Below Deck fans rage as show brings back problematic Joo Franco after co-stars Luke Jones & Laura

BELOW Deck fans have been left fuming after Bravo invited back a problematic star after Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne were fired.

The Bravo show got audiences talking after two separate incidents of misconduct.

Early in Monday's episode, João Franco was revealed as the deck team's replacement.

Fans will recall the South African Bravo star from an earlier season, during which he clashed with Aesha Scott and other co-stars.

Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph appeared stunned and less-than-excited to see João on the boat, revealing that he'd had a complicated relationship with one of her good friends.

She slammed him as "a womanizer," and she's not the only one who felt that way.

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Below Deck viewers were equally unhappy and took to the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts.

"I cannot stand João," one user wrote.

Another person commented: "I can see João hasn't changed. He is still the same old a*****e he's always been. Only diff is that Capt. Jason won't put up with his bulls**t."

"Is João the answer when you're cleaning up a toxic environment?" a third viewer tweeted.

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Another person commented: "Every Below Deck season needs on [sic] alpha male crew member who's kind of a d**k but also entertaining. João can fill this role."

"João is so condescending," a fifth Below Deck viewer wrote.

Someone else chimed in: "He’s been on the boat for 5 minutes and I’m already waiting for someone to throw Joao overboard."

"I remember when Joao called Aesha trash and a slut. He was disgusted by her. Why bring him back?" a seventh viewer wrote.

Another person tweeted: "I hate this new guy already. Screams total d****e."

SHIP SCANDAL

Fans have been buzzing about Below Deck since an earlier episode of the show featured two crew members – Luke and Laura – violating their co-stars' boundaries.

Captain Jason Chambers quickly dismissed the pair from their duties.

On August 7, 2023, it was revealed Captain Jason fired Luke and Laura from Below Deck Down Under because of two sexual misconduct incidents involving Margot Sisson and Adam Kodra.

During Monday's episode, The Northern Star's shipmates partied in Cairns, Australia.

While on the town together, viewers saw Margot become inebriated as Luke attempted to flirt with her.

At one point, Margot retired for the night and a barely-dressed Luke entered her room to ask her if she wanted to join him in the hot tub.

As the stewardess rejected his advances, she told fellow crew member Aesha: "I don't want to go in the jacuzzi.

"I want to go to bed. All I want is water and bed, no Luke."

Later in the episode, Luke entered Margot's room again clad in only a towel.

He then crawled into her bed and under the covers with her.

Producers then intervened and told him to exit Margot's room.

He told the producers to "f**k off" and slammed the door to her room.

As the production team demanded he leave, Luke opened the door and left the room naked.

The next day, Margot recalled: "I woke up feeling weird and I knew that what happened wasn't okay.

"I was, like, 'Am I gonna wake up and he's still here and I just have to act cool?'

"But I'm glad that's not the case because that would be really hard for me. I just feel stupid."

Meanwhile, Captain Jason fired Luke and said: "Last night, there were boundaries crossed.

"There was indecency and you went into someone's else cabin without consent.

"Unfortunately, I've got nothing else but to terminate your employment."

Luke replied to the captain: "I accept that. I'm sorry and I'm just so disappointed in myself."

Also during the previous night, Laura made a move on Adam but her advances were not returned.

Adam told Aesha: "I think she thinks I'm playing around because I'm being nice about it.

"I don't want to get anyone in trouble or anything like that but maybe I've got to be more serious."

As a result, Captain Jason terminated Laura as well.

DEFENDING HERSELF

Following the episode's airing, Laura took to Instagram to address the matter.

"My sincere apologies to Adam, I did not realize I made him feel uncomfortable and no one should be put in that position," she told her followers.

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"And to Margot, to not been able to empathize. I was 29 when the show was filmed, 30 was my life-changer.

"I am 31 now and I am watching it as all of you, an entertainment show."

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