8 Below Deck Chief Stews Who Are The Worst
Below Deck has had some beloved and terrible chief stews across all franchises. Who are the worst chief stews that have appeared on Below Deck?
Chief stews play crucial roles on Below Deck, responsible for guests and crew.
Friction between chief stews and crew can lead to drama and potential firings.
Viewers have mixed reactions to chief stews like Kate Chastain due to strong personalities.
There have been some iconic chief stews throughout Below Deck history, and there are ones that stand out as the worst. Below Deck chronicles the lives of crew members aboard superyachts who work on charters. The chief stew is one member of the full Below Deck crew, but they arguably have one of the most important roles of the entire crew. Chief stews are responsible for the interior of the yachts and serve as the main point of contact for charter guests. While Below Deck deckhands can be forgettable, chief stews typically make an impact on the series.
Each chief stew is in charge of their team of stews that help make sure things run smoothly. Oftentimes, if a trip goes terribly for a charter guest, the blame will fall on the chief stew’s shoulders. Chief stews have a difficult role, but sometimes the pressure can get to them. With the recent release of Below Deck season 11, the franchise has seen many chief stews rotate in and out. Some chief stews have become fan favorites, and some have just rubbed viewers the wrong way for being the worst to their crews or at their jobs.
8Hannah Ferrier
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 1-5
Below Deck Mediterranean star Hannah Ferrier had some great and not-so-great moments throughout her five seasons on the spin-off. Hannah was loved for her witty commentary and interactions with the rest of the Below Deck Med crew. However, at times, Hannah was combative and got into unnecessary arguments with her crew. Her relationship with Captain Sandy Yawn was incredibly tumultuous. Hannah’s up-and-down relationship with Captain Sandy eventually bled into her performance as a chief stew.
Hannah was fired on Below Deck Med season 5 by Captain Sandy for having an unregistered Valium and a vape pen on the yacht, which was against maritime laws. Hannah had a dramatic exit in Below Deck Med season 5 when she fled from the yacht, and Captain Sandy chased her, trying to talk to her before she left. Hannah got into arguments with several people on Below Deck Med, but she also offered a sense of comedic relief. Sometimes, though, this caused her to get into even more fights with her crew members.
7Fraser Olender
Below Deck Season 9-11
Fraser Olender has become a recurring personality in the later seasons of Below Deck, but he’s quickly becoming disliked. Fraser has dealt with drama in every season he’s been on, but Below Deck season 11 has been even more controversial for the chief stew. Working under Captain Kerry Titheradge, Fraser’s success as a chief steward isn’t the best as he takes things personally. Fraser’s had a major conflict with Barbie Pascual, one of the many stews welcomed to St. David at the beginning of Below Deck season 11.
Fraser formed an early bond with Cat Baugh, and when she expressed that Barbie was being too hard on her, this upset Fraser. He took Cat’s side fully, and even in the wake of her leaving St. David on Below Deck season 11, he’s been rude to Barbie. Fraser has let his personal feelings about Barbie ruin their professional relationship. He’s made an extra effort in his relationship with new stews Xandi Olivier and Paris Field and has left Barbie out of group activities. Fraser gives Barbie extra work when it’s not needed, painting him in a bitter light.
6Kate Chastain
Below Deck Season 2-7
Kate Chastain is the most prominent Below Deck cast member to come out of any franchise. She joined the series in its second season and stayed until season 7 when she announced her departure. Kate was a strict chief stew and didn’t take any nonsense from anyone on board. Some Below Deck fans think Kate was a bad chief stew because of her strong personality. Kate knew what needed to be done, and sometimes she came off as overly bossy or dismissive. Kate didn’t hide her attitude on Below Deck, and this was a positive and negative attribute.
It’s no secret that Kate is probably the most iconic chief stew Below Deck will ever see. In part, she was beloved because of her stern ways, but that also made her unlikeable. She was quick to assert her dominance and put other crew members down in the process. Kate always thought that she knew what was best for the characters on Below Deck, and this left some viewers with a mixed reaction to her.
5Adrienne Gang
Below Deck Season 1
Adrienne Gang was the first chief stew on Below Deck season 1. It was Adrienne’s first time working as a chief stew, and she had to put up with quite a bit during her tenure. She navigated a lot of drama between Kat Held and Samantha Orne, who were both stews under her. It seemed like Adrienne’s straightforwardness turned the Below Deck season 1 crew and the audience off from her. While Adrienne treated her stews roughly, she was good at her job.
4Heather Chase
Below Deck Season 9
Heather Chase was a one-and-done Below Deck chief stew, making an appearance during season 9 of the mainstay series. Heather was one of the youngest chief stews and did her job well. She got along well with her second stew, Fraser, but clashed with her third stew, Jessica Albert, who ended up leaving the show mid-season. Heather’s most controversial moment on Below Deck season 9 came after she used a racial slur when joking with deckhand Rayna Lindsey. Heather said the racial slur once more, which was utterly unjustifiable.
3Natasha Webb
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 7
Natasha Webb was the chief stew for Below Deck Mediterranean season 7. She came into Below Deck Med season 7 with an impressive resume, even owning her yacht recruitment agency. During Below Deck Med season 7, it was revealed that Natasha and Chef David White had hooked up on a previous charter while Natasha was in another relationship. They went into Below Deck Med, attempting to conceal their current relationship, but news quickly got out that they were seeing each other. Their “boatmance” pulled focus from Natasha’s job as a chief stew.
2Francesca Rubi
Below Deck Season 8
Francesa Rubi had tough shoes to fill, becoming the chief stew on Below Deck season 8 following Kate’s exit from the show. Francesa had a lot to prove on Below Deck season 8. During the season, she got into an argument with stewardess Elizabeth Frankini. Francesca was upset that Elizabeth and crew member James Hough opted to spend a night together in a guest room. Francesca felt this was incredibly disrespectful and fired Elizabeth with only two charters left. This left viewers with a sour view of Francesca, and she was so quick to fire Elizabeth for a miscellaneous mistake.
1Jenna MacGillivray
Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 1
Jenna MacGillivray was the first chief stew on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 1. Throughout the season, she clashed with her second and third stews, Madison Stalker and Georgie Grobler. All stews must get along during charters, so this naturally stirs up disorder. Jenna was able to reconcile with Georgia but continued not getting along with Madison. Ultimately, more drama circulating Jenna came when she got into a boatmance with Adam Glick from Below Deck Mediterranean. Jenna was tough on her crew but soft with Adam, which gave viewers a mixed impression of her.
The Below Deck franchise has seen several chief stews since the mainstay reality television show first premiered in 2013. Some chief stews have lasted longer than others and for a multitude of reasons. Whether they’re hard on their crews, not focused on their jobs, or simply not liked by fans, there are a few reasons why a chief stew on Below Deck can be labeled “the worst.”
