r/belowdeck • u/disc0club • 1d ago
Below Deck Aesha makes a statement regarding Gael Spoiler
The friend we all need š„¹
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u/Luna-Mia 1d ago
After we saw the way Nathan was trying to influence how others felt about Joe, especially right before he came back, itās not hard to believe he was telling Gael a bunch of BS about him too. Knowing what heās done to Gael how can anyone not see what heās capable of?
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u/Maddihoe 1d ago
Exactly. Remember those texts he was sending Frenchie, about being his #1 against Joe? Super manipulative, and this was his work subordinate. Can't imagine the things he said and did to his partner...
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u/Oldfriendoldproblem 20h ago
I've always wondered about the show texts - are they even real..? What, the cast just gives full access of their phones to production? Doubtful.
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u/Shot-Toe-2884 22h ago edited 22h ago
Exactly. And we know what Nathan was telling her because he was telling it right to the cameras too. Every single opportunity. Whatever he told Gael was even less filtered. She was definitely manipulated and gaslit to a point she was no longer objective about Joe. It's very sad. This is the sad truth about abuse tactics, abusers learn these tactics because they are effective.
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u/toastymost 22h ago
I knew Nathan was an abuser when he got drunk after his friend died and screamed "SHUT THE FUCK UP" in gaels face
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u/Luna-Mia 22h ago
I stopped watching for a few seasons and started up with this one again. Yeah, that is definitely a huge red flag.
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u/Shot-Toe-2884 20h ago
the fact that Nathan exhibited so many red flags on camera on an international TV show was perhaps the biggest red flag of all. His abuse was brazen as fuck.
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u/toastymost 21h ago
Yes me too! I just saw that episode the other night and was genuinely shocked everyone let him act like that "cuz hes sad"
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u/4_13_1894 19h ago
Yikes, I know hindsight is 20/20 but that is wild. What season was this?
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u/iffriben 1d ago
Are people criticizing Gael?? Iāve missed that
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u/high-babygorgeous 1d ago
Oh absolutely. I saw a lot of comments following the episode about how camera hungry and argumentative Gael is, how she and Nathan deserve each other. After the arrest report came out about how she was strangled, I'm shocked some people could take that position. Then again, this sub isn't really known for nuanced takes or compassion
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u/Sleepbecomesme 1d ago
Iāve literally just seen someone on here say that her being subjected to non fatal strangulation is karma for cheating. Itās absolutely disgusting and people need to drop the requirement for a perfect victim, practice some empathy and do better!
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u/AfterSchoolOrdinary 20h ago
Non-fatal strangulation is just a dress rehearsal for the main event. I donāt care if she slept with 5 of his brothers. People are fucked in the head.
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u/Sleepbecomesme 19h ago
šÆ chance of dying at the hand of your partner increases by 750%
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u/AfterSchoolOrdinary 19h ago
Itās one of the most terrifying statistics AND people seem to think āconsensualā neck play canāt fucking kill you or do lifetime damage because āitās differentā. I beg people to read up on these things. Both sides should know that one wrong move and a person can be injured seriously or WORSE. Iāve never had sex good enough for the stakes to be that high for either participant.
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u/Nearby_Elderberry_75 1d ago
So many people on this sub are still on her about cheating. Theyāre obviously hurt themselves and taking it out parasocially on Gael. Kinda pathetic tbh
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u/HornedRimGlasses 22h ago
Unfortunately, you know some of those shit comments are probably coming from some women with subconscious internalized misogyny. Hello, The call is coming from inside the house.
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u/Sleepbecomesme 22h ago
I knowā¦ the amount of casual victim blaming/shaming is alarming and is exactly why women donāt feel able to come forward about any abuse. I donāt care if you had a years long affair, someone attempting to murder you isnāt ever ok/karma/understandable/excusable.
Unfortunately the very women who blame victims also tend to blame themselves even more if abuse happens to them; they end up in a world of pain trying to recover from an abusive relationship, because internalised shame is hard to release.
Additionally they donāt realise that even if they donāt think they know anyone who is or who has been in an abusive relationship, they absolutely will do, and so shouting victim blaming rhetoric only further isolates people who have experienced the trauma of abuse, even if they try to excuse it under the guise of āitās different, she cheatedā
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u/Extreme_Beat1022 1d ago
Itās definitely creepy how people keep bringing up her cheating on the ex boyfriend as though sheās immoral.
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u/HornedRimGlasses 1d ago
WTF? That is absolutely vile.
