A former star of Bravo’s reality yachting franchise Below Deck has been arrested in Turkey with his brother after a public fight that left a 17-year-old boy critically injured. The teenager later died in hospital. Turkish media reported that João Franco and his brother, Karlos Franco, became involved in a verbal dispute with employees at a clothing store in Bodrum, Muğla, at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 7. The brothers were reportedly using “profanity” before the argument escalated outside the shop. According to Page Six, CCTV footage shows Karlos throwing the first punch.
João, 36, reportedly intervened immediately and pulled his brother away from the employee, seemingly in an attempt to calm the confrontation.
However, the employee then moved back toward the brothers, prompting several other members of staff to join the altercation.
At one stage, an employee picked up a stool and appeared to try to throw it at the Franco brothers.
João allegedly threw a punch during the confrontation, after which a 17-year-old store employee fell and struck his head on a set of steps.
The teenager remained motionless following the fall, and the fight ended less than a minute later.
He suffered a serious head injury and went into cardiac arrest. Emergency responders reportedly revived him at the scene before taking him to hospital in critical condition.
On Monday, November 9, Turkish publications reported that the teenager had died from his injuries in hospital.
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After reviewing security footage, officers from the Bodrum District Police Department’s Public Security Bureau tracked down and detained the brothers, who had left the scene.
The siblings underwent medical examinations at a hospital before being taken into custody. They appeared at Bodrum Courthouse on Monday.
Two additional suspects who were arrested and referred to the court were released under judicial supervision.
Express.co.uk has contacted the Bodrum District Police Department and Bravo for comment.
João Franco appeared in four seasons of the Below Deck franchise between 2018 and 2026. He starred in two consecutive seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean before returning for two non-consecutive seasons of Below Deck Down Under.
In May 2026, he confirmed that he would not return to the show after taking a full-time position as captain of a 43-metre superyacht.
“I started a few months ago, and it’s a rotational position, which is awesome,” he told Majorca Daily. “Below Deck recently hinted at a return, but the terms of my new role mean I won’t be going back. Sure, the money is great, but with the prestige of my current position, I think I’ve outgrown it.”
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