Entertainment
Below Deck’s Captain Lee Addresses Luke and Laura’s Consent Scandal on August 11, 2023 at 2:47 am Us Weekly

Captain Lee Rosbach. Charles Sykes/Bravo
Captain Lee Rosbach is “mortified” by the actions that led to Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne’s firing on season 2 of Below Deck Down Under.
“Their behavior was despicable,” Lee, 73, exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Both of them. And I’m sure they’ll be paying the price for it for a long time to come. As they should.”
During back-to-back episodes of the Bravo series that aired on Monday, August 7, Luke, 32, came under fire when he climbed into Margot Sisson’s bed naked after the power went out on the yacht. Producers stepped in after Luke tried to make a move on Margot and he was later sent to a hotel before being fired by Captain Jason Chambers the next day.
“We had an incident last night and I want to stress that this is a place where we respect each other. Our cabin is our safety zone. That door is our boundary,” Jason told the crew. “That door is not to be opened unless it is consensual. To walk into someone else’s room without consent [while] indecent is my limit.”
Luke wasn’t the only crew member sent packing on Monday’s episode. Laura also found herself in hot water for defending his actions, which prompted Chief Stew Aesha Scott to tell Jason, 50, about Laura’s own lack of boundaries with costar Adam Kodra. When Adam confirmed that he felt uncomfortable around her, Laura was also let go. (She has since issued an apology to both Adam and Margot.)
Lee, who watched the episode as a viewer, tells Us he was “impressed” with production, Captain Jason and Chief Stew Aesha for “not getting rattled” and instead handling the incident “calmly.” He believes Jason “absolutely” made the right decision — and isn’t sure he would have kept his composure if faced with the same situation.
“I don’t know if I would have had the wherewithal to remain as calm as Captain Jason did, but he certainly stepped up to the plate and did it right,” Lee notes, adding that he’s “grateful” to have never encountered a similar conflict during his own charters.
“It’s a tough spot to be in,” he explains. “When there’s the captain you’re responsible for everything and anything that does happen. Jason handled it superbly.”
Since the episodes aired, Aesha and Jason have received an outpouring of support on social media for how they approached the incident — something Lee agrees with wholeheartedly.
“I think [the fans’] reaction is justified and their praise for not only production, but for Aesha, and for a Captain Jason, as well,” he says. “They all stepped up to the plate and did the right thing at the appropriate time and didn’t let anything get carried away. Didn’t put it on the back burner, didn’t cover it up. They just dealt with it appropriately.”
As for Margot and Adam, Lee lends them his full support.
“I have nothing but the best wishes for Margot and Adam. I have nothing but respect for [them] and I certainly feel sorry for both of them because neither one of them deserved to be put in that position,” he tells Us.
Lee was a mainstay on the original Below Deck series since its premiere in 2013. He exited the show prior to season 11 — a reveal that shocked him as much as it did viewers.
“That came right out of left field. I did not see that one coming at all,” he exclusively told Us in May, revealing that the network didn’t give an exact reason for the decision at the time.
Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne. Bravo (2)
“We would like to move in a new direction,” Lee recalled being told about his exit, which occurred offscreen. “But I mean, that’s kind of a cliche that everybody uses when they find themselves in that situation where they’re going to let somebody go. ‘I’m going to move in a new direction. We want to freshen it up a little.’ [They are] tired cliches that get overused.”
Lee initially left during season 10 of Below Deck to address his health issues. He was replaced by Below Deck Mediterranean’s Captain Sandy Yawn before returning to finish out the charter season. In February, Us broke the news that Lee would be replaced by Below Deck Adventure’s Captain Kerry Titheradge for season 11.
While Bravo announced in July that Lee and former Chief Stew Kate Chastain would be breaking down the network’s biggest TV moments each week in their new show, Couch Talk With Captain Lee and Kate — which premieres Monday, August 14 — Lee hasn’t ruled out returning to the Below Deck franchise if the opportunity arises.
“I certainly don’t want to be somewhere where I’m not wanted. But if I were invited back, I think I’d take another swing at it,” he tells Us.
Below Deck Down Under airs back-to-back episodes on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
Couch Talk With Captain Lee and Kate premieres on Bravo Monday, August 4 at 10 p.m. ET.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Captain Lee Rosbach is “mortified” by the actions that led to Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne’s firing on season 2 of Below Deck Down Under. “Their behavior was despicable,” Lee, 73, exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Both of them. And I’m sure they’ll be paying the price for it for a long time to come. As
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Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez’s Ex Fires Back: “You Are the Problem”

