Bravo Hit with Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Assault by ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Star Gary King
Bravo is embroiled in a serious legal battle after a former makeup artist from the hit reality series Below Deck Sailing Yacht filed a lawsuit against the network and star Gary King. The lawsuit claims that King sexually assaulted Samantha Suarez, a makeup artist who was working on the show in 2022. The alleged incident has sparked public outcry and raised significant concerns about the handling of such accusations within the reality TV industry.
The Alleged Incident
According to the lawsuit, which was obtained by TMZ, Suarez claims that the trouble began when she was instructed to bring King a snack to his hotel room during filming. What seemed like a routine work task quickly escalated into an alleged assault. Suarez says that as she attempted to leave after delivering the snack, Gary King, who was reportedly intoxicated, grabbed her, restraining her upper body and arms.
Suarez claims that in the moment, she genuinely feared for her safety and feared she was about to be raped. As she struggled to free herself, King allegedly slammed the door shut with both hands and his full weight, blocking her escape route. Suarez then managed to answer a call from another crew member, which alerted King to the fact that a third party might be listening in on the situation. At that moment, she says King released her and allowed her to leave the room.
Aftermath of the Incident
The aftermath of the alleged assault has been one of retaliation, according to Suarez’s lawsuit. She claims that after she informed her boyfriend and colleague, Grey Duddleston, about the incident, he reported it to the higher-ups. To Suarez’s shock, instead of taking immediate action against Gary King, the network allegedly investigated Duddleston for what they called “inappropriate use” of the walkie-talkie system.
Suarez further claims that both she and Duddleston were subsequently fired and placed on a “do not hire” list, with no apparent investigation into King’s actions. According to the lawsuit, the response from Bravo and the production company was an attempt to cover up the incident and protect King’s position on the show.
The Lawsuit: Charges and Demands
Suarez is suing Gary King, Bravo, and the network’s parent company NBCUniversal for several serious charges. These include sexual battery, hostile work environment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. In addition to the damages, Suarez is seeking compensation for emotional distress, loss of income, and punitive damages.
The lawsuit paints a troubling picture of how serious allegations were allegedly mishandled, with the consequences falling heavily on the whistleblower rather than the accused. This legal battle could have major ramifications for Bravo and the reality TV industry, raising questions about how networks handle misconduct and protect employees working on their shows.
Bravo and NBC’s Response
As of now, both Bravo and NBCUniversal have yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. TMZ reached out to both parties for a statement, but no official response has been received. The lack of transparency and the absence of any immediate actions following the report of the alleged assault has raised additional concerns about the treatment of cast and crew members working behind the scenes on reality TV productions.
