Below Deck Star Files $850 Million Lawsuit Against NBCUniversal

BRAVO / BELOW DE

Emile Kotze, who appeared as a deckhand on Season 3 of Bravo's "Below Deck" in 2015, has filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against NBCUniversal Media, LLC and the show's producers. According to TMZ, Kotze, a 23-year-old South African citizen at the time of filming, is seeking $850 million in damages.

According to the complaint, Kotze alleges that producers misrepresented the series as a documentary-style program when it was actually a scripted reality show designed for dramatic entertainment.

He alleges they manipulated his participation by encouraging excessive alcohol consumption, orchestrating sexually suggestive scenarios and pranks, and pressuring him into a fabricated romantic storyline with castmate Raquel "Rocky" Dakota.

Kotze also claims that the show's editing portrayed him in a false and defamatory light as immature, incompetent, and sexually aggressive.

He contends this depiction caused severe reputational harm, leading to his exclusion from the yachting industry, as well as significant psychological distress, including diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression attributed to the experience.

NBCUniversal denies the allegations

The defendants have denied the allegations. In response, representatives for NBCUniversal and the producers stated that the claims are largely barred by the statute of limitations, lack sufficient factual support, and are protected under the First Amendment. They maintain that producers have the right to shape and edit content in reality television productions.

The case remains in its early stages following the filing. No trial date or further rulings have been reported in connection with this specific action.