Two former Below Deck: Sailing Yacht crew members have filed a lawsuit against cast member Gary King, Bravo, and production companies linked to the reality series, citing claims of sexual battery, harassment, and wrongful termination. The complaint, submitted in Los Angeles Superior Court, was brought by hair and makeup artist Samantha Suarez and camera operator Grey Duddleston, also naming NBCUniversal, 51 Minds Entertainment, and Endemol Shine among the defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Suarez was working on the fourth season of Below Deck: Sailing Yacht in Sardinia in July 2022 when she was sent to deliver snacks and bottled water to King’s hotel room. The complaint states that King, described as intoxicated, insisted that she enter the room before allegedly grabbing and restraining her. Suarez claims she struggled to escape, eventually reaching the door, which King allegedly slammed shut to prevent her from leaving. She stated that she feared for her safety until a phone call from another crew member caused King to release the door.
The filing alleges that Suarez reported the incident to production, and King later admitted to his actions in a private conversation with showrunner Courtland Cox. The lawsuit states that production informed Suarez King had expressed regret and that he would be dismissed if further misconduct occurred. However, two weeks later, Duddleston allegedly witnessed King engage in additional acts of inappropriate behavior, including pulling at the bikini tops of female cast members, making crude remarks toward an audio technician, and grabbing the genitals of two male camera operators.
Duddleston reported King’s actions over the crew walkie-talkie system, following standard protocol. Instead of removing King from production, the lawsuit alleges that 51 Minds Entertainment launched an investigation into Duddleston for “inappropriate use of the walkie-talkie system.” The complaint states that when colleagues asked Suarez about what had happened, she told them the truth, leading to further reprimands from production.
According to the filing, Suarez was warned against discussing the incident and accused of interfering with the investigation. Both she and Duddleston were later terminated and placed on a “do not hire” list, which they claim has significantly impacted their ability to find work. Meanwhile, King remained with the show, with Below Deck: Sailing Yacht airing its fifth season finale last month.
Bravo and 51 Minds Entertainment have not responded to requests for comment. King has also not publicly addressed the allegations.
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The lawsuit is part of a larger legal effort by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, who have taken on cases involving alleged misconduct in reality television. Suarez and Duddleston are seeking damages for their claims, along with civil penalties and punitive damages.
