ISTANBUL — A cast member of the U.S. reality series “Below Deck” was arrested in Turkey following a fight in the resort city of Bodrum that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old, according to local media reports on Thursday.
Joao Franco, 36, and his brother Carlos were allegedly involved in an altercation with shopkeepers in Bodrum on Saturday evening, the private Demiroren News Agency reported.
The agency identified Franco as a yacht captain. He has appeared on Bravo’s “Below Deck Down Under” and “Below Deck Mediterranean” since 2018, as well as “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.”
The “Below Deck” franchise documents the professional and personal lives of crew members working aboard luxury yachts.
According to Demiroren, the brothers had been drinking when a dispute escalated after they began using profanity. During the ensuing fight, 17-year-old Muhammet Koyabakan fell and struck his head on the pavement. He was transported to a hospital but died on Monday.
The Franco brothers, Portuguese nationals, were taken into custody and subsequently formally arrested.
Specific charges have not been disclosed in news reports. However, Demiroren stated that the brothers told police they were attacked and acted in self-defense, denying that they struck Koyabakan.
Bodrum, an Aegean port city, is a popular destination for affluent yacht owners. Billionaires including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos have visited in recent years.
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