Why Malia White Decided Not To Return To Below Deck Med Season 7

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While Below Deck Mediterranean season 7 will be setting sail later this year, it will be without the appearance of three-season alum, bosun Malia White. Originally joining the Below Deck spin-off in season 2 as a deckhand with little experience, Malia left the show only to return for seasons 5-6 as its first female bosun. Will Malia return to the show, or was season 6 her final appearance?

Since her return to Below Deck Med season 5, Malia has been divisive. As bosun during season 5, she was in charge of an all-male deck team. In a season that showcased girl power, with Captain Sandy Yawn at the helm alongside Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier and Malia, fans were happy to see Malia call out deckhand Peter Hunziker for his misogynistic treatment of her. However, opinions quickly soured towards Malia when she made the controversial decision to inform Captain Sandy that Hannah had unregistered anti-anxiety medication and a CBD vape pen in her cabin, leaving Sandy with no choice but to fire Hannah mid-season. Malia's role in the removal of a fan-favorite cast member as well as the shady reasoning behind Hannah's dismissal caused a massive amount of fan backlash towards Malia.

Related: Below Deck Down Under: Aesha Scott Compares Captain Jason To Sandy Yawn

After Reddit user teanailpolish posted a leaked cast list for Below Deck Med season 7, fans speculated about Malia's absence from the upcoming season. Many wondered if the heavy criticism Malia received from fellow cast members from the Below Deck franchise and from fans for getting Hannah fired and her seemingly hypocritical defense of "maritime law" was the reason for her departure from the show. While the backlash from the events was "severe," it isn't the reason why Malia