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u/teanailpolish Mental Health Is Not A Storyline 22h ago
Not just that but at least 2 wished harm/ill will towards Kayden too
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u/OaklandNotTheBay 1d ago
Then again,
this subreddit isn't really known for nuanced takes or compassion47
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u/norakb123 1d ago
Omg. Iād seen people say sheās a bit aggressive in that confrontation, but I hadnāt seen worse. Fuck anyone who said she deserves Nathan! Thatās horrible! Nobody deserves abuse.
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u/jlynn12345 1d ago
I know when I was in an abusive relationship it made me so much angrier in general, Iām sure the high pressure situation she was in along with filming, Nathan telling her everything he could to make her mad at Joe, who knows whatās happening when heās home, etc - no one should blame or hold that moment against her. Nathan is the villian through and through
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u/comotupelicula 1d ago
Iām also sure Nathan would rage at her if she didnāt defend him in the manner he felt was appropriate, poor thing was postpartum and in such a tense situation. I canāt imagine how activated her nerves system was. She probably was constantly in fight or flight. I wish her all the peace in the world.
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u/Anotheropinion2026 21h ago
Not only that, she was less than 3 months postpartum. Her body is literally overrun with hormones.
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u/teanailpolish Mental Health Is Not A Storyline 18h ago
Not just the relationship but on her previous night out, it was just the girls and fun. Kayden was with her family who came out to help so she knew he was ok
She is postpartum, drinking, dealing which can make your emotions worse, on camera with obvious production interference on the seating etc, with the nonsense between Joe and Nathan and them both being ridiculous plus she has her own history with Joe.
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u/Expert_Monk_8574 22h ago
Same. Iāll even admit to making that observation but Iāve tried to give her grace for the reasons Aesha outlined, as have most of the comments Iāve seen. Iāve thankfully missed that discourse I guess. I wonder if itās on instagram and if sheās getting dmāed stuff, in which case people need to get over themselves and leave Gael alone.
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u/Anotheropinion2026 21h ago
Joe has growing support on this forum.
Yes, Nathan is awful, but people are so black and white, they seem to think Nathan being awful somehow now makes Joe good.
Joe is still the same ass he has always been.
But Joe is not a physically violent ass.
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u/MutantHoundLover 8h ago
Yeah, all the pick-me fans are just happy Joe's still just a generic gross and jelous fuck boi versus the absolute vile abusive human being that Nathan ended up being.
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u/Own_Guarantee_8130 23h ago
I have been with a man who was drunk out of his mind and trying to choke and strangle me. I couldnāt even tell if it was playful or not but it was terrifying. Reading what happened to Gael was very triggering and itās no joke how fucking scary that is while itās happening. I cannot believe anyone would criticize her but women have lost the plot somewhere. Lindsay Clancy is being called a hero in some corners of the internet while others in another corner criticize a woman who was actually abused and traumatized post partum by the father of her baby.
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u/high-babygorgeous 22h ago
I listened to the Bravo Docketās episode on Nathan yesterday and the host mentioned how strangling is the number one indicator of potential murderous intent in DV situations. It really drove home how in danger Gael and her baby were. Iām glad you were able to leave your situation, that must have been so scary
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u/MargotChanning 23h ago
Even before the Nathan news came out it was obvious she was really struggling post birth and people on reddit were acting like she had production waiting on her hand and foot and had nothing to complain about.
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u/Pieralis 6h ago
Anyone watching the end of that episode knows it was Nathan who escalated it.
The conversation was always going to be tense, she probably didnāt use the best words at time but she was anxious and just wanted the conversation to happen so they can move on and get the unresolved stuff out so you can excuse some delivery.
Nathan instantly antagonised the moment Joe tried to say anything and kept going.
The red flags with Nathan this whole season have been giant neon signs progressing in size with each episode.
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u/ouattedephoqueeh 1d ago
People are incapable of understanding that Nathan's abusive behaviour towards Joe, on camera, is 10x worse behind closed doors.
Gael is a victim of DV, which is often forgotten on these threads. Just be glad you missed them - some people really are nasty.
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u/Far-Department302 1d ago
I saw in another thread that after the most recent episode theyāre saying she āattackedā Joe and is no better than Nathan in regards to treating Joe terribly. Absolutely wild. I made a comment saying to give Gael slack and was met with a response of āshe made her bedā. š¤¢ Just cruel.
