Below Deck’s Gary King Hit with Disturbing Lawsuit Over Sexual Battery Claims
Brace yourselves, Below Deck fans! The drama has spilled off-screen once again as Gary King, a familiar face from Bravo’s “Below Deck Sailing Yacht,” is now facing some serious allegations that could rock the reality TV boat. According to TMZ, former makeup artist Samantha Suarez has filed a bombshell lawsuit against King and the network for an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2022. Talk about sinking the ship!
Suarez claims that while she was instructed to bring King a late-night snack at his hotel, things turned sinister. Allegedly, he attempted to intimidate her into sleeping with him, grabbing and restraining her when she tried to leave. Can you imagine the horror? She even feared for her safety, feeling like she was on the brink of a far more serious violation. Thankfully, an unexpected phone call from a crew member may have saved the day, as it prompted King to release her when he realized someone else might hear what was going down.
But hang on; it doesn’t stop there. After the incident, Suarez’s boyfriend and colleague Grey Duddleston tried to report the alleged assault, only to have the spotlight turned on him. Instead of facing consequences, it seems King got off lightly, while Duddleston was investigated for “improper use” of the walkie-talkie system. Crazy, right? Spoiler alert: both Suarez and Duddleston ultimately found themselves out of a job, considering they ended up on a “do not hire” list. Wow, reality TV just got seriously real!
Suarez is coming in hot with a lawsuit that includes claims of sexual battery, a hostile work environment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and a hefty sum in damages. As of now, both Bravo and NBC have yet to comment on the situation. It looks like this reality saga has only just begun, and fans are left wondering how deep the rabbit hole goes.
This isn’t the first time Bravo has faced controversy—just think about the legal troubles that have plagued various franchises over the years. Reality TV seems to come with its fair share of drama, and going forward, it will be interesting to see how Bravo navigates these choppy waters.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and TMZ, Us Weekly, Variety
