As Below Deck star Captain Sandy Yawn's battle with Captain Lee Rosbach's interior department wages on, Chef Rachel Hargrove takes Sandy's side against chief stew, Fraser Olender, leaving fans with mostly frustrated reactions. Rachel first appeared in Below Deck season 8, quickly becoming a fan favorite due to her outspoken and inappropriate comments, all while displaying some of the strongest culinary skills seen yet on the beloved nautical franchise. Returning for Below Deck season 9, Rachel was joined by a new face in second steward, Fraser Olender. The pair were the only cast members to return for Below Deck season 10, where Captain Sandy of Below Deck Mediterranean has replaced Captain Lee temporarily due to a health concern.
Retuning as a chief stew, Fraser has not impressed Captain Sandy. Below Deck's Chef Rachel Hargrove appears to be taking Sandy's side, leaving the viewers frustrated.
Reddit user StellaCatMom writes "I’m so over Rachel. I hate that she’s dragging Fraser so much and then telling Sandy. I’ve never been a big Rachel fan, probably the only one. Lol." This statement was joined by commenters saying the OP is not the only one to feel that way. "She always seems like she could turn really quick," one commenter added. "Love you one minute then cut you the next." One viewer even referenced back to Below Deck season 8 with a parallel storyline. "I recall Rachel being upset w Eddie over his [justifiable] comments on her behavior...I think she felt betrayed. Hmmmm, kind of what she’s doing to Fraser in S10."
Chef Rachel Hargrove Could Just Be Protecting Her Own Interests
In addition to Below Deck, Rachel Hargrove maintains employment as a yacht chef throughout the year. This has led some to believe Rachel's actions could just be for self-preservation. One Redditor commented, "Rachel is a chef all the time, not doing the job only for the purposes of being on BD...She needs other boats to hire her to be their chef in the future. I see it less as caving in, more as understanding how to have career longevity. Another fan in the Reddit thread expressed a similar viewpoint explaining, "what I think Rachael is doing is just “yes ma’am” as an intentional way to prove her professionalism." However, this Below Deck fan agrees that Rachel is not coming off well in Below Deck season 10.
Speculation is growing over reports that Rachel has quit Below Deck, after voicing displeasure towards Bravo. Speaking out against your employer is a sure-fire way to never be asked back again, no matter how great of a chef you are or how entertaining and engaging your on-air time may be for the viewers and the subsequent ratings. If this report is true and her time on-air is quickly coming to an end, it further supports that the later thought of self-preservation might just be accurate, as she will need to earn a paycheck, after leaving Below Deck, for the remainder of her off-screen career.
Below Deck season 10 has been highly entertaining thus far with firings, two captains, and all the necessary boat-specific drama. No matter where viewers stand on the alliance that has formed between Captain Sandy and Rachel, most would probably agree that Fraser has remained professional when spoken to by his authorities, and that he has shown grace when faced by public opposition for his efforts as a team leader. It can also be said that the sometimes fan-favorite Chef Rachel has given viewers three solid seasons of laughs and eye-roll moments. As both Below Deck cast members have their strengths, here's hoping that before filming wraps, peace between the two can be found.
Sources: StellaCatMom/Reddit, Rachel Hargrove/Instagram