Laura From ‘Below Deck Down Under’ Defends Luke By Saying Margot ‘Willingly Kissed’ Him

Former Below Deck Down Under crew member Laura Bileskalne has leapt to the defence of her friend Luke Jones. The show touched on a serious topic last week, after Captain Jason Chambers was informed of some ‘inappropriate’ behaviour on board the Midnight Sun.

I’ll give you a recap and Laura’s update, but note that it involves themes of sexual harassment. If you’d rather avoid this type of content, please click away now. 

Luke and Laura on Below Deck Down Under. Image credit: Bravo, Below Deck Down Under

ICYMI: Below Deck fans were alarmed when a fully naked Luke Jones entered Margot Sisson’s bed while she was under the influence of alcohol and sleeping. After the production team and Aesha Scott stepped in, Captain Jason ordered Luke off the ship. 

The next day, Captain Jason fired Luke for his actions, but he wasn’t finished. Aesha told Captain Jason that Laura had also been making deckhand Adam Kodra uncomfortable by continuing to make flirtatious advances, even though he told her multiple times he wasn’t interested. Laura pleaded with the captain to see if she could get away with a warning, but Captain Jason fired her as well. 

This leads us to Laura’s latest Instagram story. She has fiercely defended her friend Luke Jones, saying that she doesn’t believe he’s a “predator”. 

“I don’t take s**t from [those] who [have] not actually watched it. Don’t make up a predator from someone who gave a HUG to a girl who willingly kissed [him] 25 minutes ago. [Get] over yourself and your BS,” Laura wrote. 

She added that she’s a “loyal” friend to Luke, and said that she doesn’t let the criticism get to her. 

“I never do or ever will stand up for what is wrong. And you cannot [break] me. I am a hustler and you have nothing on me. #Hatersgonnahate. And that’s on you,” she finished. 

Aesha Scott on the set of Below Deck Down Under. Image credit: Bravo, Below Deck Down Under

Luke and his current girlfriend respond to the Below Deck Down Under scandal.

Luke hasn’t been too vocal about the situation, and he appears to be keeping his head down and letting the media storm blow over. He did share one Instagram post before the episode aired, which seemed cryptic but aimed at the situation.

“It doesn’t matter what they think about you because you don’t care. Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective. Not the truth. Take ownership and move forward,” he wrote. 

Luke and his girlfriend and screenshots shared by her. Image credit: Instagram/@dianaworkoutss, X/@kittkattttttt

The post has since been deleted, but his current girlfriend Diana Maldonado has added more fuel to the fire.

After a fan called Diana out for continuing her relationship with a “predator”, she allegedly replied, saying: “Girl he was just acting, it’s a TV show, it’s not real life”.

This didn’t go down well, but Luke has yet to address this comment. I’ll keep you posted if anything else comes to light. 

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If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. 13Yarn is also available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in need of support.

Image credits: Bravo, Below Deck Down Under, Instagram/@lbilene, @lukebonesjones, @dianaworkoutss, X/@kittkattttttt