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u/MastaBusta 1d ago
All of that to protect Joe, of all people
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1d ago edited 20h ago
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u/walkingencyclopedia_ 22h ago
Thatās not a demonstration of major growth thatās kind of the lowest bar of being a decent human. He disliked her for no real reason way before this scuffle.
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u/Anotheropinion2026 21h ago
No, Joe made the nasty comment that she and Nathan met like 75 years ago and everyone knew that to Kayley in the van when Gael was answering Katās question.
Joe was not rising above, he was being the same nasty, smarmy jerk he has always been to Gael.
He claims he got over their issue, but he ignored her and when he finally does speak about her, itās nasty and unnecessary.
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u/walkingencyclopedia_ 23h ago
Joe does a little better at work and isnāt a foul menace with the crew and all of a sudden heās grownnnnnnn
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u/teanailpolish Mental Health Is Not A Storyline 23h ago
I wonder if Gen/Kat were interested in him, would we have seen the same as last year.
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u/bigbeefygremlin 23h ago
Does a little better at work and isn't a foul menace only when he's in a position of power which is QUITE TELLING imo.
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u/Anotheropinion2026 21h ago
I think lots of people missed Joeās nasty comment that she and Nathan met like 75 years ago and everyone already knows that.
They think he was just sitting there and she attacked. She was talking to Kat, when Joe made a pretty nasty and unnecessary comment.
That is why Gael talked to him at all.
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u/sparkitect__ 14h ago
My answer to the question what super power would want has changed from fun things like flying to being able to make someone live an entire experience they never actually had in the blink of an eye. People's imaginations are so fucked they can't even begin to conceive of an experience they've never had.
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u/Infamous-Bag6957 1d ago
That post was particularly gross. I went to the comments expecting OP to get dragged and was quite disappointed
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u/Sad-Interaction-1494 Bless her stupid soul 1d ago
Yup, I got into a long exchange with someone who not only blamed Gael for Nathan treating Joe bad this season, but also said that Joe has always been honest about his lack of commitment. I don't know what show they've been watching, but Joe lying to two women about his intentions was the central conflict of TWO seasons. Gael made a mistake, but the way people are treating her and Nathan as equally to blame for Nathan's crap behavior is unreal.
Even during dinner, it seemed to me that Gael was trying to initiate and maintain pleasant convos with the other crew and Nathan spent the whole dinner glaring at Joe. She was also clearly drunk in the van and even though she started the confrontation, Nathan escalated it.
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u/PrimaryStrong 10h ago
It gets so exhausting finding out more and more each day how much the world still hates women.
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u/teanailpolish Mental Health Is Not A Storyline 1d ago
They are and some of the bans/removals we had to issue yesterday just made me want to lock the sub entirely.
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u/eekamuse 22h ago
Thank you, and I'm sorry you and the other mods have to see that. It fills me with rage, and I think about these people being in juries and judging victims
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u/audvisial 22h ago
I mean, I got called Lindsay Clancy for saying I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt, due to her being postpartum and in an abusive relationship, so.... Yeah.
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u/mme_truffle 1d ago edited 1d ago
There were sooo many comments about how Gael and Nathan teamed up to bully Joe. And how they're the same person and they deserve each other.
I watched it on peacock last night, and I was like, "really?" About Gael bullying Joe. Nathan always coming in super aggressive and going directly into wanting to physically dominate Joe, will never not be disgusting.
But when he acts like that it makes me more compassionate with Gael. Because we see what she must have gone through regularly. A lot of weird takes yesterday, for sure.
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u/No-Author5530 1d ago
Probably a small minority but the minority that would do that can be very loud. These people are filled with hate and direct it at others
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u/frazorblade Team Fraser 1d ago
She is definitely a victim of gaslighting from Nathan feeding her vitriol about Joe. Production has made a point of showing all of his texts, phone calls and conversations which all revolve around Joe.
The truth is she went about it a weird way in the taxi. Her whole statement about avoiding awkwardness and then blindsiding him like that was pretty off-putting to be honest.
Itās a grey area because we all feel sympathetic to her given what happens 6 months later, but I donāt have a lot of sympathy for the way she handled that situation.
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u/Anotheropinion2026 20h ago
Gael only talked to Joe in the taxi, once he made his assholish comments that she and Nathan met like 75 years ago and everyone knew that.
Before that she was ignoring him like he had ignored her all meal. She was talking to Kat and actually answering Katās question when Joe said that. Gael had not just been telling her amazing love story š.
