Below Deck Down Under viewers have flocked to social media to share their thoughts after Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne were fired for inappropriate behaviour.
The second season of the reality series has by no means been smooth sailing. However, things came to a shocking head during the double episode that dropped on August 7, with production forced to step in on two separate occasions.
**TRIGGER WARNING: The following details sexual assault and harassment and may be triggering to some readers.
Following a crew night out, Chief Stew Aesha Scott noticed Bosun Luke getting quite close to his drunk castmate, Margot Sisson.
As such, she opted to keep an eye on Margot, but as soon as she was left alone back on the charter, Luke entered her room totally naked and climbed into her bed.
Producers then tried to force Luke out of the room, and Aesha rushed to tell Captain Jason Chambers what had transpired.
“Basically, we came home tonight and I just kind of felt like Luke was kind of wanting to take advantage of Margot’s drunkenness, a little bit,” she explained. “She was pretty out of it.”
“Next thing I know, the power goes out and Luke is f*cking running out of Margot’s bed naked. She was completely unconscious.”
Luke was soon kicked off the boat with his employment terminated.
Below Deck Down Under‘s Laura Bileskalne was also fired for misconduct
Second stew Laura was similarly sacked after she repeatedly made moves on an uncomfortable Adam Kodra.
She first came onto him in the hot tub and, despite his refusal, later climbed into his bed to attempt to give him a massage.
A camera operator then told her: “I got a message from producers telling you to come down.”
It took several more stern attempts for the stew to do as she was told.
However, things went from bad to worse when she learned Luke had been fired.
“I’m so sad, I can’t believe Luke is gone,” she fumed. “If he comes naked in my cabin, I’d be like, ‘Hello! Yes!’
In a later conversation with Margot, she suggested that his firing was “unfair”.
“I think he just meant it as a joke, he’s a funny guy. I don’t think he meant anything bad. He wouldn’t rape you or anything.”
After having the conversation relayed to him, Captain Jason let Laura go for being inappropriate and not respecting people’s “boundaries”.
“You’ve disrespected exactly what I set out to do… You have not listened to a word I’ve said about boundaries, and shown little respect and empathy to Margot.”
What have Below Deck Down Under viewers said about Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne being fired?
Taking to social media, Below Deck Down Under viewers called out Luke and Laura’s “absolutely unacceptable” behaviour.
Others commended Aesha and Captain Jason for their quick action against the crewmembers.
Laura Bileskalne has since issued a ‘sincere’ apology to Adam Kodra and Margot Sisson
Following the episodes’ release on August 7, Laura took to Instagram to issue an apology to Adam and Margot.
“My sincere apologies to Adam,” she wrote. “I did not realise I made him uncomfortable and no one should be put in that position.
“And to Margot to not been able [sic] to empathise.”
Laura went on to say that she has matured since filming the show when she was 29 years old.
“30 was my life-changer. I am 31 now and I am watching [Below Deck] as all of you, an entertainment show.”
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual assault, please contact the Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence National Help Line on 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) or head to The Australian Human Rights Commission for a list of state by state resources.
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