The atmosphere on Valor this season on Below Deck has been playing out like Mad Men on water. The guys are all banding together to discredit any strong, independent female voices. Bosun Ashton Pienaar is a ringleader of sorts, though without the fitted suits and classy martinis. Instead, sloppy Smashton has been running campaigns against both Chief Stew Kate Chastain and his Third Deck Hand Rhylee Gerber. And seemingly under Ashton’s leadership, it’s been a bit of a “boys club” on board.
Ashton often voiced grievances against Rhylee with the rest of the deck crew, including Tanner Sterback and Brian de Saint Pern. Most concerns, stemmed from his experience working with Rhylee last season. Kate also became a target for her alleged elitist attitude and perceived favoritism from Captain Lee Rosbach. Chef Kevin Dobson had his own beef with both of these ladies, and was happy to share his opinions at any opportunity. But what of Captain Lee? He’s driving the boat. Are his actions contributing at all?
Rhylee seems to think so. In an interview with Bravo’s Daily Dish podcast, Rhylee opined that Captain Lee is absolutely part of the “boys club.”
Rhylee described the alleged sexism on board. She said, “I agree wholeheartedly that coming into this position, it is very reminiscent of last year, in the fact that it feels like a boys’ club. I don’t have any problem working with males or females. And I don’t have a problem with authority. What I have a problem with is people that… to me it’s not about rank. OK, I understand there is rank. But just because you’re above me doesn’t mean you can speak down to me. It doesn’t mean you can treat me disrespectfully…”
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Rhylee also described feeling left out from the rest of the deck crew. “And so with this boys’ club feeling, I mean, last year I was left out of deck meetings, I was made to take my breaks separately [from] the boys so they all bonded,” she said, “they, you know, they had their own thing going on. And I was mocked and laughed at behind my back. That’s not something that you don’t pick up on. I’m not creating these feelings out of nowhere. It’s a boys’ club because that’s how they have made it.”
She opined that the atmosphere was a trickle-down from the top. Rhylee said, “with Captain Lee addressing that, I just hope he realizes he’s a part of that boys’ club.”
RELATED: Captain Lee Rosbach Says Ashton Pienaar Poisoned The Below Deck Crew Against Rhylee Gerber
“He’s very much a fan of people over others… that vibe is shared very plainly on board, with favoritism and all that,” Rhylee explained, “he makes the comment a lot that I’m just a third deckhand. Well, I’m also your third deckhand. And just because I’m a third deckhand here, don’t forget my credentials. I have credentials. And I had more credentials than any of these guys last year. You know, it’s just a difference of what vessel I’m working on.”
The root of the problem, according to Rhylee and the rest of the crew for that matter, is Captain Lee’s favoritism of his Chief Stew. Would he have sat silently if any other crew member started throwing clean laundry all over the floor? Probably not.
RELATED: Below Deck Star Tanner Sterback Says Rhylee Gerber Was Interested In Everyone But No One Wanted To Sleep With Her
Rhylee opined, “It goes without saying, you know, Kate Chastain is definitely a favorite of Captain Lee. I don’t say that in a derogatory sense. I know they have a working relationship for several years. That just comes with working together so long. I understand why Lee feels that way about certain people. But just don’t make others feel less than or inferior. That’s just something that to me is, is disrespectful. It’s inconsiderate.”
Captain Lee admitted that he does favor Kate. On a previous Below Deck Season 7 After Show, Captain Lee said, “Kate deserves preferential treatment because she’s earned it. It’s simple. You don’t get preferential treatment from me unless you earn it.”
RELATED: Below Deck Star Brian de Saint Pern Thinks Rhylee Gerber Brings Drama On Purpose; Courtney Skippon Says Everyone Got Along Well Until Rhylee Arrived
TELL US- IS CAPTAIN LEE PART OF THE “BOYS CLUB”? IS HIS FAVORITISM OF KATE ADDING TO THE PROBLEM?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