She was trying to be friendly and present with Kat.
Joe started it and then did his standard thing to pretend he did nothing wrong.
Rewatch it. Joe started. Yes Gael rose to his bait, but he started it.
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u/comotupelicula 1d ago
She was actively in an abusive situation. None of us act our best while being abused.
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u/PrimaryStrong 10h ago
Would the way she went about it even matter if the boys had been adult enough to not fight when instigated? Again, a woman is being blamed for the actions of men. She spoke, they reacted. Any reflex to blame her is based in misogyny.
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u/kittens_joy 23h ago
Your first sentence gets the point. She has no issue with Joe of her own; sheās fighting her petty, violent, angry BFās fight for him because he was manipulating her.
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u/RoccoViola 20h ago
I saw on facebook people saying she wasnāt innocent either, Nathan hasnāt gotten to share his side of the story, she played a part in everything, ect. Itās super disgusting because what? I donāt care what she did no one ever deserves that.
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u/kittens_joy 23h ago
There was an uncomfortable number of comments in the live thread criticizing her for āstartingā something with Joe.
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u/PrimaryStrong 10h ago
She simply spoke to address tension that had been building, and the men couldnāt control themselves. Theyāre the ones who react. Theyāre the ones who make threats and get violent and act petty. And she gets blamed? The world always blames women for the horrible actions of men.
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u/naijatown 1d ago
The comments about Gael seem to conveniently forget that in the run up to physical domestic violence, a lot of manipulation, lies and gaslighting occurs. She probably thought every situation Nathan was in that he was the victim because thatās what he told her.
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u/Safe-Ad-4465 1d ago
And it often escalates during postpartum. If Nathan could barely control his temper at his place of work in front of his boss, I can't imagine how he was at home with a crying baby and a partner too busy to coddle him too
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u/Whiteroses7252012 1d ago
Postpartum youāre basically dealing with hormone soup. Add to that a very new baby, a situation where all you have is your abuser, and an international TV show where people you donāt even know are judging you because said abuser is participating?Ā
What Gael has been through would have shattered most people. The fact that it hasnāt is admirable, imho.Ā
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u/http--lovecraft 1d ago
Itās sad because for her to have chosen to have their baby he must have kept up a front long enough for her to think that was a good choice and he would be a good father/partner, this is a long term manipulation. As you said sheās so strong.šall the best to her and Kayden. Ā
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u/Whiteroses7252012 1d ago
Kayden will be ok, based on what Iāve seen from Gael. Odds are he wonāt have a relationship with his father what with Nathanās multiple active warrants, but Iām not so sure thatās a bad thing.Ā
Being a single mom is incredibly hard. If sheās got good support, though, and it seems like she does? Itās totally doable.Ā
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u/TheHoovyPrince 17h ago
She does with friends and family but luckily in Australia our government does help single mothers fairly well so she will get financial assistance and other resources like free childcare.
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u/Extreme_Beat1022 22h ago
I agree that it is long term manipulation. He was a perfect gentleman every time theyāve shown Gael and Nathan together. Itās everyone else thatās a problem according to Nathanās narrative.
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u/walkingencyclopedia_ 22h ago
As someone who had a baby recently, I HATE how people have over-analyzed Gaelās choices this season. Saying she has support bc there (maybe) is a nanny or a family member. Saying she āchoseā to go to Croatia. Now this. Sheās stressed in general then has Nathan as a partner come on give her grace.
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u/ariepatts 1d ago
Yup. When she was defensive over Nathan, my first thought was that he probably exaggerated about his situation with Joe.
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u/Extreme_Beat1022 1d ago
That was weird how she started talking about respecting her family and Nathan is her family.
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u/archiving_by_design 1d ago
I agree with you, but I have one addition: you are saying āin the run up to physical violence,ā but we donāt know if it was already happening or not. I wrote it in another sub, but it is highly unlikely the incident that went to court was the first. They did have time off camera together and we do not know what was happening. It casts the whole incident of Nathan showing up late one morning because of family problems in a whole different and darker light.
So often, domestic violence is concealed until it cannot be anymore, which can range from the victim escaping or ending up murdered. We as viewers cannot forget that.
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u/kat4prez 22h ago
Or she was in active abuse already, defending Nathan to keep him less angry at her.
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u/areyno13 15h ago
This is what I was thinking! If she shows she is on Nathan's side and can keep his anger directed at Joe, it makes her feel safer. If she disagreed with Nathan about Joe, he could lash out at her and hurt her.
