PHOTOSKate Chastain Quits ‘Below Deck’ Following Blowouts With Castmates
Feb. 18 2020, Published 7:02 p.m. ET
Kate Chastain announced on February 17 that she has quit Below Deck after six seasons on the Bravo series. The chief stewardess had explosive fights with her castmates Kevin Dobson and Ashton Pienaar throughout season 7.
Kate, 37, revealed she wouldn’t be returning to Below Deck after the reunion aired on February 17. In the chief stewardess’ exit announcement, she jokingly mimicked Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s departure announcement as senior members of the Royal Family.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, I have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new land-based role,” she wrote on Instagram. “I intend to step back as a senior member of the Below Deck family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support His Majesty Andy Cohen.”
Kate and her male castmates were at war on the latest season of Below Deck. On the February 3 finale of the show, Kevin kicked sand at Kate’s face after he got extremely intoxicated during their cast party. “I was stuck on an island with a bunch of males that were not respectful of me the entire season,” Kate told Captain Lee on the after show. Kevin told the chief stewardess, “I’m sorry” on the reunion special.
The chief stewardess and Ashton, 30, also had a major altercation after they both questioned each other’s leadership capabilities. In an episode of Below Deck on December 23, 2019, Kate and the bosun got into an argument in a van on the ride home from a night out. Ashton lunged at Kate, before punching the car window in frustration.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
Kate quit the show that night, but she returned the following day.
Ashton was also accused of making several unwanted advances toward Kate and trying to kiss her even though she told him not to do it again.
During the reunion, Ashton addressed both incidents. “I feel intensely regretful and intensely upset about the way I behaved towards Kate in that van. From the kiss to me losing my temper. That is not something that I'm proud of at all,” he said. “Sitting in front of you tonight I will apologize face-to-face to you, I'm extremely sorry that I put you in that situation. I'm extremely sorry for trying to kiss you… My intention was never to force myself on you. I had obviously got it wrong in my head the first night, I thought there was something wrong going on between us and I went for the kiss. The second night, there was no excuse.”
“I'm making serious changes in my life because I'm not proud of the person I saw on camera that night. And I am extremely sorry. I have amazing relationships with all the women in my life,” he continued in a tearful apology. “I'm extremely ashamed. What hurts me the most is I know that I'm not that person. I know my behavior showed that and that I need to take responsibility for that.”
What do you think about Kate quitting Below Deck? Sound off in the comments below!
