Below Deck Star Captain Lee Shocked That Season 11 Will Sail Without Him

Below Deck fans have adored Captain Lee ever since the reality TV show began. As a result, they expressed dismay to learn that Lee would not appear in season 11. But now the captain has shared that he felt just as stunned as his fans.

Find out what Captain Lee shared about his departure from the show. And learn why he described it as completely unexpected. Get all the details below.

Below Deck Spoilers – Captain Lee Rosbach Fired!

Captain Lee never expected that his last day on Below Deck would come too soon. But rather than choose a retirement date, Lee shared that producers opted out of bringing him back next season. And amid fans’ dismay, Below Deck will sail on without Captain Lee.  But as the 73-year-old reality TV alum told Us magazine, he still would consider returning.

However, Lee also admitted that learning Below Deck season 11 would feature a new captain stunned him. And he described the news as coming “right out of left field. I did not see that one coming at all,” shared the captain. But he noted that the network did not tell him the details of why they dismissed him. 

“We would like to move in a new direction,” the network told Lee. But the captain pointed out that statement represents “a cliche that everybody uses when they find themselves in that situation where they’re going to let somebody go. ‘I’m going to move in a new direction. We want to freshen it up a little.’ [They are] tired cliches that get overused,” added Lee.

Captain Lee was just as shocked as #BelowDeck fans by the news of his absence from season 11.https://t.co/oKo3KwnWtL

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) May 23, 2023

Below Deck Spoilers – Captain Kerry Titheradge Takes Helm

Season 10 of Below Deck featured Below Deck Mediterranean star Captain Sandy stepping in for Captain Lee at one point. Because Lee struggled with his health during the season, Sandy took over for several episodes. However, Captain Lee returned to finish the season. But rumors about his exit soon followed.

And season 11 will see Below Deck Adventure star Captain Kerry replace Lee. However, Captain Lee would consider returning if he receives an invitation. And the Below Deck alum shared, “If they found that they needed me back on the show, I’d go back. I’ve done it for 10 years and I would kind of like to — if I’m going to make an exit — do it on different terms.”

But the reality TV alum known for his honesty also revealed his regrets about what marked his last season on Below Deck. And he shared, “I regret that I couldn’t do the whole season. I never quit anything in my life,” added Lee. “And for me to walk off that boat was hard. To admit that I’d been defeated — or at least knocked down — and getting [out] was not [ideal.”

However, Lee took pride in returning to finish the season. And he “felt really, really good about” that return. “But having to tell the crew that I had to leave because at that point I was more of a liability than I was an asset — it’s hard to admit to yourself,” added the Below Deck alum.

Tell us what you think. Some fans say they won’t watch Below Deck without Captain Lee. How do you feel? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more reality TV news.