Captain Sandy Yawn Reacts to Malia White and Tom Checketts' Breakup

Malia White is back as bosun in Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6. However, her life has gone through some changes since we last saw her on our screens.

After confirming in September 2020 that she and Below Deck Med Season 5 chef Tom Checketts had broken up, Malia opened up more about the split in the Season 6 premiere, which aired on Bravo on June 28. "The breakup with Tom has really taken a toll on me. He was someone that I thought was a forever, I thought I was in love," the bosun shared in an interview during the episode. "I just want to put my head down and work for a bit. And it's just that tough period where you've just got to figure s--t out. But I will."

Captain Sandy Yawn, who, of course, worked with both Malia and Tom in Season 5 of Below Deck Med, shared her reaction to the breakup during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on June 28, confirming that she has "seen Tom and Malia" since their split. "Yeah, it was sad to witness Malia with a heartbreak," she said. "But people hook up, and they break up."

The Below Deck Med boss previously told The Daily Dish in an interview earlier this month that fans will totally "see a difference" in Malia as bosun in Season 6. "You know, hey, Malia’s having fun. I think her experience with Tom, I really believe that affected her," Captain Sandy said of what we can expect from Malia this season. "And at the same time, I think Malia’s always been focused on her career, which has always been a constant, no matter what’s going on in her personal life."

We saw Captain Sandy and Malia get to know their all-new crew in the Season 6 premiere, which includes chief stew Katie Flood, chef Mathew Shea, stews Lexi Wilson and Courtney Veale, and deckhands David Pascoe, Mzi "Zee" Dempers, and Lloyd Spencer. 

Katie, who appeared on WWHL with Captain Sandy on Below Deck Med premiere night, shared what it was like meeting her fellow head of department, Malia, as Season 6 got underway. "Yeah, I had a good first impression. It's hard, because we meet everybody at the same time, you know, all on the same day. So it's a lot to navigate. And also, like, we've got to get straight into work," Katie said during the WWHL After Show (clip above). "So, to be honest, you don't think too much into it. You just kind of give it a few days to start to get to know everyone, and it takes time."

Want more Below Deck Med? Season 6 airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo with early access to new episodes on Peacock.

Photo: Bravo; Malia White/Instagram