‘Below Deck’ Star Chief Fraser Is In His Brat Era

Chief Fraser Olender has officially arrived at the Comments by Celebs studio, and he rolled up ready to serve. If you’ve been wondering what went down behind the marbled bulkheads of Below Deck’s newest season, everyone’s favorite chief stew is talking captains, crew chaos, and his very unexpected pop-culture bestie, Charli XCX.

Chief Fraser talks lessons learned and a ‘best season yet‘

Right out of the gate, our favorite Brit lays out exactly why he’s steering the service team with extra confidence this year. “I’ve been through it over the past three years, four years. I’ve been through it. I’ve worked with so many captains. I’ve worked with so many crews. I’ve started at the bottom, and now we’re here,” Fraser says.

He knows the drill and—more importantly—the traps. “My one thing this year was ‘don’t be reactive,’ and don’t let things get to you in terms of making decisions in the job,” he says. “And I feel like I nailed it.” That emotional growth will come in handy when a five-day charter of adult entertainment stars storms aboard. As Fraser teases, “They’re on for five days. Five days? It’s the longest charter in the history of Below Deck.”

Life as a captain, therapist, and towel police

Fraser admits being chief stew means wearing about 15 different hats. “I wanted to be a friend and I wanted to be a boss because I can very clearly see it as black and white when we’re working and we’re not,” Fraser admits. That juggling act means calmly accepting guest complaints, then marching to the galley with the bad-news steak temps. But the man refuses to lose his sparkle: “I’m not gonna forget having fun and enjoying myself. And if I can do the job how I do the job, then let me enjoy myself too.”

Below Deck fans know those sweaty, chaotic moments are why the franchise hooks viewers who swear they “don’t do reality TV.” As Fraser says, “Below Deck, you are forced to be as raw and real and in literally probably the most, like, sweaty, ugly breakdown situations.”

Charli XCX slid into his DMs

Of course, super-yacht gossip is fun, but nothing beats discovering that a chart-topping musician is binge-watching your show on her tour bus. “Well, she reached out a long time ago, and then she started talking about it on other podcasts as well. And I’m just grateful that that girl’s got taste,” he says giddily of Charli XCX. Fraser recalls the rush of confidence it gave him after enduring online trolls. “If Charli fangirls me as the biggest person on TV that she loves, then who are you again?” he asks. 

Even your partner is obsessed with Chief Fraser

Is Below Deck just for Bravo fans? Chief Fraser sees a broader fleet. “What’s fantastic is watching men come up to me very excitedly, straight men, and be like, ‘Can I get a picture for my girlfriend?,’” he reveals. “And at the end, they were like, ‘Seriously, it’s my favorite show in the world.’”

The appeal spans everyone from maritime nerds to hospitality vets, too. “It has so many that get involved,” he continues. “I think it’s a brilliant, brilliant group of people who love it.” Whether you’re here for docking drama, décor inspo, or just hot deckhands, there’s a slip on this yacht with your name on it.

Expect tidal waves, not ripples

Between a record-long charter, galley meltdowns, and that Charli XCX-approved confidence, Chief Fraser’s next lap looks anything but calm seas. But he seems unfazed, simply reminding us of the fact that yachting, like life, is too short not to have fun on the journey.