Shocking Scandal Leaves Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Gabriela Barragan Feeling 'Deeply Affected'

Gabriela Barragán was left in shock after watching the episode of Below Deck Down Under that depicted the firings of Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne. She expressed her astonishment and suggested that Bravo should have included a trigger warning at the start of the episode. The 34-year-old former Below Deck Sailing Yacht cast member commended the producers for their intervention and praised Aesha Scott and Captain Jason Chambers for their exceptional performance.

Gabriela stated that the incident on the yacht, where Luke climbed into Margot Sisson's bed while she was unconscious, is a realistic example of the prevalent issue of sexual assault in the maritime industry. This incident occurred during the August 7 episode of Below Deck Down Under. Once Luke made a move on Margot, the producers intervened, and Jason arranged for Luke to stay at a hotel. The captain of the ship ultimately decided to dismiss Luke from his position the following day.

Laura, 31, faced criticism from Aesha, 31, for defending Luke's actions. The chief stew, in turn, confronted Jason about Laura's lack of boundaries with fellow costar Adam Kodra, 34. Adam confirmed feeling uncomfortable around Laura, leading Jason to also dismiss her. (Laura has since publicly apologized to both Margot and Adam.)

Gabriela, who appeared on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3, shared her perspective on feeling unsafe in certain hierarchies. She highlighted the issue of being sexually harassed by a superior without proper channels to report, calling it awful. According to Gabriela, Aesha's previous experiences allowed her to recognize red flags and act swiftly on her instincts, showcasing her sound judgment.

Gabriela Barragán Courtesy of Gabriela Barragán/Instagram

Gabriela commended Jason and the producers for their prompt response in creating a safe working environment. "Having a zero tolerance policy is crucial, especially when people feel unsafe in cramped living spaces. It's important that issues are addressed immediately," she stated. "Unfortunately, that's not always the case. However, I'm relieved that Margot is okay and that most of the crew supported her."

Gabriela expressed her shock at Laura's behavior when speaking to Margot about the incident, describing it as insensitive and disrespectful. "Personally, I found it alarming because she was publicly humiliating the victim when there was no one else around," explained the Bravo alum, who currently works in yachting in California. "Margot is still trying to make sense of what happened, and it's disheartening to see a colleague downplaying, minimizing, and invalidating her experience, especially coming from another woman."

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Gabriela, who has since reached out to Margot, 28, through social media, expressed her pride in the Down Under team and the producers for their handling of the situation. She found the episode to be touching and beautiful, showcasing the camaraderie and the respectful treatment of Margot. The episode evoked a rollercoaster of emotions for Gabriela – rage and being triggered, followed by a sense of positivity. It reminded her that there are good people out there.

Gabriela was pleased to see Bravo and Jason's crew approach the scandal with care, which mirrored her own experience with producers during her season. However, she eventually decided to quit the show due to feeling unsupported and emotionally unsafe. She claimed that the producers frequently broke the fourth wall and got involved in on-camera drama, especially struggling to differentiate between consent and non-consent, particularly when alcohol was involved.

She expressed, "It wasn't just the bed jumping incident during my season. There were also intense fights and arguments that broke out when we were under the influence. I even had a moment of emotional breakdown where I cried uncontrollably. The producers intervened and urged us to stop, go to bed, and end the situation."

She continued, "A producer once confided in me that they have to determine when to establish boundaries in order to safeguard everyone involved. They strive to maintain the integrity of the show without breaking the fourth wall. I appreciate their adherence to an ethical code. They have a responsibility to protect the network, themselves, and us."

With reporting by Andrea Simpson