Ojani Noa Accuses J.Lo of Cheating After “Never Been Loved” Comments
Jennifer Lopez is once again at the center of a media storm — but this time, it’s her first husband, Ojani Noa, turning up the heat. Following Lopez’s recent Howard Stern Show interview, in which she claimed she has “never been truly loved” by any of her exes, Noa has publicly accused the superstar of cheating and playing the victim.
In the viral Instagram post that has now spread across major outlets like TMZ and New York Post, Noa didn’t hold back.
“Stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card,” he wrote. “The problem is not us. Not me. The problem is you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants.”
“You Chose Fame and Lies Over Love”
Noa and Lopez were married briefly from 1997 to 1998, before her rise to Hollywood superstardom. In his explosive statement, he accused her of being unfaithful during their marriage, claiming she prioritized fame over their relationship.
“You have been loved a few times. You’ve been married four times. And have had countless relationships in between,” Noa continued. “You decided to lie, to cheat on me. You begged me to keep the marriage intact to avoid bad press.”
Noa described himself as “faithful, honest, and loving,” saying he uprooted his life and career to support Lopez at the beginning of her entertainment journey. “I left my family, my friends, everything behind for you,” he wrote, “but once fame came calling, you left me behind.”
Lopez Silent Amid Growing Backlash
As of now, Jennifer Lopez has not publicly responded to Noa’s allegations. During her Howard Stern interview, the singer and actress claimed her former partners “weren’t capable” of loving her, saying, “It’s not that I’m not lovable… it’s that they’re not capable.”
Her remarks were widely interpreted as referencing all of her ex-husbands — including Marc Anthony, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck — but it was Noa who reacted first and most forcefully. His comments have ignited widespread debate online, with many questioning whether Lopez’s honesty came at the expense of others’ reputations.
Public Response and Media Fallout
The online reaction has been intense, with social media users split between defending Lopez’s right to share her truth and blasting her for allegedly rewriting history. Meanwhile, entertainment analysts note that the controversy adds to an increasingly turbulent year for the singer, following canceled tours, underperforming films, and ongoing scrutiny over her marriage to Affleck.
This latest backlash has also reignited conversations about Lopez’s highly publicized romantic history. As tabloids and fans speculate whether more exes might respond, the situation underscores an old truth in celebrity culture — that every candid confession comes with consequences.
For now, Jennifer Lopez remains silent. But in the court of public opinion, the debate about who’s really at fault in her love story is only just beginning.
Entertainment
Selling Your Soul in Hollywood: The Hidden Cost of Fame

By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”
Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.
That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”
This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.
“We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.
Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?
As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”
Entertainment
California Bans AI Clones from Replacing Real Talent

California just made a dramatic stand for human creativity, defeating the threat of AI actor clones with a sweeping new law that puts people—not algorithms—back in the Hollywood spotlight. With the stroke of Governor Gavin Newsom’s pen in October 2025, the state has sent a clear message to studios, tech companies, and the world: entertainment’s heart belongs to those who create and perform, not to digital facsimiles.
California Draws a Hard Line: No More AI Clones
For months, the entertainment industry has been divided over the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Studios, lured by promises of cost-cutting and creative flexibility, have invested in software that can mimic an actor’s face, voice, and even emotional range. But for performers, this wave of synthetic reproduction has triggered alarm—encouraged by chilling stories of deepfakes, unauthorized digital doubles, and contracts that let studios reuse a star’s likeness indefinitely, sometimes without pay or approval.
The new California law, anchored by AB 2602 and AB 1836, changes everything:
- Every contract must explicitly detail how studios can use digital replicas or voice models, preventing once-common “blank check” agreements that overlooked this risk.
- No one—not studios nor streaming giants—can create or release AI-generated clones of an actor, living or dead, without clear, written consent from the performer or their estate.
- The law gives families new powers to defend loved ones from posthumous deepfake exploitation, closing painful loopholes that once let virtual versions of late icons appear in new ads, films, or games.
Actors Celebrate a Major Victory
The legislation rides the momentum of the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, where real-life talent demanded control over their own digital destinies. Leaders say these protections will empower artists to negotiate fair contracts and refuse participation in projects that cross ethical lines, restoring dignity and choice in an industry threatened by silent algorithms.
Stars, unions, and advocacy groups are hailing the law as the most robust defense yet against unwanted AI replications.
As one actor put it, “This isn’t just about money—it’s about identity, legacy, and respect for real artists in a synthetic age.”
A New Chapter for the Entertainment Industry
California’s move isn’t just a victory for local talent—it’s a warning shot to studios everywhere. Companies will now be forced to rethink production pipelines, consult legal counsel, and obtain proper clearance before digitally cloning anyone. Global entertainment platforms and tech developers will need to comply if they want to do business in the world’s entertainment capital.

These laws also set a template likely to ripple through other creative fields, from musicians whose voices can be synthesized to writers whose work could be mimicked by generative AI. For now, California performers finally have a powerful shield, ready to fight for the right to shape their own public image.
Conclusion: Human Talent Takes Center Stage
With its no-nonsense ban on AI actor clones, California draws a bold line, championing the work, likeness, and very humanity of its creative stars. It’s a landmark step that forces the entertainment industry to choose: respect real talent, or face real consequences. The age of the consentless digital double is over—human performers remain the true source of Hollywood magic.
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