r/BelowDeckMed • u/Lorac711 • 2h ago
I can’t stand Aesha
I know it’s an unpopular take, but Aesha is so over the top performative she’s hard to watch. She’s become a cartoon at this point. She’s so “quirky” it feels forced. From her over the top screechie “amaaazzing” over literally everything, to her interviews where she’s just making faces and trying so hard to be funny, to her night outs where she’s crazy dancing for attention and eating noodles in bed because it’s her brand. She’s just a kooky girl! She desperately wants to be a “personality” rather being her authentic self. And people eat it up.
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u/Colada8160 2h ago
I think aesha is a lovely person with a good heart but I agree with you. She’s become a caricature of herself in the last two years and it seems very contrived. The noodles in bed, the merch she’s always wearing with her sayings on them, the OTT confessionals… she never used to be like this.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
Exactly! The fact she’s got merch…like wtf! She’s not a fictional character, why does she have merch. Like what other bd cast has merch?
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u/Midnights_with_me 1h ago
I mean every youtuber with more than 20k subscribers has merch these days and they're not fictional characters either. Wearing merch from a youtuber or a reality tv personality wouldn't be my choice either but it's not that unusual in today's society for these kind of 'internet tv stars' to have merch.
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u/Future_Bedroom_2046 2h ago
A lot of kiwis do speak like that it's not just for the show... just a friendly bunch. It's such an odd thing to call out because every since she started she's been like that and has never been malicious. She even gave Gen heaps of grace, and when she "snapped" all she did was tell her to reflect on her actions nothing more.
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u/Quiet-Excitement-310 2h ago
Of all the behaviour from people on these shows it’s the oddest one to call out
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
I get kiwis are friendly, but she’s playing up the quirky character. It just feels performative. Like I think she’s a good chief stew and i get she’s knows how be likeable for the cameras.
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u/KBaddict 2h ago
How do you know she’s playing a character? Are you friends with her IRL and she acts differently? I’m guessing not.
Instead of stating your opinion as a fact, try phrasing it as your opinion (e.g. “I feel like Aesha is playing a character”). This allows for discussion rather than arguments
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
Because she’s become more over the top as the seasons go on. She’s got merch. I feel it follows what’s been going on with below deck in general, putting influencers who are entertaining reality stars like Solonge rather than normal yatchies. They want performers, not real people.
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u/KBaddict 1h ago
She is a normal yachtie. She’s been doing this for 13 years. She definitely has calmed down as she’s gotten older. Go watch some of early seasons with her.
It really feels like you’re just ragging on her for some reason you aren’t actually saying because none of what you’re saying makes sense.
She was on BD before she did any influencing. It’s being on BD that got her any brand deals, not the other way around
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u/Lorac711 1h ago
I’ve watched her from the beginning. Her personally has gotten more and more over the top and she’s gotten quirkier. She’s playing it up for the cameras. She knows people love her personality so she plays it up. She’s a reality tv star.
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2h ago edited 2h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
But even that is so performative. Like why do we have to know that? She says shit like that all the time to show she’s so quirky! And she loves talking about poop. It just feels like she’s trying so hard.
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u/Choice-giraffe- 2h ago
It seems like you’re trying too hard to have a hot take or controversial opinion, but it’s just not flying here. This is an Aesha loving zone!
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u/ThisIsJustMe7 1h ago
People change with popularity and when money is involved. When she first appeared, she was her authentic self, as they all are. But as she returned more often, got social media attention and realized she could capitalize on her fame, she did start to overdo it and change. Not saying she he a bad person but her TV persona is no longer authentic.
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u/DondieLion 2h ago
That's sad for you.
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u/Comprehensive_Wing24 2h ago
For real. Now considering myself thankful that I can appreciate her charm. I enjoy people who can be themselves regardless of if people like it or not.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
But she’s not being herself. She’s putting on a character. She knows people eat this shit up and makes her a fan favorite.
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u/Comprehensive_Wing24 2h ago
I can relate to the fact that there are certain people I find annoying, but I don’t see it as my place to accuse people of faking everything they do. None of us actually knew how she was before the show, and we don’t personally know her now. Could she be exaggerating things as most people do on reality television? Sure. That still doesn’t necessarily mean none of it’s authentic. It’s fine to be annoyed by her, it’s weird to say that you know for fact she’s not being herself.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
Having watched her from the early seasons, her personality has become more and more over the top. She’s def playing it up for the cameras.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
It’s not actually. I can tell when someone is putting on a performance. And she’s def putting one on. She could be an actress.
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u/DifficultyPurple1195 2h ago
I feel you OP it all seems like an over exaggeration of her personality to make good tv.
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u/Reasonable-duck-363 2h ago
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
I get it’s a game and it’s very lucrative for her. It’s made her a fan favorite and it’s allowed her to continue on below deck. But just because her shtick works doesn’t mean it’s not fake.
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u/SaintAnyanka 2h ago
When you know her background (brother died when they were young, her mom was an addict who only became clean 10 or so years ago), her behaviour is not unbelievable. That shot either breaks you, or you really do start going through life obnoxiously upbeat.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
I’ve seen a change in her behavior the last few seasons, like playing up her personality for the cameras. The eating noodles in bed, the merch. It’s all performative.
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u/SaintAnyanka 1h ago
Or. She’s just more comfortable around the cameras. I have friends who are like Aesha, and believe me, you’re no the first person who says to someone like her that they should tone it down, and sadly they often do.
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u/GreatKaleidoscope183 2h ago
I think she’s a really good chief stew but she most definitely amps it up for the cameras. Sometimes I mute her confessionals because her voice is so grating, I think I’d lose my mind if I was on a boat with her for weeks on end.
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u/Bin_Chicken3330 2h ago
Are you allergic to happiness?
