Zach Gilford Criticizes ‘Below Deck’ Crew on Bravo

On Watch What Happens Live, Zach Gilford from Criminal Minds: Evolution and Friday Night Lights criticized the cast of Below Deck. He shared the stage with Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow, while Andy Cohen moderated the discussion for Bravo.

Currently, Below Deck Med is airing its ninth season, packed with the usual drama and conflicts among the crew. Despite this, Sandy Yawn remains firmly at the helm. The rest of the crew, however, frequently engages in infighting. If they redirected their negative energy into their tasks, Criminal Minds star Zach Gilford might acknowledge their hard work.

During the conversation, Heather Dubrow countered some of Zach’s negativity. Both she and Andy Cohen disagreed with his harsh views on the Below Deck cast.

Zach didn’t hold back in expressing his opinions. He criticized the reality show’s crew, stating they are much lazier than people might think.

When asked by Andy Cohen about his thoughts on Season 9 of Below Deck Med, Zach responded:

Their life is so easy, and they’re like, ‘It’s been 24 hours and I’m on a boat.’ They are not working that hard. I used to lead backpacking trips in Alaska: 24 hours a day with kids. I didn’t get two days on and a day off. They are in the middle of paradise. Like just work. I will judge!

Andy Cohen, clearly not pleased, retorted, “Well, they are working very hard. They actually are.” Heather Dubrow also defended the yacht crew, emphasizing the challenging nature of keeping a yacht in top shape. Perhaps she remembered Jill Zarin’s cameo on Below Deck which had put Fraser Olender under significant stress, earning Jill criticism from the audience.

Gilford’s blunt assessment did not sit well with Cohen or Dubrow, and it sparked a conversation about the actual challenges of working on a luxury yacht. The dynamic between the cast and crew in these reality shows often portrays a relaxed lifestyle, but it’s clear some viewers and critics, like Zach Gilford, aren’t convinced by the hard work that goes unseen.

This debate reflects the broader discussions around reality TV’s portrayal of work and leisure, questioning how much effort participants put into their jobs versus what’s expected for such a unique and luxurious setting.

What do you think of Zach Gilford’s comments about the yacht crews not working hard enough? Do you believe the reality TV stars should hustle more? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: TV Shows Ace, Twitter