Below Deck’s Gary King Hit with Shocking Sexual Battery Lawsuit
In a dramatic twist that could change the reality TV landscape, Gary King, a cast member of “Below Deck Sailing Yacht,” has been slapped with a bombshell lawsuit filed by former crew members Samantha Suarez and her boyfriend Grey Duddleston. They’re not just throwing around a couple of claims—this suit includes 16 serious charges like sexual battery, wrongful termination, and emotional distress. Yes, you read that right!
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the alleged incident took place during the filming of Season 4 on July 3, 2022. Suarez claims she was told to deliver some bottled water and snacks to King’s hotel room. Upon arrival, she found King intoxicated and in quite the troubling state. Allegedly, he forced his way into her space, grabbing her and holding her against her will. Talk about a night gone wrong!
In quite the nail-biting detail, Suarez recounts that she fought desperately to escape his grasp, even kicking and elbowing her way out while screaming for him to stop. Feeling like she was on the brink of a dreadful situation, she managed to answer a phone call that seemed to break the trance, allowing her to shove past him into safety.
Duddleston wasn’t about to sit back either—he personally witnessed King’s troubling behavior escalate over the following weeks, including groping crew members and making lewd remarks while under the influence. Surprisingly, he took action, alerting the show’s producers about the escalating issues, which included more accusations of misconduct.
While production did apparently conduct investigations, Suarez claims that she was discouraged from discussing the situation, which raises some serious questions about how Bravo and 51 Minds manage serious allegations behind the scenes. And let’s not overlook that this isn’t the first time “Below Deck” has faced scrutiny. Just a few months ago, the franchise was criticized for its handling of allegations regarding previous misconduct incidents.
As far as King is concerned, he’s yet to respond to the lawsuit, and Bravo has similarly stayed mum, leaving fans and critics alike on the edge of their seats waiting for an update. For now, this lawsuit could be a turning point for reality TV standards and how such serious matters are addressed in the world of entertainment.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and People Magazine, E! Online, Variety