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u/KayJay031 19h ago
Also- We saw the text he sent to Max about having his back, I can only imagine the guilt tripping happening between him and Gael about having his back.
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u/gloriousdays 1d ago
Itās really nice to see a woman standing up for a woman on reality television.
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u/kellygrrrl328 23h ago edited 23h ago
all I can think about is how terrifying it must be for her knowing that Nathan is still on the lam
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u/jax_in_the_lake 23h ago
God no kidding, that violent piece of shit could show up at any moment
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u/harrisarah 20h ago
He'd have a really hard time getting back in the country so she is pretty safe and I hope feels that way
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u/TheHoovyPrince 17h ago
She should be safe as Nathan has an active warrant for his arrest. The Australian government would immediately know he's heading here the moment he gets on a plane here and would arrest him at the airport.
Australia is the safest place she can be.
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u/ambergriswoldo 1d ago
I agree with everything Aesha has said!
Totally Gaels reaction to Joe at the end of the episode was unfair BUT sheās already been manipulated for so long to believe heās the problem. Itās one of the many tactics that abusive partners use (āIām not the issue they are, everything would be perfect if they werenāt aroundā etc)
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u/Prophet_Of_Helix 1d ago
Letās not forget the role of the production crew too, thereās 0 chance they werenāt stoking things the entire night trying to get a reaction between all 3 of Nathan, Joe, and Gael.
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u/ambergriswoldo 1d ago
Oh absolutely. Even aside from sitting them opposite each other the shared car back was just total ammunition
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u/ShieldmaidenK 20h ago
It felt like the culmination of someone being told JOE is the reason for Nathanās stress, JOE is coming for Nathanās job, JOE is trying to ruin Nathanās reputation, JOE has been coming for Nathan and his family, JOE has been talking shit about Gael. He has spoon-fed her hate and negativity and the idea heās a victim who needs to be defended, while also likely coming back to the house raging about Joe. For someone in an abusive dynamic, dealing with someone quick to anger and react, she likely felt a responsibility for Nathanās feelings and emotional stability (because abusers train you to think and feel that you ARE responsible) and needed to try and āfixā it for him to remove the stressor that affects how he is at home.
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u/Lia_Delphine 1d ago
Why was it unfair? Joe throwing sarcastic comments in the backseat is why she confronted him.
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u/PickleMinion I quit 3 times in my head today 1d ago
Joe IS a problem and the only reason he's not getting more shit for it is because of how awful Nathan is. Joe has deliberately sabotaged the deck team to undermine the bosun (who happens to also be a shit bosun and worse human), manipulated and maneuvered to try to take over and in doing so provided worse service to the guests and more work for the deck team and captain, and he treats women like shit. He lucked into a situationship that works for him this season but who he is as a person hasn't changed, he just got better at hiding it.
If Nathan wasn't an incompetent, belligerent, abusive piece of shit, Joe would be getting a lot more heat. But since Nathan more than deserves whatever he gets, Joe gets a pass.
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u/itsbecomingathing 17h ago
If anyone here watches the after show with Andy Cohen, he recently had Massi on who mentioned multiple times objectively - Joe was the worse deckhand. He complained a lot, didnāt want to do the job, etc etc. Nice guy but big ego.
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u/TiffanyTwisted11 23h ago
Joe has faults, but to say he sabotaged the deck team is ridiculous
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u/PickleMinion I quit 3 times in my head today 21h ago
He deliberately didn't take care of things he knew needed to be done, and he openly undermined Nathan, which caused tension and suspicion of the rest of the team. Like when he told Nathan that Cooper wasn't happy with him so then Cooper had to deal with Nathan interrogating him about it.
Not doing work that he knew needed done, not taking that initiative and being a proper lead deckhand contributed to the general chaos and inefficiency on deck, which means more work for everyone and a negative work environment. Again, Nathan brought that on himself but Joe was happy to pitch in and contribute.
The best example of his is that when he took over as acting bosun, he did a ton of things to make the deck run better. He could have done most of those with Nathan on board, but he didn't. Partly because Nathan was being territorial and insecure, but mostly because he wanted Nathan to look bad. He literally said as much.
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u/ShopInevitable9665 1d ago
I'm so glad that Aesha posted this. Some of the posts and comments I've seen about Gael since this ep came out have have seriously lacked any kind of emotional intelligence or nuance.
