How Below Deck Down Under started a conversation about rape culture

12:54The time reality show Below Deck Down Under got all too real

On a recent episode of Below Deck Down Under, the show went to a place few reality TV series have dared to go before.

The popular reality show features the life of "yachties," or the crew members aboard chartered yachts and the guests who render their services.

During episode six of season two, titled "All Wrong," audiences witness an exchange between crew members Luke Jones and Margot Sisson where after a night out of drinking and partying, Jones makes an unwanted sexual advance toward Sisson while she's sleeping in her bed.

At this moment, the production crew filming the exchange step in, knocking on the door and asking Jones to leave Sisson alone. The next day, Jones was fired. Shortly after, crew member Laura Bileskalne was also fired for a separate incident of sexual misconduct.

Culture critic Teri Hart joins Commotion guest host Amil Niazi to unpack how the controversy unfolded, and what it might say about where the line between reality show and real life sits in 2023.

We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow the Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud podcast, on your favourite podcast player.

Amil: I have seen every iteration of Below Deck — the original Mediterranean, [and] the latest series Down Under. You often see crew members get into each other's beds after a night out of drinking. It's not unusual for the show; this is actually very normal. But there was something about the predatory nature of the way Luke was acting, the fact that Margot was so vulnerable, so alone — and then the power goes out. My reaction to this episode was just disgust, shock. And I have to say it was very triggering, because I think like many women watching that episode, I've been in situations where very similar things have happened.… What was your reaction watching this episode, Teri?

Teri: I mean, this is 100 per cent rape culture. My reaction was, "Make it stop. Why has it already gone this far? Oh, my goodness, what have we not seen that they've captured on camera? Why are they choosing to air this?" This brought a lot of triggers for me as well, but also questions about how far reality TV is going, what they're choosing to air — and what they're choosing not to air.

Amil: It's so interesting because … it sort of, up until that moment, did track with the usual tone of this series. But suddenly, them breaking that wall just changed everything. I wonder if you think this is an inflection point, and it will change how the show continues?

Teri: Well, it's really not normal for us to see producers in this way; producers are very much behind the scenes. These shows are about people behaving badly, essentially; that's what a lot of us watch for. We've heard stories from past reality TV show contestants about being served an abundance of alcohol, super long shoot days, not being fed very much. This all sets up conditions of extraordinary behavior. So to have the producers on Below Deck Down Under choose to shut down some bad behavior, insert themselves in the scene and then air it all.… I just think it speaks to how actually dangerous Luke's behavior towards Margot was.

Amil: I've seen very similar behavior on this show from many, many people in many different iterations of Below Deck. I've seen lines being very blurred, sometimes being crossed, and yet no one has intervened. So why do you think in this particular situation they jumped in?

Teri: Well, I would like to say because they were being good people, but I don't know the producers of Below Deck Down Under; I'm sure they're all delightful people, but this is a business decision. This is a decision to get people to talk about the show, and watch the show, and have an opinion about the show. That is what reality shows have to do; they have to push the envelope.

Amil: Part of the producer's job, as you mentioned, is to make sure shows like this are spicy and provocative.… Do you think the show made the right decision airing the episode at all? Because it was very triggering and it may have caused harm in airing this.

Teri: I think two things can be true here at once. I think that what we see is definitely rape culture, and seeing that in real time with real people is no doubt really impactful. But seeing the difference between [crew members] Aesha Scott and Laura Bileskalne's reactions is also an excellent example of how some people behave around rape culture, and the problematic ways people still think about rape culture.

Laura did lose her job [because of her reaction to the situation and her own inappropriate behavior towards a male crew member], so I want to mention that in terms of what the show did right. But I don't love how the producers are being hailed as heroes here. I mean, yeah, they stopped a potential crime, but it should have never gone as far as it did. They have cameras on these people all the time. They let this go this far. They let, and I suggest encourage, people to get as intoxicated as people get. I also worry about Margot and how having this on TV may impact her emotionally later on in ways that nobody who might or might not experience PTSD can predict.

Amil: Teri, what does this say about the state of reality TV in 2023?

Teri: I mean I'm no sage, but I did say 20 years ago that we're eventually going to watch somebody die on one of these shows.

Amil: Oh, God.

Teri: Well, and now we saw somebody almost be raped. So the agenda for each and every one of these reality shows is "more," right? More drama, more danger, more sex. So in my mind, it's inevitable that really bad things are going to happen and be caught on tape. Reality TV is not going to calm down. It's just going to get more extreme and severe, and it's up to viewers if they want to participate in that by watching.

Amil: Teri Hart — scary words, but thank you so much for being here.

Teri: Thanks, Amil.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Teri Hart produced by Ty Callender.