Below Deck Med‘s Nathan Gallagher is getting some backlash — including from his former costars — for his comments on the Bondi Beach shooting.
Nathan took to Instagram on Monday, December 15, to address the news that two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, which killed 16 people and injured at least 40.
“Brought people off the beach/water and headed to sea. Terrifying and disgusting behaviour,” he wrote. “Anyone who thinks it’s okay to let these people into any other country than their own can go F*** themselves.”
Nathan continued: “Unfortunately these acts paint a picture for all of them and that picture has been painted. OUT! Out of every country. Out of Europe and out of Australia.”
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Earlier that day, Nathan spoke with RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline about being on a boat tagging sharks off the coast when the shots rang out. He helped save several people, telling the outlet, “People didn’t know what was happening. Once I shouted that it was gunshots, people started swimming in all directions. I told them to come to the boat, and a few of them did.”
He continued: “It was something I’ll never forget. People were lying behind the lifeguard buggy, others running left and right. We were scared ourselves, ducking behind the cabin, but the priority was getting people to safety.”
On social media, however, the bosun attempted to defend himself after being accused of harmful commentary around immigration, to which he replied, “It’s not targeting any race or ethnicity it’s targeting people linked to organized crime groups and terrorist groups.”
Nathan’s coworker Cathy Skinner subsequently released a statement questioning his views.
“I want to be absolutely clear about where I stand. I don’t usually comment on political, religious, or social issues because my social media is meant to be a fun, positive space — and because things can easily be edited, taken out of context, or misunderstood,” she wrote via Instagram Stories on Tuesday, December 16. “But I felt it was important to say this. I do not agree with, support, or excuse racism, xenophobia, or language that blames entire communities for the actions of individuals.”
While Cathy didn’t address Nathan, she appeared to be responding to his divisive post, adding, “Immigrants are not the problem. Murderers are the problem. Conflating immigration, nationality, or ethnicity with violent crime is not only incorrect — it is dangerous. It fuels fear, misinformation, and harm toward innocent people who have done nothing wrong. Racism is not always intentional, but that does not make it acceptable. Many people do not realize they are being racist until the world points it out to them. That lack of awareness is exactly why education is necessary — and why these narratives must be challenged publicly.”
She continued: “Words matter, especially when spoken from a platform. When emotion turns into generalization, accountability is required. Being angry does not justify being ignorant. Our hearts are with all innocent victims of violence everywhere. Violence is never justified — and neither is blaming entire cultures, countries, or communities for it. If we want a better, safer world, we have to stop excusing harmful rhetoric and start educating those who refuse to examine their bias.”
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Joe Bradley, who recently revealed he is no longer in touch with Nathan, shared Cathy’s post on his social media.
“Well said Cathy,” he wrote alongside a photo of Cathy’s statement — and Nathan’s since-expired post.
Australia is currently in mourning after the Bondi Beach shooting became the deadliest terrorist attack carried out in the country. It is also the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre of 1996.
Australian stars such as Rebel Wilson and Hugh Jackman have spoken out against the hateful attack.
“Just waking up to the news about what’s happened on Bondi Beach. An absolute tragedy that is the most un-Australian thing to have happen,” Wilson, 45, wrote via social media on Monday. “We shouldn’t have gun violence in Australia, we shouldn’t have antisemitism — it’s not us! Thinking of everyone affected by this devastating violence.”
Jackman, 57, meanwhile, told Fox 5 DC on Monday, “It’s just devastating, it’s my home so it hits close. This is something we are seeing all over the world, my heart is breaking about it.”
