Captain Sandy Yawn, the formidable leader of the crew on Below Deck Mediterranean, made it clear during a recent episode that no one is irreplaceable. This sentiment echoed throughout the July 29 episode, as tensions flared between crew members Bri Muller and Ellie Dubaich, leading to a confrontation that put both of their positions in jeopardy.
Chief stew Aesha Scott found herself overwhelmed by the escalating feud between Bri and Ellie. In a moment of vulnerability, she confided in Captain Sandy, expressing her frustration over the conflicting accounts from both stews. “I just spoke to both of them and basically everything that Bri says — Ellie has said the complete opposite,” Aesha explained, visibly shaken. “They are both so convincing that I don’t know what the truth is. I don’t know what I am supposed to do now.”
Aesha’s plea for help prompted Captain Sandy to step in, a move that would ultimately put both Bri and Ellie’s futures on the yacht at risk. “Just leave it with me. I am going to have the conversation,” Sandy assured Aesha, emphasizing the importance of professionalism in their work environment.
When Captain Sandy finally addressed Bri and Ellie, she laid down the law. “Let me give you the big picture. We are here to do a job. We have to have respect in the workplace,” she stated firmly. “If you two can’t work together, I can’t just let go of one; I’ll let you both go.” Her words were a stark reminder of the stakes involved, and she urged them to resolve their issues and focus on their responsibilities.
Despite Sandy’s attempt to mediate, Bri expressed her doubts about reconciling with Ellie. “We both tried and it is impossible,” she lamented, referencing a specific incident that had occurred earlier that day. Bri felt betrayed when she returned from a break to find that Ellie had not completed their housekeeping duties. Ellie defended her actions, claiming she had been too busy with other tasks, but Bri was unconvinced.
Captain Sandy’s patience wore thin as the argument escalated. “Don’t be mean. Because I don’t like that,” she interjected, reminding them both of the importance of respect. “Everyone here is replaceable,” she warned, a statement that hung heavily in the air. “You will be on the ferry going back. You both.”
The tension between Bri and Ellie had been brewing for some time, exacerbated by a crew night out where Ellie’s flirtation with Joe Bradley, a mutual interest, further strained their relationship. Bri felt that Ellie was intentionally flaunting her connection with Joe, which only fueled her anger. “I just don’t understand why they have to rub it in my face,” Bri vented, feeling cornered and betrayed.
As the episode progressed, the animosity between the two stews continued to affect their work. Ellie felt isolated, believing that the rest of the crew was siding with Bri. “I feel like I am cornered and everybody keeps believing Bri and her bulls—t,” she confided in a confessional, desperate to clear her name and restore her reputation among the crew.
The situation reached a breaking point when Bri’s mistakes in the laundry room led Aesha to consider letting her go. This looming threat weighed heavily on Bri, who broke down in front of Captain Sandy, revealing how Ellie’s behavior impacted her performance. “I feel like I can’t really stand up for myself. I just take it,” she admitted, prompting Sandy to offer her some much-needed advice. “You have to get control of your emotions. And how you do that is be confident in who you are and what you do,” Sandy encouraged.
Bri attempted to assert herself when she felt set up by Ellie during a busy service. After returning from a break, she discovered that Ellie had only prepared the table and neglected the guest cabins. “This is priority. I feel like you did this on purpose,” Bri confronted Ellie, who was preparing to take her break. “Don’t look at me with that shocked face. Go on your break, I have cabins to do.”
Ellie retaliated, reminding Bri of her rank as second stew and demanding an apology. The escalating conflict caught the attention of Captain Sandy, who decided it was time to intervene. “I step in when there’s nothing else she can do,” Sandy explained in a confessional, indicating that such situations often lead to firings.
Before the episode aired, Bri reflected on the gravity of the situation, admitting that the thought of both she and Ellie being fired filled her with rage. “You don’t understand how much anger and rage I had inside of my body,” she shared. However, she also acknowledged Captain Sandy’s handling of the situation, stating, “I think she handled that situation quite well.”
As the drama unfolded, it became evident that the crew’s dynamics were shifting. With the looming threat of dismissal hanging over Bri and Ellie, the atmosphere on the yacht became increasingly tense. The stakes were high, and Captain Sandy’s reminder that “everyone here is replaceable” served as a stark warning to the crew.
The episode highlighted the challenges of working in such a high-pressure environment, where personal conflicts can quickly escalate and impact the overall functioning of the team. Captain Sandy’s leadership style, while firm, aimed to foster a sense of accountability among her crew, reminding them that their roles were not guaranteed.
As the season progresses, viewers are left wondering how the crew will navigate these turbulent waters. With Captain Sandy at the helm, it’s clear that she will not hesitate to make tough decisions to maintain order and professionalism on board.
Source: Bravo
