Below Deck Mediterranean - Season 3
BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN -- Season:3 -- Pictured: Brooke Laughton -- (Photo by: Zev Schmitz/Bravo)

Below Deck Mediterranean Alum Brooke Laughton Denies Cheating On João Franco

Did she, or didn’t she? Below Deck Mediterranean premiered this week and everyone’s favorite Zimbabwean João Franco is already playing the woe -is- me card.

According to João his lady love Kasey Cohen Brooke Laughton broke his heart by cheating on him.  Or, is that just what he wants us to believe?

On Monday’s show, João gave an update on his relationship with Brooke. Or rather a lack thereof.  “Brooke and  I threw ourselves in the deep end,” he said during his interview, “I met her family, she met mine. She came to Zimbabwe, and we worked so well together. We really did.” Wow, after a shaky start it sounded like things were looking up for the two of them. At least João certainly seemed to think so. “Things seemed perfect,” he continued, “but I found out she cheated on me.”

What’s Brooke’s take on his statement?  In light of her ex throwing her under the bus, Brooke spoke with People about his accusations. And you might be surprised to learn she claims HE was the problem.

“Although it initially hurt to hear João blamed our relationship break down on a false claim that I cheated on him, it is very true to his character and allows him some relief for his ego,” she said. “In reality, there was absolutely no cross over between when I realized what kind of person I wasn’t looking for and the kind I was and I absolutely did not cheat on him.”

RELATED: Below Deck Star Josiah Carter Is Interested In Joining Below Deck Mediterranean

I’m betting she wished she’d gone for Colin Macy-O’Toole instead of the great in his own mind João.  But why on Earth would João make up such a falsehood?  To save his fragile ego?  “If this theory makes him sleep easier at night, then so be it but him saying this only makes me lose even more respect for him,” she continued, “I know exactly the kind of person I am and I’m extremely confident and secure in the facts of how everything played out…I only hope he continues to grown and learn what it is to be a man and good person.”

João went into further detail when he spoke to Bravo’s The Daily Dish. Apparently, he was willing to give up everything to move to America to be with Brooke. At her request. And it was while he was en route he discovered she had been unfaithful to him. “I went right up to her boat, and she wouldn’t admit anything until I just said,  I basically told her not to do to me what she hated her father for doing to her mother,” he said. For those who don’t remember Brooke had confided in João that her father had cheated on her mother.

RELATED: Below Deck Mediterranean Star Captain Sandy Yawn Is In Love!

“Well, by the time I figured out exactly what was going on, I couldn’t really believe it because I had literally quit my dream job,” he continued, “I had so much going on at the time, but everything I had planned for was for her and I.” João went on to explain how he was planning a “two and a half month” trip on a sailboat together.  Brooke had asked for additional time before they were to leave. And it was during this time she wised up strayed.

They are no longer in contact with each other. Although, João did claim Brooke tried to reach out to him when she had some “family issues” going on.  But to

him

it was “just a matter of attention and reason to speak to me.” So he blocked her. “We haven’t spoken to each other since,” he said, “She had apologized to me through a friend of mine, and then I just said to her I don’t know what she wanted, but I was over it so I told her that.”

RELATED: Below Deck Mediterranean Star Hannah Ferrier Reveals The Oddest Guest Preference Sheet Request She’s Ever Received

TELL US – WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? WAS JOÃO THE VICTIM IN THIS? DO YOU THINK BROOKE CHEATED ON HIM INSTEAD OF BREAKING UP WITH HIM? DO YOU THINK HE HAS CHANGED HIS WAYS?

[Photo Credit: Bravo]

X