Below Deck’s Hugo Ortega Details Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses at 17

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Hugo Ortega‘s relationship with religion hasn’t always been smooth sailing.

Indeed, the main cast member from Below Deck’s season 12 openly discussed how his upbringing with firm guidelines played a significant role in choosing a profession in the travel industry.

The New York City native expressed, during the Bravo series’ July 21 episode, that he found yachting much like many others might. He was exploring new horizons and escaping his previous lifestyle.

Hugo went on to say, “I spent my childhood as a follower of Jehovah’s Witnesses, abstaining from celebrating birthdays and Christmas. However, at the age of 17, I decided to part ways with this faith.

And the Bosun’s decision to walk away from the religion certainly made waves with his family.

He pondered on how his decision to leave the religion has become a significant discussion point with his parents. He understands that this causes them a great deal of distress, as they feel responsible and believe they may not have taught him correctly. This subject stirs up strong emotions in both his mother and father.

But over a decade later, Hugo doesn’t look back at his childhood with any ill will.

The St. David crew member expressed, “I believe nothing was squandered in my case. If I hadn’t left the life I disliked, I would have missed out on what could have been valuable experiences instead.

As the thrilling newcomer, Hugo – stepping into the shoes of Caio Poltronieri who was unfortunately let go mid-season as Bosun – has always been captivated by the allure of voyaging around the globe aboard luxurious yachts, a passion that now fuels my own fervor as an ardent fan.

He expressed during the July 7 episode of Below Deck, “It’s incredibly liberating,” he said, sharing his thoughts for the first time. Growing up in the Bronx with a religious background, he came from a household where both parents were immigrants, his father hailing from Honduras and his mother from the Dominican Republic. They had certain aspirations for him, but he always felt the urge to break free. When he entered yachting, it was like transitioning from seeing life in shades of gray to suddenly experiencing vibrant colors.

As for his love life, Hugo detailed his open relationship with partner Bee.

He clarified that they prefer a traditional relationship over situationships. They are deeply committed to one another and openly discuss their past experiences, preferences, and feelings, allowing their bond to develop naturally.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my delight over the flexibility and independence we have – it truly hits the spot for me!

On Monday nights at 8 p.m., you can catch “Below Deck” on Bravo. Until then, continue reading to reminisce about the series’ most jaw-dropping crew member exits.

Lesson from Camille Lamb’s dismissal in Below Deck: Always give your best at work. It was this reason that led to the season 10 stew’s termination by stand-in Captain Sandy Yawn, as Chief Stew Fraser Olender persistently pointed out Camille’s unprofessional conduct on board.

Fraser confided in Captain Sandy that his actions, such as drinking on the job and staying up late, had gone too far.

Captain Sandy remarked, “She’s the shared factor among everything that’s happening.” She’s a fantastic individual with an appealing personality, yet it’s crucial to consider what’s best for the ship as well.

Kyle Dickard, a cast member from the reality series “Below Deck Adventure”, was dismissed after only three episodes in its newest season, which debuted in November 2022. His dismissal came as a result of instigating conflicts with fellow deckhand Nathan Morley and kissing crew members in front of guests. Captain Kerry Titheradge gave Kyle the chance to resign voluntarily so that his termination would not be noted on his personal record.

Kyle took the Captain up on his offer and left the boat after just one charter.

During the seventh season of Below Deck Mediterranean, Captain Sandy dismissed Raygan Tyler not just because he accidentally grazed the boat during docking, but also due to his failure to show leadership qualities when required.

However, Captain Sandy didn’t wish for her dismissal to dampen the spirits of the bosun. Instead, she expressed to Raygan, “Given more time and if I weren’t managing a ship of this magnitude, I would mentor you. I would instruct you.

Apart from romantic entanglements on the job and disregarding instructions, one major cause for stew Elizabeth Frankini’s dismissal from Below Deck was an incident in the laundry room, where she created a hazardous situation by mixing bleach and laundry detergent, resulting in a harmful mess.

She shared with TopMob News about the December 2020 incident, saying regretfully, “I didn’t realize how harmful it was, and I feel genuinely sorry for it.” She added, “Yes, Francesca [Rubi] did tell me to ‘take it elsewhere’, which I wish I had done.

In the course of my service, I found myself among the crew members who were let go by none other than Captain Jason Chambers, following an evening of festivities aboard our yacht, due to some unacceptable conduct that transpired during our gathering with fellow sailors.

Luke Jones was dismissed following an incident where he entered Margot Sisson’s bed while she was drunk and unconscious, both clothed and unclothed. Laura Bileskaine persisted with unwanted advances on deckhand Adam Kodra even after he expressed his lack of interest in a romantic encounter.

