Below Deck Med's Joe Rips Apart Claims of Disrespecting Women: 'It Does Hurt Me'

Joe Bradley from Below Deck Mediterranean is tearing into the narrative that he disrespects and hates women, claiming it cuts deep. “I’ve hurt people in the past and it’s really hurting me. I might not show it, but it does hurt me,” he stated in a recent interview. He insists, “I don’t want to hear people saying that I disrespect women and I hate women. The best people in my life are my mom, my grandmother and my little sister.”

Returning for season 11, Joe feels the shift in public perception. “I have noticed a few DMs where people are saying they’ve noticed a bit of a change in me,” he remarked. Positive feedback is a refreshing change for him, as he’s used to the barrage of negativity. “I’m actually liking it,” he added.

Joe is on a mission for self-improvement. “I am trying to be better every single day. I am conscious of my mistakes and I do want to be better,” he said. He acknowledges his past errors, stating, “I’ve made mistakes in the past. I am young. I’ve got no excuse for what I’ve done and it’s still one of the biggest regrets that I’ve done, not only on the show, but in life itself.”

Fans of Below Deck Med remember Joe’s messy love triangle in season 9 with Elena Dubaich and Bri Muller. Season 10 saw him tangled again with Kizzi Kitchener and Victoria SanJuan, leading to Nathan Gallagher severing ties with him over his handling of the situation.

“You will see a level of growth [this season] because I felt it,” Joe promised. He claims he’s more comfortable in his own skin now. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m a bit boisterous at times,” he noted, contrasting himself with Nathan. “I can actually be social, but I have a good time as well and do my job well.”

Joe admits he learned from his past mistakes, especially regarding Victoria. “My job is my main priority. I’m going to say my [biggest] regret right now was the situation with Victoria; I could have handled that very differently,” he confessed. “I could have handled that in a mature manner.”

If given the chance, Joe would apologize to Victoria. “If I could sit down with her today, I would apologize. If she allows me one day to actually get all around and say I’m sorry for what I’ve done, I will do that,” he stated.

Looking forward, Joe is determined to silence his critics. “I understand it’s not a comfortable position — even just being a viewer. Watching myself back, I have learned from the situation,” he said. He’s focused on his job and is ready to simplify his romantic life on board. “I don’t need to be greedy anymore. I’ve had my fun and I’m just ready to get the job done.”

Below Deck Med airs on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.