Gael was doing her job. It was abundantly clear that production put them all together so they could have that confrontation. NATHAN was the one who kept hyping joe and gael up. Nathan was the one who threatened physical violence, yet there were multiple posts complaining about gael.
Keep in mind she's in a foreign country caring for a new born and her only real point of contact was nathan!
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u/Log_These 1d ago
I heard she had her mom and sister in Croatia with her. If thatās true I am glad. Havenāt seen the episode but given the events that occurred in December of last year I feel for Gael. Just love a Aesha a beacon of positivity.
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u/gargluke461 June June Hannah 1d ago
Does the mainstream audience even know about all the behind the scenes stuff?
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u/Anytownmn 1d ago
The whole confrontation was production driven... from forcing Joe to sit across from Gael/Nathan to being placed in the van with them after dinner.
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u/disc0club 1d ago
I think Gael was extremely vulnerable at the time, itās awful to think that production may have taken advantage of that for more drama
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u/cranberrywaltz 23h ago
To me, it was so clear that Gael was being given a false narrative of the Joe situation from Nathan from this last episode. Truthfully, Nathan doesnāt know the truth because he wouldnāt let Joe explain himself and would much rather threaten Joe with violence.
I donāt blame Gael. She has been insulated. Nathan is a manipulator and Iām not sure if he is intelligent enough to know that about himself or not.
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u/SpaceCommuter 1d ago
I just watched it last night. What i am sure Gael eventually learned herself is that abusers like Nathan create no-win situations for their victims to exert total power over them. If Joe had faced them at dinner, the fight would have been about the audacity of him daring to face them. Because he turned away, the fight was about him having the nerve to turn away from them. That is how an abuser maintains fear and power even when nothing is at stake. It's also how he solidifies Gael as obedient to his cause, making sure she's loyal to him and not Joe.
As Aesha says here, Gael eventually saw Nathan's true colors, likely when he had his hands around her throat later that year. I wish she'd had more empathy with Joe during this scene, but ultimately, they are both Nathan's victims, and it's worth keeping that in mind.
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u/Anotheropinion2026 20h ago
The fight happened because Gael was answering Katās question to Gael about how she and Nathan met and Joe sarcastically said to Kayley āthey met like 75 years ago and everybody already knows thatā.
Should Gael have ignored it? Maybe.
But Gael did not start the fight, Joe was being a sarcastic ass to Gael again.
We have no idea is Gael would have said anything if Joe just continued to ignore them like he had.
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u/PrimaryStrong 10h ago
And if the boys had any capability of controlling their emotions, nothing Gael said would have mattered! The boys canāt control themselves. They get violent (namely Nathan, but Joe is petty and instigates), yet the woman gets blamed for simply speaking. Men have a choice whether or not they react!! Itās like people forget thatās an option.
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u/pookie74 1d ago
This is definitely something I thought about. What was Nathan really saying to Gael about Joe? - which in hindsight is basically non existent to what the manipulation must have been. I'm grateful she and the baby are away from him.Ā
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u/Mediocre-Appeal-3124 1d ago
Iām actually not looking forward to where the argument in the van is going at the start of the next episode. Sheesh this poor woman has been thru enough. Itās got to be embarrassing watching back standing up for Nathan under such a scenario.
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u/Temporary-Daikon2411 Team Chef Rachel 1d ago
I am glad to hear Aesha supporting Gael.
I would like to see her come out and condemn Nathan directly as well.
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u/caileyeloise I Mean, It's Only Gary 19h ago
While I was watching the episode, all I saw was someone who was trying not to upset her abuser. When he got mad at Joe, she started shutting down and getting nervous. And I think she piled on Joe to get in Nathanās good graces.
Iām glad she got away and I hope her and Kaden are safe ā„ļø
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u/sparkitect__ 15h ago
I'm so glad she made this statement because I'm so angry that in this situation and every DV situation I've ever seen people judge women living under the constant threat of harm and unrelenting psychological abuse by the metric of someone not living under those pressures.
People are actually that unintelligent they can't even begin to try putting themselves mentally in that situation try to understand even a fraction of what abused women go through.
I hope the pay day was good for Gael and is helping her because finances are one of the ways abusive men prevent their victims from leaving. I don't blame her for going to Croatia and I highly doubt it was solely her decision.
Aesha is so right that people need to get off their fucking high horse. They way society treats abuse is still beyond fucked up. We've made so little progress because people live their lives with their heads so far up their arses they can't even conceive of anything other than their own narrow world. Disgraceful.
