Below Deck Down Under’s Johnny loses his temper with Wihan du Toit

The latest episode of Below Deck Down Under aired on Monday night and delivered a tense confrontation that ended with Johnny Arvanitis punching cabin walls and covering cameras.

The heated moment unfolded after a case of mistaken identity when deckhand Alesia Harris accidentally climbed into Wihan du Toit's bunk, assuming it was Johnny's. This misunderstanding triggered a chain reaction culminating in Johnny's explosive outburst against his fellow Below Deck Down Under crew member.

The Bravo reality series following yacht crew members working and living together during charter seasons has previously faced serious issues around consent.

Just last season, Captain Jason Chambers had to dismiss two crew members due to their inappropriate behavior. This latest incident raises new questions about boundaries and relationships among the tight-knit crew working in the cramped quarters of a luxury yacht patrolling Australian waters.

What happened between Below Deck Down Under’s Johnny and Wihan in the latest episode?

The trouble ensued behind a night of heavy drinking after completing a charter. This episode of Below Deck Down Under cleverly made use of timestamps to track the evening's deterioration, beginning with crew members splitting up as Wihan and Adair departed for a date around 6:29 pm.

While the couple was away, text messages revealed that Wihan was simultaneously communicating with fellow Below Deck Down Under crew member Tzarina throughout his date with Adair. This revelation sparked frustration among other crew members who were dining at a restaurant. Tzarina added fuel to the fire by claiming Wihan had been physically flirtatious with her earlier, grabbing her and kissing her neck.

Johnny, who had previously spoken to Wihan about his behavior with multiple women on the boat, expressed his disgust at the situation.

"I hate all this bullsh_t,"

he told the gathered crew members, just moments before Wihan and Adair joined them from their date.

The situation reached its boiling point at 12:13 am when Alesia knocked on the door of the cabin shared by Johnny and Wihan. Half-asleep, Wihan answered, but Alesia mistook him for Johnny and crawled into his bed. The confusion only became apparent when the real Johnny entered the room, shocking Alesia into sudden sobriety.

After Alesia had hurriedly exited, Johnny returned to confront Wihan. His anger was evident, and Johnny declared he was quitting. When Wihan attempted to talk through the situation, Johnny lost all composure, locking their cabin door, violently punching the overhead cabinets, and shouting:

"DON'T F_CKING TALK TO ME"

The disturbance was loud enough that female crew members in nearby cabins could hear the commotion, which left them concerned and tearful about the situation. In a final dramatic gesture, Johnny covered the cabin's security camera with his shirt while muttering:

"This boat is f_cking mental."

The episode closed with an ominous "TO BE CONTINUED" message, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger.

Prior incidents on Below Deck Down Under

This volatile situation follows a more serious consent scandal from the previous season of Below Deck Down Under that made headlines in 2023. Last year, Bosun Luke Jones was dismissed after cameras caught him climbing naked into stewardess Margot Sisson's bed while she was unconscious from alcohol. Production intervened, and Captain Jason ultimately fired Luke and another crew member who blamed Margot for the incident.

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in September 2024, Captain Jason reflected on those events:

"The one thing I want that sticks in my mind is that I supported everyone afterward. Everyone involved with it had some learning to do."

He noted that industry attitudes have shifted significantly:

"I think the industry 15 or 20 years ago was totally different. A lot of these things were acceptable in many ways and in society as well. I'm glad that society is not like that anymore."

Following last season's incidents, production implemented stronger safeguards.

"They actually brought additional HR people to actually make sure that the black and white writing was understood by all," Captain Jason explained.

These measures appeared to change the dynamics on board:

"There seemed to be a lot less drinking and a lot more drama."

The current confrontation between Johnny and Wihan on Below Deck Down Under, while not directly comparable to previous consent issues, demonstrates how quickly tensions escalate in the pressure-cooker-like environment of a luxury yacht. The crew members have to work intensely close together as well as navigate personal relationships and professional responsibilities.

As Below Deck Down Under viewers await the next episode to see if Johnny follows through on his threat to quit, the incident serves as a reminder of the volatile mixture that results when exhaustion, alcohol, and interpersonal drama collide in the confined spaces of life at sea.

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Below Deck Down Under airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo and is available for streaming the next day on Peacock.