Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans have been left fuming after the season five trailer dropped earlier today, following the sexual assault allegations against Gary King.
The bosun first appeared on the Bravo spin-off series in the second season, which aired in 2021, and has remained part of the cast ever since, alongside Captain Glenn Shephard and chief stewardess Daisy Kelliher.
Last year, viewers were shocked after a crew member alleged that the 36-year-old tried to force himself on her behind the scenes – something he fiercely denied.
The accusations emerged after the fifth series had been filmed, with many questioning whether it would ever air due to the controversy.
The dramatic teaser was released today ahead of the release date on October 7, showing King and Kelliher at the forefront of the drama on board.
However, while it is not clear how much of a part he will play in the upcoming season, viewers were reeling over the decision and called Bravo out airing the episodes.
Flocking to the comments below the official Below Deck page, Bravo4therestofus posted: ‘Ummmm my understanding was that Gary was NOT coming back sooooooooo ?!!,!?! [sic].’
Glamisgrrrl agreed: ‘Right?! So gross they’re just letting him come back.’
‘How is Gary back??? And why? Ick,’ Arielle_Smith said.
Over on Reddit, NBCaz commented: ‘Can’t say I’m excited to see that Gary is still gonna be a part of this [sic].’
As Pinsleric added: ‘Not only is Gary not scrubbed, he’s featured in the trailer. I’m genuinely shocked.’
Last year, Samantha Suarez claimed that she met King while preparing for season four in Sardinia and had accompanied him back to his hotel in July 2022, after he had filmed interviews for the show.
The former crew member – who worked on the hair and makeup team, and would also assist the talent manager with tasks – alleged that he was drunk and behaving erratically while she attempted to keep him contained in his room.
She claimed to Rolling Stone that he suggested for her to join him in bed, and that he greeted her in his underwear when she later returned, before coming up behind her and grabbing her, pressing her against his body and refusing to let go.
Suarez said that she immediately informed bosses of the incident and had meetings with executive producers and the show’s talent manager, insisting that she didn’t feel comfortable working around King.
Others also claimed that he was seen grabbing a female staff member’s bum and continued to touch her inappropriately when she asked him to stop.
When one team member reported his behavior, they claimed that no one acknowledged it initially, before a producer eventually stepped in to ask him to stop.
Both Suarez and the crew member, who was vocal about what they witnessed, were reportedly not asked to return to the show, having worked on the franchise for some time – while King returned for the following season.
The allegations emerged in August and the reality star later denied them. He posted a message on Instagram in November, vowing: ‘It’s sad that people will do anything in their power to bring you down.
‘It’s not about how you fall but how you get up. Luckily for me the fall was into a sea of daisies.’
The post is currently still visible and includes some of the hashtags: ‘#iwascancelledbecauseofalie #anythingforaplatform #dontbelieveeverythingyousee #ivegotmyheadheldhigh #worldisanuglyplace #iwouldneverdothat #onwardsandupwards.’
At the time of the Rolling Stone article, a Bravo spokesperson told in a statement: ‘Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.
‘We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate workplace policies and trainings in place and a clear process on how to report concerns.
‘The concerns Ms Suarez raised in July 2022 were investigated at that time and action was taken based on the findings.’
A spokesperson for 51 Minds Entertainment, the company that produces Below Deck, added to the outlet: ‘51 Minds is committed to providing an environment in which every member of the casts and crews on our productions feel respected and, most importantly, safe.
‘51 Minds provides mandatory harassment and sensitivity training for every series it produces at the outset of each new season and lays out a clear process on how and to whom to report any questionable activity.
‘With any complaint filed, a timely investigation is launched and, based on the findings, appropriate actions are implemented to ensure the safety of our cast and crew, up to and including termination.
‘With regard to the incident reported by Ms Suarez involving Mr King, the case was investigated and reviewed as soon as it was submitted, and production acted accordingly based on the results.’
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Bravo declined to comment when approached by Metro.co.uk.