Summary

• Captain Lee was fired from Below Deck due to Bravo wanting to go in another direction.
• Lee is hosting a new true-crime series, Deadly Waters, after leaving Below Deck.
• Captain Lee has started his own podcast, Salty with Captain Lee, discussing Bravo gossip.

Captain Lee Rosbach was a mainstay on Below Deck, and it was shocking when he left; so what is the beloved captain up to now? The inaugural season of the Bravo series began in 2013 with Lee at the helm. During the first season, he was known as the no-nonsense captain and quickly gained a fanbase for his grumpy attitude. Even though Captain Lee didn't seem like he was always in the best mood, he was still a fan favorite in the franchise. Now that he's no longer the captain, there is a huge hole in the Below Deck franchise.

Through his time on Below Deck, Captain Lee was the one cast member viewers could count on. When he was replaced for a short time during seasons 9 and 10, it was strange to watch the series without him in charge. Despite Below Deck not being the same without Captain Lee, it was revealed in 2023 that Lee wouldn't be returning for Below Deck season 11; Captain Kerry Titheradge from Below Deck Adventure took over the role as captain. So far, the season's been great, but die-hard fans will always have a special place in their hearts for Captain Lee.

Captain Lee Was Fired From Below Deck

Bravo Wanted To Go In Another Direction

In an interview with Us Weekly from May 2023, Captain Lee opened up about getting fired from Below Deck and how he was shocked by his sudden departure. Lee said the firing came "out of left field," not expecting to get the boot from the show so soon. Lee didn't get an exact reason behind the firing; the higher-ups simply told him they wanted to go in a different direction.

"That came right out of left field. I did not see that one coming at all," Lee said to the publication at the time.

Lee went on to say that what the network told him is kind of a "cliche that everybody uses when they find themselves in that situation where they’re going to let somebody go." The reality star did say that these types of firing clichés are getting a bit "tired" and "overused." Even though Captain Lee was let go from Below Deck, he would come back if they ever needed him back one day. Lee clearly loved doing the show, especially in the beginning, so he would be down to give his role as the captain on Below Deck another spin.

Captain Lee Is On A New TV Show

Lee Is Hosting A True-Crime Series

Shortly after Captain Lee confirmed his departure from Below Deck, Deadline revealed that the Stud of The Sea would be joining a new TV series. After spending over 10 years on Below Deck, Captain Lee will now host the new true-crime series, Deadly Waters. The Oxygen series, which is a sister network to Bravo, follows murders that have taken place in the open waters and ocean. The show is currently in production with no exact release date; however, X user @BelowDeckSailng revealed that the series will likely premiere sometime in late 2024.

Captain Lee Has He's Own Podcast

Lee Talks About Bravo On New Podcast

Now that Captain Lee no longer has his Bravo paycheck, he's been searching down other avenues to make some money. Besides his new hosting duties on a true-crime series, Captain Lee also started his own podcast called Salty with Captain Lee. The podcast is part of the PodcastOne Network which is also home to other big-name podcasts such as Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe, Ladygang, and more. Captain Lee's podcast centers around Bravo gossip and other pop culture news. In a recent episode, Captain Lee even spoke about the shocking separation between Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright, alums of Vanderpump Rules.

Will Captain Lee Ever Return To Below Deck?

Lee Would Return But Likely Won't

If given the chance, Captain Lee would definitely return to Below Deck. In the Us Weekly piece mentioned earlier, Lee did say he would return if the network ever wanted him back on the show. He was a beloved character in the series, so of course, Lee would want to return for the fans.

However, now that Below Deck season 11 has aired, and viewers seem to be enjoying Captain Kerry at the helm, it remains to be seen if Lee will ever be asked back. Besides, Captain Lee has suffered through some serious medical issues in the last two seasons he was on, so it may not be safe for him to return. As much as he's missed, Captain Lee shouldn't return to Below Deck.

Below Deck airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Sources: Us Weekly, Deadline, @BelowDeckSailng/X