Mahisha Dellinger, the creator of the CURLS hair care brand, is setting the record straight about her appearance on Bravo’s Below Deck Med that’s led to insanely unnecessary threats of violence against her and her children.
In a statement shared exclusively with BOSSIP, she acknowledged that while some moments on the show might have portrayed her as “rude,” “demanding,” and “difficult,” they did not provide an “accurate representation” of her true character and instead perpetuated stereotypes “in ways that disparage Black women.”
Source: CNBetter Media
What Happened On Below Deck Med?
Bravo fans poured onto social media with complaints about Mahisha’s seemingly “bossy” and “sassy” demeanor after she appeared as a guest on Below Deck Med on Aug. 12.
Upset fans slammed several questionable moments Mahisha had on the show, including one notable instance where she seemingly asked the yacht’s female crew members, Aesha Scott, and Bri Muller, to move an “eyesore” couch from the deck. In another scene, Mahisha appeared to demand that Aesha fetch her cocktail, which was just a short distance away.
In another scene, she was seen stating that caviar served to “taste like a washcloth” and in another moment, Neysla Paltsev, a friend of Dellinger’s was seen alleging that she was given a butter knife for her fish dinner when in actuality it was a fish knife.
She has since apologized for her actions.
“The confusion with the knives was silly. But the way I handled it was not OK. For that, I am truly sorry,” said Paltsev. “Although getting knives confused is not a crime, neither is being rude. But I should not have been [that rude].”
Mahisa Dellinger Speaks Out On ‘Below Deck Med’ Moments, Says It Was Edited To Perpetuate Negative Stereotypes
In her statement to BOSSIP, Mahisha claimed that she wasn’t like what Bravo cameras depicted in real life.
Source: CNBetter Media / CNBetter Media
The CURLS founder also revealed that she and her family were targeted online due to complaints from fans.
“I conduct myself, professionally or personally. Unfortunately, this portrayal has led to significant backlash, impacting my reputation, my relationships and my family; who, since the show’s airing, has faced a troubling wave of negative comments, including threats of violence and attacks on my children via social media. This is never acceptable.”
Mahisha said that Bravo producers heavily edited some of her less favorable moments on the reality TV show to paint her in a negative light as a Black woman, which she found “disheartening.”
“As a Black woman in business, I am acutely aware of the systemic challenges and marginalization that often accompany my journey,” the business owner shared. “It is disheartening to see how the media can perpetuate stereotypes and often edit content in ways that disparage Black women. They frequently present sensationalized storylines that do not reflect the full reality of the individuals involved.”
Mahisha added;
“But I know my reality, and despite this situation, I stand by me. I’m proud of who I am, who I’ve become, what I have built, what I’m still building, and the work I have done through my businesses and community initiatives to uplift, support and empower others; particularly, those from marginalized backgrounds. Every experience in our lives is designed to teach us lessons. I have learned that even in challenging moments, especially moments like this that seem almost unbearable, there is opportunity for growth, and I will use these lessons to move forward with integrity and resilience. Thank you to all who have shown support, understanding and grace in this moment. You are all greatly appreciated.”
Mahisha Dellinger Also Took To Instagram To Clear The Air
Mahisha went into further detail about the controversy surrounding her Below Deck Med appearance in an Instagram video posted on Aug.14. The entrepreneur acknowledged that while she had a few “regrettable” moments on camera, she and her friends generally had a fantastic time aboard the yacht. She revealed that during filming, she was struggling with alcohol but began a journey towards sobriety shortly after her appearance.
Mahisha expressed her gratitude to the staff for their hospitality and addressed several controversial moments from the show, reiterating that they were heavily edited and not as they appeared.
She clarified that while she did ask that the couches be moved so they could promo pictures for Bravo she expected the men onboard to move it.
“I would never expect a woman of any size to move a couch,” she said. “We got the picture but it wasn’t intended to have the beautiful ladies move the couch.”
As far as the cocktail situation, the mogul clarified that she was asking her friend Neysla to get her cocktail cheekily, not Aesha.
“I wasn’t speaking to captain Aesha,” said Mahisha. “I can have that with my friend, we know our vibe, with friends you have this different banter. I treat service people really well, I tip service people really well,” she added.
She then dug into the “caviar gate” and said that the Chef’s food was delicious and the taste of the caviar didn’t reflect poorly on him. She noted however that she could have kept the “washcloth” comment to herself.
Ultimately, the entrepreneur wants watches to be mindful that they taped three days of content that was sliced down to only 20 minutes.
“Those moments looked horrible on TV and I get that,” she said, urging people to move on.
Listen to her full statement below.
No matter how you feel about what was shown on Below Deck Med, threats of violence are never okay.
Despite the backlash, Mahisha has much to celebrate, including recently earning her doctorate.
What do YOU think about Mahisha Dellinger sharing her truth amid the Below Deck Med backlash?
