Things Got Super Tense Between Elizabeth Frankini and Ashling Lorger on WWHL
Andy Cohen cringed over the Below Deck stews' exchange on his show.
The Below Deck Season 8 reunion is coming up at a later date, but we may have gotten a taste of what the upcoming sit-down is going to be like, thanks to Elizabeth Frankini and Ashling Lorger's latest appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
Ashling kicked off the show by addressing her comments about Elizabeth to Francesca Rubi this season but then appearing friendly to her fellow stew. "No, definitely wasn't intentional whatsoever. I will admit that I always have a smile on my face, and it's just part of me, whether that's being misinterpreted or what," Ashling explained. "But yeah, there was no intentional smirks or nastiness towards you on board the yacht at all."
Elizabeth then told Ashling on WWHL that she thought her behavior was "fake and not appreciated." "Well, let's just say I've never been fake in my whole life," Ashling said in response. "So it's definitely a first, definitely a shock."
Elizabeth also shared her reaction to Ashling saying on WWHL last month that she was "a lost cause" as a stew and that she has "no backbone." "Yeah, you did say those things, and I did find it hurtful," Elizabeth told Ashling during their joint appearance on WWHL on Monday. "And I found it very strange that you never expressed any of that to me on the boat."
Ashling explained to Elizabeth, "I was just letting you know for now, I was actually trying to keep it all professional the whole time. In a workplace environment like that as myself, I am a manager, I am a business owner as well, and I have worked on yachts for a year-and-a-half to two years in a very high-ranking, professional yacht where it was extremely strict. I was just keeping my professionalism up to a high standard, that's all."
Elizabeth then noted that she didn't appreciate Ashling "chatting about me behind my back with the chief stewardess" this season of Below Deck.
Host Andy Cohen read Ashling a fan question asking how Elizabeth's flirtation with deckhand James Hough this season impacted her work on the yacht. "If James wasn't on the boat, do you think Elizabeth would have been a better stew and wouldn't have gotten fired?" the fan asked via Andy.
"No, I think, Liz, you're just not cut [out] for yachting. It's just not your thing. I think you're more into, like, yoga and more things like that," Ashling answered the viewer's query. "Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses. I think James was just a little bit of a distraction. He helped along the way."
Elizabeth actually agreed with Ashling's sentiment. "Yeah, no, it is true," she said. "I do have a lot more going in my life than being a yacht stewardess for the rest of my life."
"Exactly. That's like me, too," Ashling replied. "I have so many other big opportunities in my life right now as well. I'm sure you do, too."
Elizabeth then said that she was happy with her performance as a stew. "I still made a successful four-and-a-half-year career out of it, and I'm very proud of myself for that," she said. "And I hope to work with a crew in the future that actually appreciates and supports me."
Andy looked a little uncomfortable as things got increasingly tense between Elizabeth and Ashling on WWHL, including during the WWHL After Show when Ashling stated that Francesca's decision to fire Elizabeth was in "no way" personal. "As you can all see on previous episodes, I think it was about the second or third charter, Francesca had already had some problems, and she had already said that to Captain Lee [Rosbach]," Ashling said.
Elizabeth told Ashling that she felt like she and Francesca tried to "put me down" this season of Below Deck. "I don't recall putting you down whatsoever, besides when I'd had enough, which was like after I was super sick and you weren't helping at all. There was numerous things that added up," Ashling said, adding that she "tried to help [Elizabeth] at the beginning of the season."
Elizabeth said that she felt like Ashling made it seem like "nothing was getting done" on her end, which she found to be "just ridiculous." However, Elizabeth resolved, "It's your opinion."
We'll have to wait and see how things go between Elizabeth and Ashling at the upcoming Below Deck Season 8 reunion. However, there's plenty more Below Deck before then. Be sure to tune in to the Season 8 finale on Monday, February 15 at 9/8c. Get your first look at the season finale, below.
Want more Below Deck? New episodes air every Monday at 9/8c or catch up on every episode ever through the Bravo app.
