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Below Deck: Exclusive Interview with CJ LeBeau

Posted on 07/12/2013 by Gina in Below Deck and Cast Interviews

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CJ Labeau of Below Deck

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

CJ LeBeau may be known on Below Deck as the guy who likes to take his shirt off and flirt with Sam, but he's also an experienced marine engineer who enjoys keeping charter guests happy. He scores a lot of points with both his coworkers and guests aboard the Honor with his charming personality. Today, we got to know CJ a bit better in our exclusive interview with him about this season of Below Deck.


Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When it comes to everyone's level of luxury yachting expertise, where do you rank among the Honor crew?
A. CJ: I felt right in line with Adrienne, actually. Aleks and Ben have the most experience, then Adrienne, myself, and Kat, and then it goes pretty much Eddie, Sam, and then Dave.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you were approached to part of the show, were you more excited or nervous?
A. CJ: Probably excited... excited and nervous! The process took a while so I didn't get a chance to get excited and nervous until I was two weeks away from flying to St. Martin.


Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How do Adrienne and Aleks differ as managers?
A. CJ: They have completely, very opposite management styles. Adrienne has a totalitarian style and Aleks has a firm... how do I explain Aleks in one sentence? He's firm, but fair. He's just a much better people manager than she is. She's never been a chief stew before and he's been a captain before, whereas Adrienne has never managed anyone.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Adrienne is high strung but why is it okay for Sam to behave the way she does?
A. CJ: I wouldn't necessarily say that all of Sam's responses to Adrienne are okay but I can see where she's coming from. I can understand her reactions to Adrienne. To give you a background, yes, there's a hierarchy and Adrienne is Sam's boss. If I was in Sam's shoes though, I'd be making snide remarks too. She's just a little out of control and doesn't let Sam finish something before she's asking her to do something else. Sam is inexperienced when it comes to working on a boat that big.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: We saw Kat trying to hook up with you but you politely turned her down.  What is it about Sam, though, that you're attracted to?
A. CJ: Sam's just down to earth, easygoing but also outgoing. She's athletic, good looking, what else can I say?

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I have to ask why you keep taking your shirt off...
A. CJ: Because at that point, we only had two shirts to wear. When you're in the engine room, not only is it 100 degrees in St Martin, it's about 125-130 degrees in the engine room. A lot of times, I'm taking my shirt off when nobody is around. Every time I walk outside, I don't want to put my shirt on. I want to be professional, but I also want to be comfortable and get my job done.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: That green juice request was pretty high maintenance this past week.  Is that the craziest request you've had on the Honor?
A. CJ: Putting myself through business school as a bartender... I have a lot of experience as a bartender. Ben delivers the juice and she's listing of all these ingredients as if it's a Jack and Coke. It was literally 15 ingredients. You're going to see a lot more of those crazy requests and you can see on Ben's face, it's like, "Are you serious?" You just sort of have to do it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What has your family thought of you being on the show thus far?
A. CJ: It's been really good so far. I just visited my parents in Santa Barbara and they had watched the first two episodes. Nothing so far has made my mom's eyes roll so that's good.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's the ultimate career goal?  Do you want to stay in the yachting industry?
A. CJ: I think I'll always have a hand in the yachting industry. I don't necessarily want to be a full-time crew member anymore because you're gone 11 months a year but I'm always gonna do deliveries and charter trips. I'm always gonna jump on a boat!

 

 

Below Deck airs Mondays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa


  


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