Ashton Pienaar Addresses Accusations That He's "Misogynistic"

Ashton Pienaar is defending his actions this season of Below Deck.

The bosun said that he recently received a message from Courtney Skippon explaining why she had been tweeting about him and Kevin Dobson "in a negative light." "Her message basically said that her tweets were not aimed directly at us but just kind of in support of what people were saying about the topic," Ashton said during the Below Deck Season 7 After Show, above, adding that some fans had called him out for being "misogynistic" and "being inappropriate in my behavior towards other crew [members]."

Ashton continued, "I could completely see how Courtney watched what she did and get offended from it. I can understand a lot of the viewers' opinions about that. I really do."

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However, Ashton said that even though he didn't look the best during some moments this season, he was still being true to himself, citing the time he expressed to Kevin that he was sexually frustrated after one of the crew's nights out. "I must be honest, and I think every guy out there should be honest with themselves that they've all probably been in similar situations where it's just been guy talk and they've had a few drinks," Ashton explained. "We're just very blunt and open and honest about our feelings, and I'm sure many women are like that behind closed doors, too. I was just real and raw in that scenario. I think people out there need to be more real about themselves. Just because I said something, it doesn't make me less of a person because you think it and you just don't say it. I'm one of those people that I'd rather be very straight up and honest with you and tell you the truth no matter how much it hurts you or how much of a prick you think I might be."

Ashton said that he's "not ashamed" of being "real." "But in the same breath, like I said, I see where [Courtney] would have watched this and got offended," he said. "I just really don't appreciate her supporting a lot of the ugly things that were said about me when I think she knows me better than that."

Watch a preview of the next episode of Below Deck airing Monday, January 6 at 9/8c, below. Catch up on the season anytime through the Bravo app.

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