Summary
- The feud between Natalya and Tumi on Below Deck Mediterranean escalates, with Natalya expressing her anger and Tumi considering firing her.
- Chef Jack compares the tension on the yacht to the Titanic and insists that the issue needs to be resolved for the sake of the boat's dynamics.
- Kyle realizes that his involvement in the feud has only made things worse, as his gossiping has caused the working relationship between Natalya and Tumi to deteriorate further.
Jack Luby from Below Deck Mediterranean believes Natalya “Nat” Scudder’s ongoing feud with Tumi Mhlongo will have a dramatic conclusion. Natalya is most famous for her arguments with Natasha “Tasha” Webb in Below Deck Med season 7. While she was expected to be different in season 8, the second Stew proved everyone wrong by picking a fight with the new South African Chief Stew, Tumi. The ladies butted heads during their first interaction as they disagreed about dish organization on their yacht. To make matters worse, Kyle fueled the fire by instigating Tumi and Natalya.
A sneak peek video of the next episode of Below Deck Med season 8 (as shared by Bravo) shows things worsening between Natalya and Tumi. Natalya is talking to Chef Jack as she divulges that Kyle told her about how Tumi intends to fire her. She says, “I f***ing hate her. She has got an issue with me.” While the chef tries to calm Natalya down, she gets even angrier.
Jack claims that the drama on the yacht reminds him of Titanic. He tells the cameras that Natalya and Tumi need to sort out their issues before the vibe of the boat drops. He adds, “It’s like the Titanic divided and look what happened to that. I know how this story ends. It didn’t end well for Jack.”
Kyle Viljoen Realizes He's Making Natalya & Tumi Feud "Worse"
The Below Deck Mediterranean season 8 preview also shows a glimmer of hope as Kyle realizes that his behavior has worsened the working relationship between Natalya and Tumi. Natalya discusses her and Tumi’s issues with Kyle. She says, “I’m thinking in my head she is messaging behind my back. That’s uncomfortable. You’re supposed to be a leader.” Natalya’s comment makes Kyle realize that him sharing his private conversations between the two ladies is causing them to fall apart. He tells the cameras, “I love for a good gossip, but I am realizing that my involvement has made the situation worse.”
Tumi and Natalya are equally responsible for their feud. Even with years of experience, the two ladies have shown that they are incredibly immature and don’t qualify to be on Captain Sandy’s yacht. Natalya thinks that she deserves respect from everyone regardless of her actions. She has done nothing to prove her worth on the ship but still feels that Tumi has to treat her better. It seems Natalya doesn’t know that respect is earned, not forced. In comparison, Tumi did come to the ship with prejudice toward Natalya. Being a senior, she should stay away from gossip and drama.
It is also hard not to blame “drama queen” Kyle for the debacle. The second Steward has stirred the pot to create a lot of tension between Natalya and Tumi. He warned his new Chief Stew about Natalya, making her feel that the second Stew wasn’t cooperative. He then told Natalya that Tumi had threatened to fire her, making her feel unsafe at work. If the South African man had avoided gossip, it would have saved the entire yacht from turning into a Titanic-like disaster. Chef Jack is right that the rivalry needs to end as soon as possible.
Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.
Source: Bravo/YouTube