‘Below Deck Mediterranean’: Gen Lillie Reveals Where Things Stand With Luke Brumer

Gen Lillie has experienced her share of disappointment during Season 11 of Below Deck Mediterranean thus far. She witnessed Chief Stew Aesha Scott promote Kayley Smith to Second Stew over her. Then after building a connection with Luke Brumer, the boatmance ended in heartbreak when the deckhand expressed having deep feelings for Chef Joy Lefaucheur. 

Making matters worse Lillie had slept with Brumer, and had hoped the love triangle dissolved with her the top choice. Things came to a head during a crew night out when Lillie confronted Brumer about trying to keep their previous extracurricular activities in order to pursue Lefaucheur. Lillie wasn’t having any of that and went to her colleague about Brumer’s player moves. 

Not only that, but she shared with Deckhand Cooper Dawson that when she hooked up with Brumer in Bosun Nathan Gallagher’s bed, he had left his semen stained sheets and didn’t wash them. It didn’t take long for the revelation to spread throughout the boat right on up to Gallagher and Captain Sandy Yawn. The latter debated what the punishment would be for the major policy infraction and overall disrespect. During the July 20 episode Brumer beat Yawn to the punch by expressing plans to quit the show. 

In the midst of all the drama, Lillie had to keep it together as demanding charter guests came aboard the Akira One. Here the 28-year-old opens up what she has been through so far and what’s to come. 

BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN — Season:11 — Pictured: Chef Joy Lefaucheur, Luke Brumer, Gen Lillie — (Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo)

Fans are getting to know you more now. What’s the mindset today as opposed to maybe even a couple weeks ago?

Gen Lillie: I think I’ve gotten better at ignoring the haters realizing people who leave comments online, you know, not very nice ones, but people are usually not that happy in their own lives. So I think I’ve gotten better about realizing that and trying to block out everything and not letting it get to me and also staying busy. I’m at work right now. So just staying busy and getting away from my phone and enjoying life without the phone.

That’s good advice for anybody. Do you feel like more people have kind of gotten on your side a little bit more after the episode aired where you’re standing your ground with Luke? 

Yeah, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more nice messages and support from people from everywhere. Especially, about that specific scene in general where Luke is kind of talked down to me. I’ve gotten a lot of support about that specific scene in general. I think people are starting to see that I stand on business, and I don’t let people walk all over me.

Has Luke ever reached out to you after the fact, and kind of took accountability for how he treated you during that scene? I mean, especially even after the episode aired?

He has me blocked on Instagram, and I have his number blocked, so no.

 

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You were disappointed that you weren’t chosen as the Second Stew. Is there anything you would have done differently in terms of how you handled that? 

I think I would have realized it wasn’t Kayley’s fault. Kayley was never the issue. I feel like I definitely got a little blindsided with that. I definitely thought she was the issue, when in fact, she wasn’t. I really wish I would have realized that in the moment and not taken my anger out on her, because at the end of the day, Aesha made the decision. I wish I would have realized that Kayley was not the problem in the moment.

The recent episodes have primary charter guest Suzanne Klein and her dog Sugar Baby onboard.  How was it having a pet on board, especially one with a preference sheet? That seems to bring its own challenges. 

I should have known that dog was going be a problem just by the name itself, Sugar Baby. But yeah, that dog…let’s just say in the next episode, that dog likes to run. You’ll see it running a lot with certain crew members having to potentially chase it and more peeing. That dog, I don’t understand dogs on superyachts. I just don’t understand it.

Suzanne is trying to find love through her matchmaking charter. You overheard Billy talking to another woman on the phone. Do you think you were triggered in a lot of ways because what was happening to her happened to you? 

I don’t know if there’s any right way to find love in this day and age because it’s tough out here. But yeah, that really infuriated me because he fully just took advantage of the fact that he was going to go on this luxury vacation, even though he had a girlfriend back home. That’s so annoying. Even though Suzanne wasn’t my favorite charter guest, I felt bad for her at the moment. I think [matchmaker] Amy [Laurent] should have vetted the guys a little bit more, just a little bit more.

What have you taken from the experience being on the show? 

I was just not in a good headspace. Looking back at it now, a few months into my healing journey and whatnot, it’s really strange. I feel like that’s not even myself when I look at it, but it is. I don’t know. It’s a really surreal experience, but a good one. It made me realize where my problems lay and what I need to fix.

How important was it to have [stew] Kat [Johnson] to lean on?

It’s always important to have at least one person on board who you can just laugh with after a long day or a tough charter. It was so important to have that, and she was definitely my person because we are so close in age. We’re into the same things. We have the same sense of humor, so it was nice to just have that person who can not only dry your tears, but also make you laugh.

What do you want to tease about what’s to come as Luke went to Captain Sandy to say he quits. How does that change the dynamic of the boat?

Whew, let’s just say we have a tough two charters coming up is all I can really say. The whole dynamic on board in all departments shifts after that conversation with Captain Sandy. You’ll see a lot of rifts coming up, not only on deck, but also interior and galley as well.

How would you describe the transition becoming this public figure being on Below Deck Med? Did you receive any tips or advice for Aesha or Sandy or others who have been through it for a while? 

Aesha does not speak to me. That’s another story. Captain Sandy, she’s been so busy, I don’t want to bother her because she’s just out here doing the most amazing things ever. I do look at some of my favorite influencers and public figures and kind of take a page out of their book and what they do to keep grounded and keep sane. I was definitely doing my own personal research. 

WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN — Episode 23104 — Pictured: Gen Lillie — (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo)

You spoke in a social media post about working through anxiety. In that post, you spoke about still being open to doing another season. Would you go for it because of now having the experience under your belt, which would make it a different experience?  

It would 100% be a different experience. I’m just in a better headspace. At the time the show was filmed, I had so much going on in my personal life that it’s ridiculous that I went on. But I would definitely approach a lot of things differently now, and I’d be a lot calmer and not as worked up about the little things. So yeah, I would do it again, because I think it would be a better experience for me.

What have you been up to these days? 

Yes, I’m currently on a boat right now. I’m hiding in the guest cabin right now. We pick up a charter later this week. Yeah, I’m currently still yachting, and I plan on doing it until I’m ready to settle down on land. I love it.

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Do you find that after you appear on the show that it’s a double-edged sword in regards to how people take that in when you’re trying to get hired?

I think it’s a double-edged sword. I mean, obviously, if you have a good reputation in the industry before you do the show it doesn’t really affect you that much. That was my case. I’ve worked on some of the most prestigious yachts in the world, I have close relationships with former chief stews and chief officers and whatnot. So it wasn’t really a problem for me, but it is weird when you tell people. I actually just had that conversation today with my current chief stew right now, like, Hey, I’m on the show. She’s like, “Oh wow.” She didn’t know. 

What do you want to say to viewers as we go into the next few episodes?

Everyone needs to remember that every single crew member is a human, and we all have backstories. There’s a lot of rifts that come up with everyone, and I think everyone just needs to remember. At the moment, a lot of us, we’re going through a lot in our personal lives, and, you know, we’re all humans. But it does get really crazy, and it continues to get crazy until the end of the season.

Below Deck Mediterranean, Mondays, 8/7c, Bravo