João Franco joined fan-favorites Daisy Kelliher and Ben Robinson aboard the Katina for season 4 of “Below Deck Down Under.” Working alongside Captain Jason Chambers as second officer, Franco got to hang out with the women of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” in an epic crossover episode and has had his fair share of romantic interests.
As the new season is nearing its end, Franco shared some major career news that may crush the hearts of many of his fans. Franco revealed that he “won’t be going back” to Bravo and the beloved series after becoming a captain on his very own super yacht.
João Franco Confirms He’s Moving Away From Bravo After Career Update
Bravo“Below Deck Down Under” season 4 may be the very last time fans get to see João Franco on their screens. In a new interview with the Majorca Daily Bulletin, Franco revealed that he will not be returning to Bravo after securing a career as a super yacht captain.
“I did ‘Below Deck Down Under’ in 2021, airing in 2022, and filmed my final season last year, which is on TV now. The show neatly mirrored my real-world career progression. Across the four series, I moved from deckhand to lead deckhand, bosun, and finally captain. I never wanted to be a deckhand forever, the goal was always the bridge, so I spent every spare moment doing courses to move up,” he said.
Franco continued, “I can’t say much, but I’m now captain of a very large vessel. I started a few months ago, and it’s a rotational position, which is awesome. ‘Below Deck’ recently hinted at a return, but my new role’s terms mean I won’t be going back.”
“Sure, the money is great, but with the prestige of my current position, I think I’ve outgrown it,” he added.
Franco Shares Surprising Claims About Crew Experience
BravoDuring his interview, Franco was asked how realistic it is to balance working aboard a super yacht while filming a reality TV series, specifically whether cast members actually know what they’re doing.
Surprisingly, Franco revealed that many of them actually aren’t fully trained to work aboard a yacht, revealing that their inexperience has led to some “close calls.”
“Not necessarily, which is frightening. I’m amazed there haven’t been bigger incidents. There have been some close calls, even during my time. Often, the producers are more proficient than the deckhands, because they’ve been filming this for 12 or 13 years now,” he admitted.
Franco pointed out that working aboard such a large vessel and filming a reality TV show can be more risky than working a normal yacht job because there are so many extras on board who may not have real experience.
“The level of responsibility on the show is actually far greater than in the real world, yet it’s often neglected – which bothers me,” he began. “On a typical superyacht, you have a fully competent crew. On a TV show, you might have 50 people on board – including a production team – who lack experience. Even if they have the basic safety certifications, it doesn’t mean they’re qualified in any way shape or form.”
Still, Franco shared that he had no regrets about starring on “Below Deck.”
“None whatsoever. Everything – before and during the show – led me to my goal. I also used my Instagram presence to raise $600,000 for Bahamas tornado relief so, no, I don’t regret a second of it,” he said.
