Below Deck Mediterraneanhas come under fire in recent years for blatant producer interference and manipulation, but fans just spotted a new one that might top them all.Below Deck Medseason 9, which concluded in September, was plagued all season long with accusations that certain cast members were faking their poor performances. Themost egregious example came from Chef Johnathan Shillingford, who served a dish that could have been fatal for a charter guest. BosunIain Maclean also faced similar accusations after making mistake after mistake.
A fan shared a screenshot from aBelow Deck Medepisode that proved producers edit footage to create brand-new narratives.
It turns out the previous season was beset by producer manipulation as well.Saiyduhcreated a Reddit thread to spot a huge editing issue while watchingBelow Deck Medseason 8, episode 3. During a scene in which Kyle Viljoen talked about his boyfriend with Tumi Mhlongo,there was a very clear “stitch” running through it that appeared to prove the producers edited together two different shots to make it seem like they were from the same scene. “you may see the line right down the middle…where the serving tray is just cut in half,” the OP observed.
MyNamesChakkaoofka replied with a possible explanation, saying, “It’s possible they did have the conversation but something happened in the background they didn’t want to show on screen so they spliced the shots so they could still air the convo.“A move like this from the editors could have been done “for the sake of narrowing down the conversation"to only the most important moments. While it’s possible the producers didn’t realize the tray being cut in half exposed their mistake, the OP added that producers might’ve just needed some B roll, so “they weren’t concerned with making it look ‘natural.'”
What Below Deck Mediterranean’s Producer Manipulation Means For Franchise
Below Deck Producers Have Also Manipulated Audio Clips
The Reddit thread also noted that there have been many times across theBelow Deckfranchise in which audio was superimposed onto scenes when certain cast members faced away from the cameras, as a way to insert dialogue that wasn’t initially there during filming. Since that happens,it doesn’t come as a surprise if the producers are also splicing together scenes to create interactions that didn’t exist.
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Like some fans indicated, it’s also possible the editors needed to edit out something that shouldn’t have been there, but as a result, things like serving trays end up appearing cut in half. Based on the description from the Reddit user, it’s unclear how long this shot lasted that showed the half-tray. If it was really short, thenproducers probably didn’t think fans would pause the scene to discover the truth. If the shot lasted for a while, then the producers should have paid closer attention while covering up their attempt at manipulating the audience.
Our Take On Below Deck’s Producer Interference & Manipulation
Producers Aren’t Going To Stop Manipulating Below Deck, Despite Outrage
Whether it’sJohnathan and Iain allegedly faking their poor skills, or producers doctoring scenes to create a new narrative,reality shows never show the true reality of what’s being filmed. In the age of social media, it’s easier for fans to discover the truth and call out blatant manipulation. Shows likeBelow Deck Mediterraneanalready contain plenty of drama, so there’s no need to invent scenes out of nowhere. Unfortunately, that’s just something we have to live with if we’re going to keep watching reality TV because producers aren’t going to stop, no matter how angry fans get.
Below Deck Sailing Yachtairs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.
