Aesha Scott says that she has no regrets about her short-lived romance with Jack Stirrup ahead of the premiere of Below Deck Down Under. The second stew and deckhand, respectively, first met while working on the Sirocco during Below Deck Mediterranean season 4. The duo, who were both considered to be more fun-loving and spontaneous than their co-stars, quickly began to develop feelings for one another. Remaining a strong couple up until the final episode, Jack's quirky plans to woo Aesha were a hit, with viewers impressed by his tenacity. From wanting body paint and a handmade banner to asking Aesha out, to writing multiple poems, it was no surprise when the then-lovebirds eventually moved into each other's bunks.
Things quickly went left for Aesha and Jack once the Below Deck spin-off ended, however. Soon after filming for season 4 wrapped and Jack went back to his life in the United Kingdom and reconnected with a previous girlfriend, Kelly Hidge. While Jack claimed that he broke things off with Aesha during Bravo's after-show, Aesha said that his story was not quite accurate. According to Aesha, Jack invited the star to visit him in England, yet then went to a wedding with Kelly. Less than a year after filming season 4, in fact, Jack and Kelly welcomed their first child. Their son Pheonix was born in April 2020; it's unclear if Jack and Kelly are still together today.
Despite their break-up after months of sailing around France, Aesha tells Page Six that there are no hard feelings between her and Jack. "It was a fun time and I don't regret it," Aesha says about their short-lived romance. "He made doing [Below Deck Mediterranean season 4] that much more fun and I loved his company. It was a great time." While some Below Deck fans were surprised to see Jack reunite with his ex-girlfriend soon after returning home, the New Zealander reveals that Jack did reach out to apologize for his role in their relationship's demise. In a show of positive maturity, Aesha continues that she found it natural to forgive the 31-year old. "I don't like to hold grudges and kind of keep a negative energy in my space," she explains. "If someone is sorry and I feel like they're genuine, I'm going to forgive them and move on."
While Aesha and Jack easily made amends, the star confirms that there isn't much of a friendship between them. Admitting that the pair haven't spoken in about a year and a half, Aesha says that despite the emotional distance, their energy is "definitely not negative." Part of their natural separation comes from their respective relationships, as Aesha has been dating Scotty Dobbo since 2020. Describing her Coloradan boyfriend as "adventurous and fun," the star says that the couple is focused on taking things slow while exploring life's opportunities. "We really want to get married and have some kids. We talk about that all the time and spending our life together," Aesha reveals, but continues, "I don't see the rush to get engaged because at the moment, I'm really just enjoying being like, 'I love my boyfriend!' We've got our whole lives."
It's a good thing that Aesha and Scotty have gotten used to long-distance dating — in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic — since Aesha has been busy fulfilling the role as chief stew for Below Deck Down Under. Calling her first time in charge of the team "such an amazing experience," fans of the franchise can check out the first three episodes on Peacock starting March 17, with new episodes released every Thursday. As for Jack, the former deckhand is completely focused on his family with no public indications of rejoining Below Deck Mediterranean. Aesha and Jack may be permanently over, but if Below Deck Down Under is anything like its predecessors, there will be more relationships in store for fans to spectate.
Below Deck Down Under streams new episodes every Thursday on Peacock.
Source: Page Six