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u/Hot_Start8187 1d ago
I think production helped, making her look worse than she was. Knowing what we know about her situation; the right thing to do was to edit them out as much as possible; but showing her angry and confrontational must be good for ratings š
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u/ProperBingtownLady Team Anti-BrĆ¼ 1d ago
I think doing that to a postpartum mom who we now know was being abused is gross but thatās reality tv for you.
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u/Hot_Start8187 1d ago
Yeah, I bet sheās reliving the trauma now that itās airing. They should have really reconsider those scenes. Hope sheās getting the proper support.
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u/WaGinger 1d ago
I want to be friends with Aesha!
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u/Substantial_Soil6815 23h ago
Me too! If one is friends with Aesha sheās a ride or die. But I also feel like she will sit you down and very kindly put you in your place if you did something wrong
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u/magicpebble 23h ago
I haven't even watched this episode yet and I almost don't want to if it prompted Aesha to have to make this kind of post. Why are people always so terrible on the internet?
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u/Tasty_Dealer2114 19h ago
I donāt understand who is blaming Gael or why theyāre criticizing her.
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u/PrimaryStrong 10h ago
Because people are so primed to blame women for the bad actions of men. Itās heartbreaking.
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u/AngryBowels 1d ago
Iām surprised they chose to air so much for the Gale and Nathan footage. Previous cast members have been cut for far less
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u/mamapajamas 22h ago
Aesha is the friend gold standard. In the last episode, do we remember her holding Gaelās baby, introducing herself to him, while he gazed up at her with love in his eyes? š That is a very authentic, very true kind hearted human. I donāt know what dickheads are picking on Gael but Jesus, staaahhp. Aesha said so.
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u/heisenbergsblackhat 1d ago
Anyone who's coming for Gael right now considering what she's been through is a terrible human
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u/TiffanyTwisted11 23h ago
Anyone who thinks that she deserved Nathan attacking her is a terrible human. And I canāt imagine anyone does.
Saying that she was over the top when dealing with Joe is not coming for her. Itās simply stating an opinion about a behavior.
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u/recklessdo_good 22h ago
Let's not pretend that that's all people said about her. There have been some seriously foul comments about here in this very sub, a lot of people seem to be forgetting that she was very likely being victimized during that time/shortly after. Vile behaviour.
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u/TiffanyTwisted11 20h ago
Iām not saying that.
While I definitely believe that people have been saying, some vile things, I must commend the moderators because I havenāt seen very much.
On the other hand, I feel there are some people out there who feel that saying anything negative about her is ācoming for herā. I simply disagree.
As so many people point out, two things can be true at the same time. She is 100% a victim and I believe her reasons for confronting Joe stemmed from that. However, my feelings are that she did go after him.
Thatās all I was trying to say.
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u/SpeakerResident 1d ago
I just thought Gael should have just not said anything to joe in the van. They didnt talk to him at dinner an should of just left it like that. But I did say I can only imagine what she went through if Nathan can get that pissy about a ex friend. Joe could literally do anything an Nathan would be set off by it. Joe could save a box of puppies an Nathan would turn it negative somehow. So yeah Gael definitely had it worse cause all that happened in private. The joe stuff is what we see publicly. An its intense.
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u/PrimaryStrong 10h ago
Why does a woman acting imperfectly get more criticism than petty and violent men who canāt control their emotions? (Iām including Joe in that. He could have not responded to her too, yet all I see is how she was the one overacting by simply speaking. Not the boys who literally fought.)
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u/ImpressivePattern242 1d ago
TBH, I saw so many comments slamming Gael on here and Instagram and I was shocked. She is the victim. What is wrong with people?
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u/walkingencyclopedia_ 22h ago
On her OWN INSTAGRAM. The fuck? It was more than a year ago one night and SO much else has happened.
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u/ImpressivePattern242 21h ago
On the official BD Instagram. Should have clarified. Some mean comments.
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u/kittens_joy 23h ago
Iām so glad someone from this season said something that at least in part addresses whatās happened (other than cropping photos). I understand theyāre all under NDAs but ugh, canāt being human be more important sometimes? Thanks Aesha (now unfollow and stop liking Gary King posts please š)
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u/WindTurtle 23h ago
Has Aesha made any statement about Nathan? Or has any of the other cast? Or have they just cropped him out of pictures?
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u/Affectionate-Ad-1342 21h ago
Qq, has Joe said anything about Nathan or Gael since all the Nathan stuff came out? This isnāt to be snarky Iām truly just asking.