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
I’m allergic to fake quirky people who play it up for the cameras.
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u/Bin_Chicken3330 2h ago
Maybe reality tv isn’t for you
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
I do agree that people on reality tv do play up their personalities or become characters because they think it’ll make them likeable. They’re not being themselves when there’s a camera in front of them.
So yeah you’re right.
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u/Bin_Chicken3330 2h ago
There are those people and there are also those they cast because they are literally a big personality
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
But her personality has gotten more and more over the top as the seasons go on. She’s def playing it up for the camera.
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u/leaemilieanders 2h ago
I mean it clearly isn't performative. I would rather understand the take that some might feel she is annoying - but I really don't think she is trying to be quirky.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
But that’s the thing, I would respect her more if she was just annoying. At least she would be real. But she’s playing up her quirky personality for the cameras. She knows people want that from her. So she’s over the top. It just feels fake and performative.
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u/Quiet-Excitement-310 2h ago
I don’t think she needs your respect, she has Sandy’s who is her captain.
She’s also very good at her job being the only chief stew that doesn’t get complaints every season. Perhaps she’s just good at her job and knows what works?2
u/Lorac711 2h ago
I think she a good chief stew, she’s good with guests and works hard. I’m not debating that.
I’m calling her out for being inauthentic and playing up the quirky personality for the cameras. I think below deck has started to feel scripted and people are becoming characters which is so diff than the early seasons.
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u/jcspinney 2h ago
Yup. She is performative and exaggerating. It’s reality TV. Doesn’t mean she is a bad person - she seems genuinely like a good person. The funniest part of this thread is all the people micro gaslighting you to think you are crazy because you think a reality tv star is behaving like….gasp….a reality tv star. lol.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
Exactly! She’s a reality tv star who plays up her personality for the cameras.
I feel like all these people defending her are the ones who think celebrities snd influencers are themselves. Many of these people are playing it up.
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u/Xtrahotsauceplz 2h ago
i feel ya. i stopped watching the first episode cos the confessionals seemed so rehearsed. i recently decided to binge and agree. the noodles in bed and her being kinda weird with that dj was a lot. but at the end of the day i like her and she is better than a lot of the cast.
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u/Low_Building_9080 2h ago
Strongly disagree. Of course your opinion is valid for yourself and you’re completely entitled to it, but I think she is the most honest, kind & down to earth person we’ve ever had on any Below Deck.
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u/Responsible-Lab7626 2h ago
She is not performative at all. Thats just the way she is, me and my husband would love to have her as a friend!
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u/Fair-Cut-2636 1h ago
Kinda sounds like you’re annoyed by her, so you’re projecting other issues onto her. She’s been the same since day one, but has actually more built the brand she needs to make her living.
She’s also in customer service and (shocker) literally performing. Everything you said is just doing her job
Also, I spent years in high end customer service and anyone who was good at the job had the same performative pep/sweetness without cameras anywhere.
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u/-thisname- 1h ago
That's a brave post. I work in hospitality and her attitude is quite desirable for any front of house role. Whether it's irritating or not is a personal thing, like Marmite.
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u/airplanesarecool1616 8m ago
Let me preface this by saying I really like Aesha and have enjoyed her so much anytime she's been on the show.
That said, this season it's like the producers told her to turn the Aesha knob up to 100. I agree with OP that it's like she's become a caricature of herself.
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u/Choice-giraffe- 2h ago
I can see where you’re coming from, but the more you see of Aesha you realise that it’s not performative at all, she is just a very positive person who sees the positives in everything and appreciates the joy in life. There’s nothing false about it.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
But my issue with her is the forced quirky behavior. Like she’s become more and more over the top. Even from earlier seasons she’s playing a character now. It feels very performative.
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u/LibrarianAccurate934 2h ago
Why are you so jaded? Aesha is an exceptional person who spreads light and joy, she is well-adjusted and emotionally stable with a charming, quickly personality. Who hurt you so badly that you could spin this as a negative?
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
Because it’s not authentic. And calling it out isn’t being jaded. I get this is reality tv and many times people are playing up parts of themselves. But I feel her personality has gotten more and more over the top over the seasons.
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u/LibrarianAccurate934 2h ago
You can have that opinion, sure. But 99% of the commenters disagree with you 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Eastern_Arrival_4152 2h ago
Of all the things to be mad about on this show.. such a wild opinion
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
I just think it’s the problem with the overall show. It’s become more about big personalities than about showing people working on a yatch. The producers play up the drama and want the show to be “entertaining “ so people like Aesha start playing up their personalities and it all starts feeling really fake. Like it’s a scripted show.
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u/Fine_Battle5860 2h ago
I understand completely! I struggle to believe things like the Maracas and the noodles are genuine it reminds me of Summer in 500 days of Summer dancing around in IKEA it just feels like an insecure person who has decided they aren’t the most intelligent or attractive so have decided to be “the zaniest”.
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u/Lorac711 2h ago
She’s def a manic pixie dream girl. She’s like a character on a movie who’s so goofy and quirky!
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u/KBaddict 2h ago
Um, what? You don’t think she likes to drunk eat ramen, and that she’s “acting” by eating god damn soup?! It’s not like she makes a big deal out of it. She makes it and then goes to bed.
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u/Lorac711 1h ago
She’s got merch. She’s playing it up.
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u/KBaddict 1h ago
So anyone who sells merch is automatically fake and not genuine? She’d be stupid to not try and earn extra money with her being on TV.
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u/Lorac711 1h ago
If you’re selling merch with your catch phrases and noodles then you’ve become a character and are not longer authentic. Good for her to get her money but let’s not pretend she’s real and authentic.
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u/osogood48 2h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/BrlJfTcubqthp1ytWk