Two former “Below Deck” staffers have filed a lawsuit against cast member Gary King for alleged sexual assault and battery, as well as against NBCUniversal, Bravo and other production companies behind the reality show for retaliation and wrongful termination.
The suit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, lists Samantha Suarez, a hair and makeup artist, and Grey Duddleston, a camera operator, as plaintiffs, both of whom either experienced or witnessed King’s abuse first-hand, as well as retaliation and wrongful termination. In addition to NBCUniversal and Bravo, the suit lists Mountain View Productions, 51 Minds and Endemol Shine as defendants.
In the suit, Suarez alleges that on July 3, 2022, while she and Duddleston were in production on “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” Season 4, she was “held hostage in a hotel room” by King when she went to deliver snacks and water to his room.