Aesha from Below Deck Responds to Nathan’s Arrest and Dismissal
Below Deck Mediterranean star Aesha Scott defended the show amid recent controversy related to Nathan Gallagher‘s domestic violence arrest.
Aesha shared her thoughts following an Instagram video posted by Below Deck alum Ben Willoughby, who criticized the casting decisions of the popular Bravo series. In the comments, Kyle Stillie recalled his experience as a newcomer.
“When I joined your season, I had never even seen a yacht, let alone been on one,” he commented. “Casting brought me to Miami for my STCW and immediately to Grenada to start filming. Throughout production, we were consistently encouraged to be ‘larger than life’ because ‘this isn’t yachting, this is Below Deck.’ They are clearly looking for controversy, right?”
The remarks from Ben and Kyle were highlighted in a fan video, prompting Aesha to respond, “I’ve been a part of Below Deck for nearly a decade and have never once been told, ‘this isn’t yachting; it’s Below Deck.’ In fact, over the years, they stress that we don’t have to drink, and they keep a close watch on us.”
Aesha is currently starring in season 11 of Below Deck Med, which features Nathan returning as bosun. Off-screen, it was reported last month that Nathan was arrested on charges of domestic violence in Australia in December 2025 after an alleged incident involving a 29-year-old woman.
According to a police report obtained by Us last month, Nathan faced charges of “assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally choking a person without consent, and common assault.”
The police memo indicated that Gallagher was ultimately granted conditional bail, but he was convicted on three counts of domestic violence this month after failing to appear in court.
Us also confirmed that Nathan is the subject of an Apprehended Violence Application filed by his now-ex-partner, Gael Cameron, in New South Wales. (An AVO is a legal order from a court designed to protect individuals from someone who poses a fear of violence, intimidation, harassment, or stalking, as outlined on the NSW Government’s official website.)
“I’m not saying I was perfect. I wasn’t. I made mistakes, and I will take responsibility for my actions,” Nathan said in an August statement to Rolling Stone. “I refuse to be portrayed solely through one side of a relationship when there is another perspective, plus evidence to support it. I have contemporaneous video footage from that night, along with messages and other documentation that I believe provide significant context.”
In his statement, Nathan confirmed his breakup from Gael, with whom he shares a 14-month-old son named Kayden.
“There are also other issues in our relationship that I have never discussed publicly,” he added. “My top priority is to be recognized as his father, to develop a relationship with him, and ultimately to find a way for us to co-parent peacefully.”
Gael also released a statement on Saturday, September 5.
“Hello everyone, I want to express my gratitude for the support you’ve given to Kayden and me,” she shared via her Instagram Stories. “It’s been a challenging time, but I’ve been using the last few months to quietly heal and rebuild my life for my little boy and myself. I truly appreciate the love you’ve shown us, especially with everything that has come to light, and I’m focusing on rediscovering myself and moving forward.”
Us has confirmed that Bravo has terminated Nathan’s contract following his domestic violence arrest.
“Bravo does not intend to work with Nathan in the future,” a representative told The Los Angeles Times in a statement on Thursday, September 3.
Below Deck Med airs on Bravo on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance.
