A recent episode of Bravo’s hit reality series Below Deck has stirred up waves of drama—offscreen this time—after a group of gay porn stars were slammed for leaving what many viewers and crew called a “pathetic” tip.
The group, led by award-winning adult performer Skyy Knox, chartered a luxury yacht as part of the show’s latest season and brought along several fellow adult entertainers for a five-day escapade filled with risqué behavior and sky-high demands.
During their stay, the group threw a BDSM-themed dinner party, visited a nude beach, and reportedly requested that lube be placed in every cabin aboard the vessel.
But the real controversy came at the end of the charter when they left a tip of just $19,990—roughly $1,500 per crew member, Daily Mail reports.
Captain Kerry Titheradge branded the gratuity “pathetic,” and several crew members said they felt “shafted.”
Social media also erupted with criticism, with comments like “Don’t go on a luxury trip if you can’t afford to tip” and “This is embarrassing.”
Now, the performers are speaking out—and claiming the backlash is misdirected.
According to reports from AVN and Beyond the Deck, the trip was fully sponsored by the adult webcamming platform CAM4, which handled both the charter fee and the gratuity.
Originally scheduled for three days, the trip was extended to five at the last minute, but CAM4 says there wasn’t time to increase the tip accordingly.
In a statement, the company noted that the $20,000 tip represented over 30% more than the show’s suggested base rate—implying they had actually tipped generously based on the original plan.
“Had CAM4 been given more warning, the outcome would have been different,” a spokesperson said.
Porn star Cade Maddox said he felt terrible once he realized the crew had been under-tipped and reached out personally to apologize.
“The crew was amazing,” he said. “Production should not have let this happen, and I wanted them to know it wasn’t on us.”
Fellow guest Jkab Ethan Dale said watching the backlash in real-time was “heartbreaking.”
“The crew deserved so much more,” he added. “And production should have known better.”
Despite the mess, the performers are hopeful that the tell-all explanations will help clarify what really happened—and place the blame where it belongs: on a production miscommunication, not personal stinginess.
Below Deck premiered in 2013 and has since become one of Bravo’s most successful franchises, with spin-offs including Below Deck Mediterranean, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Adventure.
While wild charters are nothing new for the show, this particular controversy is a rare moment when behind-the-scenes logistics—and a misunderstanding about gratuity—stole the spotlight.