Jason made it known that consent was a must, and sent both crewmembers packing.

The conflict between crew members Lexi Wilson and Chef Mathew Shea escalated to a heated argument at dinner in season six of Below Deck Mediterranean. During this altercation, Lexi made an offensive comment about Matt’s parents, saying they “should have chosen not to have you.” This remark proved to be the final straw for Captain Sandy, who promptly dismissed Lexi from the crew shortly after the incident.

Tom Pearson, the deckhand, bade farewell to “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” following his dismissal by Captain Glenn Shephard. This parting occurred after Tom’s final disagreement with the Captain, stemming from his failure to inform about the boat’s anchor dragging during strong winds one evening, which could have posed a safety threat for everyone on board.

Captain Glenn stated on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ that it was a regrettable situation, but the decision had to be made. He had to leave, and we were left short-handed and had to deal with it unfortunately.

Some individuals can be quite selective about their food choices, and that certainly seemed to apply to the chef, Ryan McKeown, on “Below Deck Down Under.” He was known for critiquing guests’ food preferences and found it challenging to accept constructive criticism from Captain Jason Chambers as well.

It’s possible that Ryan’s departure from Below Deck is particularly noteworthy, given his unusual goodbye where he exposed his backside to Jason and the audience before leaving the vessel.

The dismissal of stew Magda Ziomek from Below Deck Down Under was yet another instance of poor job performance. Due to her frequent use of her phone for texting or video calls with her boyfriend, Chief Stew Aesha Scott opted to replace Magda before the conclusion of the charter season.

On the show “Below Deck Mediterranean,” Peter Hunziker was dismissed from the series back in June 2020, following his sharing of a controversial post on social networking platforms.

Peter Hunziker, from the series ‘Below Deck Mediterranean’, was dismissed following his offensive social media post. In response, Bravo and 51 Minds have decided to reduce Hunziker’s visibility in future episodes by editing the show accordingly.

On the reality TV show “Below Deck Mediterranean”, Captain Sandy decided to terminate the employment of Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier due to the discovery made by boson Malia White. It appears that Hannah had hidden some information about her personal possessions: undeclared Valium, a medication used for anxiety, and a vape pen.

In a 2020 interview with TopMob News, Hannah expressed that if given the chance, she would have disclosed them immediately upon joining. She clarified it wasn’t an act of intention or hiding information.

Delaney Evans, a cast member from Below Deck Mediterranean, had a brief stint on the show. Initially brought in during season six to assist Chief Stew Katie Flood, it turned out that Delaney’s presence was causing more problems than solutions. Consequently, after only one charter, Katie decided to part ways with Delaney.

Delaney stated to Bravo Insider that, in her opinion, Katie felt overpowered by the circumstances and believed the most suitable course of action for her was to return to their previous state. Essentially, Delaney suggested that Katie was overwhelmed by everything happening around her and the numerous comments she was receiving.

Shane Coopersmith, one of the deckhands, found himself struggling during season eight of ‘Below Deck’. He ended up getting fired due to his lack of knowledge about fundamental skills, chronic tardiness, and even taking naps while working.

On season three of Below Deck, a kitchen chaos resulted in Captain Lee Rosbach deciding to part ways with Chef Leon Walker. This occurred after a kitchen fire erupted, and due to the incident, Captain Lee attributed the blame to Chief Stew Kate Chastain. However, it was ultimately Captain Lee who received dismissal from the crew.

Similar to several cast members of the franchise, Chris Brown from Below Deck was dismissed during season five due to not fulfilling his assigned tasks properly. After being terminated by Captain Lee, Chris expressed his feelings with a departure remark, saying “Who cares?

As an ardent admirer, let me rephrase that in a more conversational tone: I, a devoted fan, can’t help but share my disappointment over the turn of events involving Chef Mila Kolomeitseva on season four of Below Deck Mediterranean. Sadly, she was dismissed by Captain Sandy due to her inability to showcase her culinary skills and deliver top-notch dishes, even for some less-than-appetizing nachos.

Mila admitted, “Indeed, my departure leaves me feeling quite dismal. You see, those with larger-than-life personalities occasionally need a gentle reminder of reality. Yet, it motivates me to strive and exert myself more than ever.

On certain occasions, team members may struggle to function harmoniously. This was precisely the reason Captain Lee decided to let go of Chandler Brooks in season six of Below Deck, expressing his sentiment as, “I believe this isn’t an ideal match.

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2025-07-22 17:50