‘Below Deck’: Did Ashley Marti Rape Gary King?

Below Deck fans are debating whether Ashley Marti raped Gary King. They can’t stop buzzing about the previous episode, which aired two weeks ago. As TV Shows Ace previously reported, Below Deck Sailing Yacht went on a brief hiatus. This came amid the assault allegations.

Some fans say Ashley took advantage of Gary during the last crew outing. The first mate doesn’t remember what happened because he drank. Ashley was in complete control of her senses. She knew what happened, yet claims that they hooked up that night.

Outrage over Ashley Marti

Below Deck fans are still upset over that episode. They’ve been talking about it on most social media platforms, including Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter. They’ve even taken to TV Shows Ace to have a debate over what happened between Gary and Ashley. The recent episode of Below Deck Sailing Yacht has sparked a firestorm after the third stew bragged about hooking up with him while he was intoxicated.

Viewers called their controversial encounter “inappropriate.” Gary was so inebriated that he couldn’t walk straight. When he drinks that much, he prefers not to hook up with anyone. Yet, that didn’t stop Ashley from trying to get her way. Upon returning to the yacht, Ashley and Gary got into their bathing suits and got into the jacuzzi together.

At first, Ashley gave Gary a foot massage. Meanwhile, chief engineer Colin MacRae and second stew Gabriela Barragan watched from afar. They both agree that Ashley is “desperate.” Yet again, she got another kiss from Gary before straddling him soon after.

The pair headed to the guest cabin. Gary informed Ashley that he only wanted a massage. She agreed until she removed her shirt. According to the mics heard outside the room, Gary said he only wanted a massage. Ashley was already on top of him and said, “We’re way past that.”

But, he wanted their encounter to end. He left the room and told her they were not hooking up tonight. He headed out of the cabin to his own bunk. In her confessional, Ashley suggested that “other things might have happened.”

Below Deck fans debate controversial scene

Since then, Below Deck fans have been debating over that controversial scene. One of the producers asked a confused Gary if he hooked up with Ashley. He said he only recalls her giving him a massage. He thought they fell asleep after.

Below Deck fans say it’s rape. Since Gary was drunk and didn’t consent to Ashley sleeping with him, she assaulted him by forcing herself on him. That incident has sparked outrage on social media and in our comments section. Some viewers even feel there’s a double standard because of Ashley’s gender.

• “This was rape! She should be held accountable!”
• “If roles were reversed, Gary would have been charged with rape! She is disgusting!”
• “I too believe it was rape. Had the tables been turned around he would have been fired and charged. She should be too. She did it out of jealousy towards Gabriela.”
• “When a woman says no it’s no and when a man says no it’s no. So from a legal standpoint, they would charge her with sexual assault.”

What are your thoughts on what happened? Do you agree with Below Deck fans saying it was rape? Do you think Ashley should be held accountable? Sound off below in the comment section.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 3 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.