The world of social media can be a minefield, take one wrong step, and blastoff. Otherwise it’s just fun throwing shade, sharing idyllic photos, and feeling like the center of your own personal universe. Controversy lurks at every turn. And sometimes our favorite reality TV stars walk right into it.
Below Deck Mediterranean star Captain Sandy Yawn seemed to forget about the Me Too movement and the fact that it was 2020 when she questioned Malia White’s sexuality in a Cameo for a fan that paid a personalized message from the website. Malia responded at the time, but as we are in full swing with Season 6, there is renewed interest as to how this exchange affected their interactions on the boat. Especially since we’ve seen Captain Sandy and Malia in a heated exchange during the teaser trailer.
As it turns out, this controversy came up just before Sandy and Malia met again to film Season 6. And now that the season is in full swing, Us Weekly asked Malia if there was any tension with Sandy when production resumed.
Malia explained, “to be fair, that comment was made the night before we started filming. So I kind of had to just get on the boat and put a big smile on. I think with Captain Sandy, the thing that I know to be true is she never means harm. She never means disrespect or she never means for it to be hurtful.”
Well sure, it’s better not to be offended when you love being on Below Deck Med and maybe you want to keep things calm with your boss. Though, of course, anyone would understand if Malia WAS offended. It’s unprofessional and invasive to discuss a co-worker’s sexuality. Not your business Sandy.
Here’s what Sandy said in the Cameo. “Malia, I think, secretly gay, to be honest,” Sandy opined, “that’s my opinion. Everybody in production thinks that. This is going to be public, isn’t it? So maybe, who knows?”
RELATED: Below Deck Mediterranean Star Captain Sandy Yawn Is Still In Touch With Tom Checketts After Split From Malia White; Says It Was Sad To See Malia With Heartbreak
In a quick backtrack, Sandy apologized via Instagram Stories. She wrote, “I was wrong for making that comment, that clip was taken out of context. That clip was taken out of context, it was sliced to make it into something it was not. My apologies to Malia!”
Malia, too, issued a statement. She expressed surprise at Sandy. “Hey guys, it’s Malia. My personal life seems to be quite the topic at the moment. I am not on Twitter, I don’t do a lot of Instagram Lives, so I thought that I would send out a message in my own words. I was just as shocked as everyone else. I’m not sure why my sexual orientation is being discussed in Cameos.”
RELATED: Below Deck Mediterranean Star Captain Sandy Yawn Says She Was “Taken Out Of Context” When She Claimed Malia White Is “Secretly Gay”
“I’m not sure why my sexual orientation is being discussed in Cameos” Malia continued, “first off, if I was gay, I would just like to say it should be my decision when and if to out it to the entire internet. But no, I’m not, but if I was, I would be openly proud to be gay. I’m a huge supporter of the community and, yeah, I’ll just leave it at that.”
Malia also revealed that Sandy apologized directly to her and claimed ignorance to the repercussions of such a statement. “I think when that kind of hit the fan, she was kinda like, ‘Well, I was just kidding,’ and she didn’t realize the consequences it would have for me and with my family and friends,” Malia explained, “so she did apologize, and I was like, ‘It’s not a big deal.’ It just was not something I needed.”
RELATED: Below Deck Alum Adrienne Gang “Disgusted By” Captain Sandy Yawn Saying Malia White Is “Secretly Gay”
TELL US- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SANDY’S STATEMENT? SHOULD MALIA HAVE FORGIVEN HER? WILL THIS AFFECT THEIR WORK RELATIONSHIP THIS SEASON?
[Photo Credit: Laurent Basset/Bravo]
