Reality TV has evolved to the point where viewers must assume that it’s not an organic creation. That experience of the genre was short-lived. Nowadays, there will be production interference with the cast. It’s just a question of how much.
So it’s no surprise to hear that Below Deck Mediterranean producers faked a romance between Season 6 and 7 cast members Courtney Veale and Mzi “Zee” Dempers. Zee was crushing hard on Courtney and the pair shared a kiss or two. But the stew turned deck hand said it wouldn’t have gone beyond that point had producers not had a hand in it.
Courtney said as much on FUBAR Radio’s Access All Areas, hosted by Bobby Noris and Stephen Leng. Heavy.com reported that the flowers Zee bought her during their “date” were sent over by production.
Courtney explained, “They had asked Zee when he was drunk, ‘I don’t suppose you want to buy Courtney flowers?’, and then he was drunk like, ‘Oh yeah, maybe.’”
RELATED: The Below Deck Mediterranean Season 7 Trailer Is Here
A few days later, the duo went out to dinner and producers had a bouquet of “12 red roses for Courtney” delivered to the table. She added, “And he was like ‘What?!'”
Despite the awkward situation, Courtney felt “pretty fine” with what the producers had done, though Zee had a different reaction. “I think he probably felt a bit set-up,” she said.
But Courtney did confirm that nothing is scripted. Well, that’s the least that can be done for authenticity.
“They definitely love to have a play about with the edits and they’re very clever about what they do… They definitely edit it in a way like if they don’t have a romance going on, then they’ll kind of make one,” she concluded.
Other aspects of yacht life were accurately portrayed, according to Courtney. Both she and Zee returned for Season 7 where they competed for the position of lead deck hand.
TELL US- ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT PRODUCERS CREATED THE ROMANCE? WOULD YOU GO ON A REALITY TV SHOW? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF COURTNEY AND ZEE’S DYNAMIC IN SEASON 7?
[Photo Credit: Laurent Basset/Bravo]
