chief stew Natasha Webb and Kyle during season 7 of Below Deck Med. Kyle, who returned as a second stew, cautioned Tumi about his history with Natalya. After their intense conversation, Tumi informed Kyle about their current standing before he completed the interior crew.
"Just wanted to alert you about the situation between us. I know you're friends with her, but Nat needs to stay in her own lane because Tumi's meltdown could result in her storming off due to a diva moment," Tumi messaged Kyle. In response, Kyle said, "I'm sorry to hear this - I did warn you that she's capable of causing issues for all of us."
Later on, the situation escalated even further when Kyle repeated Tumi's comment about potentially letting Nat go to Natalya. Their behavior continued to worsen until they got into a heated argument with guests present on Mustique."
Tumi expressed frustration with Natalya, accusing her of constantly attacking and disrespecting her. Tumi compared Natalya to a chihuahua, highlighting her territorial behavior and constant talking. Tumi decided that she had reached her limit and declared that their working relationship was over.
Natalya responded by stating that she felt Tumi had a negative attitude from the start and did not show any appreciation. She advised Tumi to address the issue directly with her instead of discussing it with Kyle.
Below Deck Mediterranean airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
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