Below Deck Sailing Yacht figurehead Captain Glenn Shephard will never turn his back on his controversial First Officer Gary King, and that could mean Gary will stick around the franchise. Glenn has been the Captain of Below Deck Sailing Yacht‘s Parsifal III since season 1, and Gary joined the yacht and show in season 2. Below Deck Sailing Yacht is the third spinoff in the Below Deck franchise, and it has been popular among viewers up until season 5. The reason for the drop in viewer reception has to do with Gary’s bad behavior on and off-screen.
Earlier this year, Gary was accused by a Below Deck makeup artist of sexual misconduct. She claimed a drunk Gary tried to confine her in his hotel room and grab at her inappropriately. The Bravo network said they investigated and took action, but Gary was just uninvited to BravoCon 2024. The incident happened in the summer of 2022 when BDSY season 4 was filming. BDSY season 5 had a late release after speculation swirled that Bravo was trying to figure out what to do about the season since Gary was already filmed in it.
Captain Glenn Adores Gary
They’ve Worked Together For Four Seasons
Over the four seasons Captain Glenn and Gary have worked together, they have grown extremely close. Even after season 2, their first season together, Glenn invited Gary on a crossing journey on Parsifal III after filming ended. Each time they greet each other at the beginning of a new charter season, the pair are extremely friendly and only have good things to say about one another. Moreover, Gary has spent a lot of time on Parsifal III with Glenn outside of charter seasons working on the vessel.
Captain Glenn prides himself on being a hands-off captain who expects his crew to conduct themselves with professionalism and respect. However, Captain Glenn’s First Officer BFF has demonstrated over the years that he lacks both those qualities. However, Gary treats Captain Glenn as his superior and strives to impress him. Gary has ambition to be a captain one day, and he endeavors to learn all he can from Glenn, which is indicative of their good relationship despite Gary’s bad behavior towards everyone else. Gary gives Captain Glenn his inauthentic side, which Captain Glenn has formed his perception of Gary on.
Even though their friendship is tight, there have been times when Captain Glenn has grown frustrated with Gary’s behavior. In Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5, a situation will arise where the crew goes out with guests after the charter is over. He instructs his crew to drink minimally and behave themselves. However, they will not, and it will cause a bad stain on one of the expensive parlor couches, enraging Captain Glenn. He will wake up the whole crew, and as Gary asks Glenn if everything is okay, he will respond that it’s not.
Ultimately, Gary is in a top leadership position, and should be conducting himself in ways that positively represent the boat. The BDSY season 5 incident that prompts Captain Glenn to scorn Gary and the crew is Gary’s fault for not following orders and not respecting Captain Glenn or the boat. Someone will get fired in season 5, but it is likely not Gary, since he has the most experience and is needed on the boat as Captain Glenn’s second.
Gary knows how to sweet talk his friend Captain Glenn, as evidenced by how Glenn reacted gently to Gary’s crashing of the tender in BDSY season 5, episode 2. Captain Glenn is likely blinded by his tight relationship with Gary to ever truly exert any wrath a captain can have on their crew. Glenn’s easy going nature is easily manipulated by Gary, and that complicates any consequences Gary should be having for his mistakes and conduct.
Captain Glenn Has Never Spoken Out About Gary’s Bad Behavior
Which Is A Red Flag
When the sexual misconduct allegations came to light, Gary denied them, and spoke out on social media about being victimized. He trash talked the makeup artist in question, and has shared and then deleted his comments aimed at clearing his name on Instagram.
“It’s so weird, it’s also so far from the truth. She always wanted a platform and unfortunately I’m the unlucky target.” Gary continued, “I’m not going to let some lying girl get to me… read that article fully, multiple times, and this happened to her on multiple seasons … seems odd.”
When the claims first emerged, Captain Glenn never spoke out condemning Gary’s alleged behavior. If anything, Glenn ramped up his support for Garyt. In one since-deleted Instagram post, Gary wrote a caption stating, ““It’s sad that people will do anything in their power to bring you down,” with the hashtag, “#iwascancelledbecauseofalie.” In a since-deleted comment from Captain Glenn, he gave Gary’s post a thumb up emoji in the comments.
Captain Glenn’s dismissal of the allegations and continued support of Gary is troubling, and it speaks to the level of their friendship and Captain Glenn’s blind loyalty to Gary.
Captain Glenn Would Keep Gary As First Mate If He Had A Say
Glenn Wants To Work With His Best Friend
Bravo icon Captain Glenn has made it obvious that if it were up to him, Gary would continue to be by his side as his first mate and in the public eye on the show.
Gary has shown that he feels he has been the target of a wrongful smear campaign, and has hinted that he intends on staying on in the franchise. If Captain Glenn had his way, he would continue to work with his best friend, and it seems Gary can truly do no wrong in the captain’s eyes.
Captain Glenn’s support of Gary despite his countless incidents of reckless, ornery, and controversial behavior, means that Gary has an ace in his pocket. With Captain Glenn’s support and sway over Below Deck Sailing Yacht‘s future, it’s possible Gary could continue to be a part of it at Captain Glenn’s behest. The Bravo network has already chosen to forgive Gary’s alleged transgressions and the transgressions that have played out on the show, so it’s likely Gary could continue to climb the ladder in the Below Deck franchise, especially with Captain Glenn on his side.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.
