Below Deck Down Under actor Aesha Scott has opened up about her own sexual assault after intervening to halt an altercation involving other crew members.
Aesha first debuted in the reality TV franchise in 2019, on Below Deck Mediterranean seasons 4 and 5, before moving on to Below Deck Down Under last year.
The 31-year-old New Zealander also finished third in the most recent season of the Australian edition of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
This week, the head steward was commended for her efforts on Below Deck after assisting in the termination of bosun Luke Jones after he went into bed with co-star Margot Sisson while nude and without her consent.
Both producers and members of the ship’s crew got in on the most recent episode, with Aesha alerting captain Jason Chambers to what had transpired.
Aesha then sobbed as she described how she had been victim to a similar abuse.
‘I just feel like a lot of women have had history with things happen and it’s stresses me out if I ever see anyone being taken advantage of,’ she began.
‘We don’t actually know what would have happened but being in her bed naked, and she had no idea, it actually makes my skin crawl. You don’t have the right to put someone unconscious into that position.
‘I have had a drunken sexual assault experience before and I never wanted that to happen to anyone else.’
As the episode aired, many rallied in favour of Aesha and her actions.
‘Last night was the most powerful Below Deck I have ever seen,’ one person posted on Twitter.
‘Thank you to the Heroes Captain Jason, Aesha, and production for stepping up against sexual harassment. Aesha prevented the potential sexual assault,’ they added.
‘Who would have thought that a masterclass on how to deal with sexual assault would be shown on reality TV? Aesha and Jason are the heroes we need,’ someone else wrote.
Another continued: ‘Thankful Aesha caught warning signs and production shut this bull**** down. We have to stick together and protect each other.’
Soon after, Aesha released a video reminding viewers of the “primary message” of what had happened on screen.
‘I know that there are a lot of feelings and emotions and all these things coming up for a lot of people and obviously it was a lot for myself at the time as well,’ she began.
‘But I wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone of the main message that was shown on the episode, which is that women, and actually everyone, have the right to go out and have fun and feel safe and that is just the f***ing end of it.
‘There’s no questions or if’s or but’s, that is the end of it. So please keep an eye on your friends and each other.’
In response to what unfolded, Jason fired Luke, while fellow crew member Laura Bileskalne – who said Luke was ‘only joking’ and was a ‘sexual person’ – was also let go for her comments and for trying to also give co-star Adam Kodra a massage without consent.
Below Deck Down Under streams on in the US on Mondays, and on in the UK on the same day.
Source My Celebrity Life.
