‘Below Deck’ star Gary King denies sexual assault allegations, claims accuser is ‘lying’

Reality TV

“Below Deck Sailing Yacht” star Gary King denies he sexually assaulted makeup artist Samantha Suarez during production on the Bravo reality show last summer.

After Suarez came forward with her allegations Thursday, the reality star defended himself in the comments section of his Instagram account.

“I have never sexually harassed someone in my life, and I will never,” he wrote in response to a fan who urged him to “get sober, get clarity and stop your sexual misconduct.”

When another fan asked whether Suarez was “lying,” King replied, “yes she is. But I will not get into it through comments. Thanks.”

A fan on TikTok also captured a screenshot of King’s since-deleted responses to fans who called out his “disgusting behavior.”


Gary King walking outside.
Gary King is defending himself against allegations of sexual assault.
Instagram/@king_gk

A screenshot of Gary King's comments.
“I have never sexually harassed someone in my life, and I will never,” he wrote in response to a fan who urged him to “get sober, get clarity and stop your sexual misconduct.”
Instagram/@king_gk

When a user questioned why King has not shut down his social media accounts, the Bravolebrity said he would not “let some lying girl” get to him and that it “seems odd” this allegedly happened to her in multiple seasons.

King’s comments come after Suarez — who joined “Below Deck” in the makeup department on Season 10 of the original series — shared her alleged encounter with him in an interview with Rolling Stone.

The 27-year-old claimed an inebriated King tried to stop her from leaving his hotel room after she dropped off snacks and water during production on Season 4 of the “Sailing Yacht” spinoff in July 2022 in Italy.


A selfie of Gary King smiling.
Samantha Suarez claimed the “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” star tried to force himself on her in his hotel room last summer.
Instagram/@king_gk

Gary King in the pool.
Suarez told Rolling Stone that King was inebriated when the alleged incident took place during filming in Italy.
Instagram/@king_gk

Suarez said that when she turned toward the door, King allegedly “came up behind her, grabbed her, pressed her against his body and refused to let go of her” even though she tried to “kick and elbow him to get him off her.”


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She said that once she was able to get out of his grasp, she tried to leave out the door, but King allegedly slammed it shut from behind her.

When Suarez notified production about the incident, they allegedly ordered King to sleep on the boat for the remainder of filming and assured her that he would be fired if anything else happened.


Gary King speaking at BravoCon in 2022.
Suarez said King allegedly “came up behind her, grabbed her, pressed her against his body and refused to let go of her.”
Heidi Gutman/Bravo via Getty Images

“It pretty much sucked from there on out,” she told the magazine. “I was just in a super depressive state.”

Suarez shared that she stayed in her hotel room for a week following the alleged incident and even debated leaving the show altogether.

Rolling Stone also spoke to several other crew members who claimed King made women uncomfortable on set.


Gary King on a boat.
She immediately told producers, who reportedly ordered King to sleep on the boat for the remainder of filming.
Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

Gary King and Alex Propson filming "Below Deck Sailing Yacht."
Another crew member told the publication that they allegedly witnessed King (left) grab a female cast member’s butt and touch her inappropriately even when she asked him to stop.
Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

“He’s next-level scary with women,” one alleged.

Another crew member — who wanted to remain anonymous — told the publication that they allegedly witnessed King grab a female cast member’s butt and touch her inappropriately even when she asked him to stop.

He was also allegedly caught grabbing the genitals of a production crew member and a male camera operator.


Gary King, Captain Sandy Yawn, Captain Jason Chambers, Captain Lee Rosbach, Mzi "Zee" Dempers, Christian Siriano, Aesha Scott and Courtney Veale filming.
Bravo told Page Six it is “committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew.”
Zach Dilgard/Bravo via Getty Images

In a statement to Page Six, a Bravo spokesperson said, “Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows. We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate workplace policies and trainings in place and a clear process on how to report concerns.

“The concerns Ms. Suarez raised in July 2022 were investigated at that time, and action was taken based on the findings.”

Page Six did not hear back from the “Below Deck” production company, 51 Minds Entertainment.

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