I’m Convinced Below Deck Mediterranean Solidified Chef Johnathan Shillingford As A Producer Plant (He’s Getting Special Treatment)

Below Deck Mediterranean season 9’s Chef Johnathan Shillingford has been called out for being a producer plant, but I’m convinced that he’s getting special treatment because of his producer plant status. Chef Jono has been working aboard Mustique throughout Below Deck Mediterranean season 9, but his time on the superyacht hasn’t been easy or problem-free. Chef Jono’s cooking may be at a higher-level than most chefs, but his time aboard the Mustique has made it seem like he’s a producer plant. With the Chef finding himself getting reprimanded by the Captain several times this season, his future has been questionable.

While Chef Jono started out having a hard time aboard Mustique, his time on Below Deck Mediterranean has been a series of ebbs and flows. The first charters of the season were difficult, but he was able to even himself out in the second half of the charter season. As the interior and exterior crews began to fracture in their own ways throughout the charter season, Chef Jono was able to work a bit more diligently and provide proper meals for the guests. After such a poor performance, Chef Jono’s bounce back makes it feel like he’s a producer plant.

Chef Jono Struggled Early On But Redeemed Himself

He Had A Hard Time

In the first charters of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9, it was clear that Chef Jono was in over his head. Creating meals that didn’t match the charter guests dietary preferences or restrictions, Chef Jono was struggling to be the chef he needed to be for Mustique to thrive. Although he had some chats with Cpatin Sandy Yawn about his future aboard Mustique and the best ways to improve, Chef Jono was able to find his footing without much discipline. He was able to do so well in the later charters of the season that it felt forced or fake.

Chef Jono Performed A Fireable Offense

He Served A Near-Fatal Meal

In one of the most recent episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9, Chef Jono had another major struggle when he didn’t carefully read the preference sheet of a primary guest. The guest had shared they weren’t able to eat raw fish due to a medical condition, but on a requested sushi night, Jono served raw fish directly to the guest. Though she didn’t have any, the damage was done. Captain Sandy explained that serving raw fish to a guest with a raw fish allergy was a fireable offense and began to make arrangements to bring in a new Chef.

Chef Jono Escaped Unscathed For Strange Reasons

He Nearly Got Replaced

While Captain Sandy had a call out to replace Chef Jono, things didn’t move as smoothly as she would’ve liked. With no available chefs to come in and take his spot, Captain Sandy had to keep Jono on staff for the moment being. I believe that Chef Jono has been nearly confirmed as producer plant because he was able to escape unscathed after performing a fireable offense. The chef may have only been kept on because of a lack of availability, but the Below Deck Mediterranean chef feels like he’s stayed on the show through too much to be genuine.

Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.

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