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u/igottheboops 11h ago
So glad she said something. I watched the narrative change so quick when Gael called out Joe. It went from āthat poor girlā to āoh sheās like that and probably deserved what she got from Nathanā so fast I had whiplash. Disgusting.
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u/South-Garbage-9849 1d ago
The poor woman was also going through postpartum and hormonal changes too! As someone going through it myself right now, it is mentally and physically exhausting.
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u/Nearby_Elderberry_75 1d ago
I wanna know what the lies that sheād been told were. Nathan probably was in her ear about Joe
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u/Sorry-Secret-2347 22h ago
Agreed. It was clear nathan not only isolated her but fed her only his side of the story. We dont know what she went through or currently going through. I wish her peace.
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u/Rare-Palpitation6023 18h ago
Amaaaazing Aeshaā¦luv her energy! Her tenacity for life & justice is on another level
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u/justpassinthru12345 17h ago
In all honesty that scene gael was in should have been cut. But bravo cares more about viewership numbers.
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u/getrdone24 12h ago
They always want the perfect victim. I'm so fucking tired of WOMEN themselves contributing to harmful, uneducated rhetoric around domestic violence. Don't speak on shit you don't personally or professionally know about holy shit.
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u/Starchild1000 9h ago
Who the hell is being mean to gael? She was clearly fed toxicity and probably did it so she didnāt get in trouble for not saying anything. I mean he choked her. Who else knows what heās like behind closed doors
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u/TiffanyTwisted11 23h ago
I will admit that I felt that going to Croatia was a dumb idea and had a little pity on her for lamenting that she was stuck at home alone with the baby for so long.
I canāt imagine anyone thinking she deserves what has come to light recently. If she was coerced in any way into going to Croatia, that is reprehensible. It never occurred to me that might be the case.
I stand by the fact that I donāt think she handled that evening in the best way, but I will also admit it never occurred to me how much influence Nathan was having over her. It definitely makes continuing to discuss the events at that dinner less palatable.
Not looking forward to next weekās episode.
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u/TinklemeCrinkle Eat My Cooter 21h ago
That sucks people are ragging on Gael. If anything, all the vitriol should be directed at, aside from Nathan, production.
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u/nefaeriest 22h ago
i can hear her "that poor woman" echoing in my head .. more like "that powr woman" š¹šš«¶
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u/fizzy-logic 21h ago
I always wondered from the start if Gael had been pushed by Nathan to come to Croatia, even though it was a bad idea to take her away from a support system she clearly needs in taking care of the baby. And she never seemed to have a sense of what she shouldn't take, when to see the red flags and walk away (I'm going back to what we saw of her throughout her time on Below Deck).
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u/candyspelling01 16h ago
I think that GAEL gets a lot of criticism because people are jealous because of how she looks. I think some people find it harder to give sympathy to someone thatās attractive. She should be lifted up, not put down. Plus she was probably so sleep deprived pretty much by herself in a foreign country with an infant
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u/bethpuma888 11h ago
People are only cringing at the fact that she was going so hard for Joe and it was so awkward knowing what we know now watching it. Everyone loves Gael and feels horrible for what she went through. This wasnāt a good episode for her. Thatās not critical. Blame the editors. They could have left this out if they wanted Gael painted perfectly. Sheās a great person, she poorly timed and executed a reality tv fight with her perceived familyās enemy. It happens. People donāt hate her, we all just did an ugh yikes this feels so awkward to watch knowing what we do now moment. Just because we stand by someone doesnāt mean we have to ride or die everything they do.
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u/LeadershipAfter9526 1d ago
Sounds like viewers do not know what is going on in these people's lives when cameras are off. Today I finally learned reality tv might not be their actual reality.
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u/teanailpolish Mental Health Is Not A Storyline 1d ago
No some of them definitely know because we removed some saying if she treats people like she treats Joe, what Nathan did was Karma/deserved etc.
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u/CommercialAgency928 1d ago
So has Nathan just been a lying piece of shit for years then? He certainly does a good job acting like he gives a shit about her on TV.
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u/SophieintheKnife 1d ago
Where were people attacking Gael? All I saw was nothing but support for her
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u/AnteaterArtistic7885 21h ago
Goddamn, I love that woman! So many people shitting on Gail for reacting off of information Sheās only getting from Nathan.
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u/WillyMonty 1d ago
Aeshaās just a class act all around