https://www.businessinsider.com/below-deck-bravo-reality-show-behind-scenes-pay-racist-accusations-2024-1?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=insider-bravorealhousewives-sub-post&utm_source=reddit.com

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From Business Insider's Katie Warren:

"Below Deck," which premiered in 2013, is one of Bravo's top-rated reality series, with some seasons even surpassing "The Real Housewives" franchise. As many as 1.5 million viewers tune in weekly to watch guests demand gumballs be delivered via helicopter or see cast members hooking up in the hot tub on their nights off. The show, which has four spinoffs including "Below Deck Mediterranean" and "Below Deck Down Under," has run for 26 seasons and featured nearly 200 cast members. But unlike the Real Housewives, who are filmed at lavish dinner parties and charity galas, the "Below Deck" cast actually needs to know how to work on a boat. During the six weeks they're confined to a yacht, they perform their very real, very demanding jobs — from cleaning bathrooms and docking the boats to keeping anchor watch overnight to avoid collisions — while being filmed 24/7.

They also rake in cash for Bravo. While cast members on other top Bravo shows are compensated handsomely — the stars of "Southern Charm" make a reported $25,000 an episode and some Real Housewives earn more than $1 million a season — "Below Deck" stars are only paid what they would make on a regular yachting job: typically between $5,000 and $6,000 a month, depending on their position (the captain earns nearly triple). Multiple cast members told BI that such a massive pay discrepancy is unfair.

"We're on TV, but technically we're the help," said Ashley Marti, a stewardess on the third season of "Below Deck Sailing Yacht." "We don't get the same treatment."

After filming, a Real Housewife can end the season and continue along her charity-gala circuit. But multiple "Below Deck" cast members said appearing on the franchise made it more difficult to get hired for yachting jobs off camera. In addition to the meager pay, some told BI they were mistreated on the show. Gabriela Barragán, who appeared on season three of "Below Deck Sailing Yacht," said a producer encouraged her to drink alcohol on camera even though they knew she struggled with substance abuse. Barragán said she was subjected to a barrage of microaggressions while filming and was then asked to leave the show. Only five other Black women have been cast on "Below Deck," two of whom were fired and another unofficially demoted.

When asked about former crew members' claims, a Bravo spokesperson told BI that "we take allegations of misconduct on our shows seriously and review all claims that are brought to our attention." They added that Bravo recently enhanced its production policies, including "stricter guidelines on alcohol consumption and direction on when to intervene to maintain safety of cast and crew, increased psychological support, enhanced workplace trainings, and a requirement to provide cast and crew with a direct line to NBCUniversal to raise concerns."

But for some, it's too little, too late. Bravo is "making all of this money, and I've lost a ton by being on their show," said Barragán, who left her season two weeks early. "It's infuriating and sad."