Gary King Won't Be Missed From Below Deck Sailing Yacht (He Should Never Return As First Mate Or Even As Captain After Lawsuit)

At first, Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Gary King was one of the most memorable crew members viewers had seen on the dramatic, high-seas reality show, but the show needs to cut ties with Gary following serious allegations and a lawsuit against him. Gary first appeared on the Bravo show in 2021 as the show's plucky first officer on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2. Since then, Gary has been the lovable, mischievous, and sometimes hot-headed guy who can take things too far, but all in the name of fun.

Gary's onscreen dalliances with female cast members, his friendships with Daisy Kelliher and Colin MacRae, and his lust for adventure entertained viewers for several seasons. Now that Gary has been accused of misconduct and stood defiant in his defense against the allegations, it's time for producers to remove him from the show. He should have been removed when the allegations first came to light, and now that he's been sued, it's time to return Gary to the dock and move on without him.

Gary's Been Sued Following His Sexual Misconduct Allegations Last Year

The Allegations Against Gary, Production Are Serious

In 2023, when Gary was accused of sexual misconduct, leading his image to be removed from the show's marketing materials. However, Gary remained on the cast for Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5. Now that he's been sued, along with Bravo, NBCUniversal, and 51 Minds Entertainment, for allegedly covering up Gary's sexual assault allegations and punishing the accusers by blacklisting, the network needs to cut ties with him. The lawsuit was filed on February 25, and despite the allegations being made public in 2023, production continued employing Gary (via Rolling Stones).

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The lawsuit is a bad look for the network and production since they claim to take allegations seriously. Numerous other reality stars have been fired for lesser offenses, so why they've kept Gary around is anyone's guess. With the lawsuit made public, there isn't a good argument for keeping Gary on the payroll.

Gary Caused A Lot Of Unnecessary Chaos

Gary Can Be Entertaining, But Feels Less Funny Now

While Gary's brash nature has been entertaining to watch, it's also caused a lot of drama for the cast. Gary has behaved recklessly at times, and while he is a qualified crew member, Gary's drama overshadows his work ethic. It can make for a fun reality show, but when the allegations off-screen are as dark as the ones against Gary, his on-screen antics feel less playful and more sinister.

Without Captain Glenn Shephard keeping Gary in line, he wouldn't be responsible enough to maintain his position on the yacht. Gary requires supervision to ensure his short-temper and alcohol use don't cause serious fallout. The crew doesn't need Gary's unpredictability to make their jobs harder, even if viewers find it fun to watch.

The Network Should Move On From Gary & Find His Replacement

There Are Plenty Who Could Replace Gary

Below DeckSailing Yacht, and the franchise in general, relies on personalities viewers feel a connection to, but it's known for bringing in new blood. The key for production is to find cast members who are not only qualified to work on a boat, but have the personality to make the show entertaining. A few beloved cast members will remain on for several seasons, but like in yachting, there's a revolving door of talent who can replace problematic figures like Gary.