The reality TV world and Bravo network took swift action recently when Peter Hunziker, a deckhand on “Below Deck Mediterranean,” was fired due to a racist and misogynistic post on his Instagram account. This move comes as Bravo demonstrates a zero-tolerance policy towards racism, especially in the wake of similar incidents within their reality show franchises. So, what exactly was this post that led to Hunziker’s immediate termination, and what is the broader context surrounding this decision?
The incident unfolded when Hunziker shared a meme on his Instagram that depicted a naked Black woman in chains. This imagery is widely recognized as racist due to its historical connotations of slavery and the dehumanization of Black women. Upon discovering the post on Friday, Bravo and 51 Minds, the production company behind “Below Deck Mediterranean,” acted decisively and fired Hunziker. The network also announced via Bravo’s Instagram that they would be editing the current season to minimize Hunziker’s presence in subsequent episodes.
This firing occurred just a week after Bravo made headlines for dismissing four cast members from “Vanderpump Rules” – Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens, and Brett Caprioni – for past racist actions. These earlier firings stemmed from the resurfacing of racially insensitive behavior towards former castmate Faith Stowers. The network’s prompt action against Hunziker further solidifies their stance against racism within their programming.
Prior to this incident, Hunziker, who nicknamed himself “Party Pete” on “Below Deck Mediterranean,” had already faced criticism during the current season for sexist behavior. He repeatedly called bosun Malia White “sweetheart,” which Captain Sandy Yawn addressed as inappropriate and disrespectful in a professional setting. This existing on-screen behavior adds another layer to the accusations of misogyny associated with Hunziker’s social media post.
While Bravo has taken a firm stance against racism with these firings, questions remain regarding other cast members within their network. Notably, Jax Taylor from “Vanderpump Rules” has faced scrutiny for his past accusations against Faith Stowers, which were a catalyst for the firings of Schroeder and Doute. As of now, Bravo has not commented on Taylor’s future with the network, leaving some to question the consistency of their zero-tolerance policy across all their shows and personalities.
In conclusion, Peter Hunziker was fired from “Below Deck Mediterranean” due to a blatantly racist meme shared on his Instagram account. This post, depicting a naked Black woman in chains, triggered immediate action from Bravo, underscoring the network’s recent commitment to addressing racism within their reality TV franchises. While the network’s swift response in this case and with the “Vanderpump Rules” firings is evident, the public is still waiting to see if this zero-tolerance approach will be consistently applied across all Bravo programming.
