Below Deck star Nathan Gallagher breaks silence on DV arrest

Below Deck Mediterranean star Nathan Gallagher has broken his silence after an Australian court convicted him in absentia on domestic violence charges and issued an arrest warrant when he failed to appear at a September 1 hearing. The Irish bosun told Rolling Stone he "made mistakes" but claims video evidence offers important context to the December 2025 assault allegations involving his ex-partner Gael Cameron.

The case has escalated rapidly for the reality TV personality, whose current season is airing on Bravo while prosecutors allege he has fled Australia. Gallagher's statement marks his first public response since his arrest on Boxing Day last year.

Key Takeaways

• Nathan Gallagher was convicted in absentia on three domestic violence charges after missing his September 1, 2026 court date at Burwood Local Court in Sydney.
• Judge Janine Lacy issued an arrest warrant, citing immigration records showing Gallagher was overseas.
• Gallagher told Rolling Stone he "made mistakes" but maintains he has video footage and messages that provide context to the incident.
• The alleged victim is believed to be Below Deck castmate Gael Cameron, mother of his one-year-old son Kayden; her two-year apprehended violence order was finalised.
• Gallagher also faces an active bench warrant in Ireland dating to April 2025 over a separate alleged 2022 assault.

What Happened at Nathan Gallagher's Australian Court Hearing?

Gallagher was expected to front Burwood Local Court on September 1, 2026, on charges stemming from his December 27, 2025 arrest. NSW Police allege he assaulted a 29-year-old woman at a unit block on Appleforth Street in Melrose Park, Sydney, on Boxing Day.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choking without consent, and common assault. Gallagher pleaded not guilty in January and was granted conditional bail, but prosecutors told the court he failed to appear and may have left the country.

Despite his absence, Judge Lacy convicted Gallagher on all three charges and issued an arrest warrant. "Given the serious nature of offences," she said, immigration documentation confirmed he was overseas. Cameron attended court prepared to give evidence, but the criminal hearing was called off due to Gallagher's non-attendance.

What Did Nathan Gallagher Say About the Arrest?

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Gallagher said he was speaking out because "the public has heard only one side of what was an extremely complicated situation." He acknowledged he "made mistakes" and would take responsibility for his own actions.

However, he claimed to possess contemporaneous video footage from the night in question, along with messages and other records he believes "provide important context." Gallagher said he offered to share the footage with Rolling Stone but would not release private documents on social media, noting he had deleted his Instagram account days before the hearing.

His priority, he said, is his young son Kayden and finding a way to co-parent peacefully with Cameron. "I simply want the opportunity for the other side to be heard and for the evidence to be considered," Gallagher stated.

Why Does This Case Matter for Below Deck Mediterranean?

Gallagher and Cameron met while filming Season 9 of Below Deck Mediterranean in Athens, Greece, in 2024, where both worked as deckhands aboard the superyacht Mustique. Their on-screen romance became a major storyline on the current season, which was filmed last summer and shows Gallagher juggling bosun duties while trying to stay present for Cameron and their newborn in Croatia.

The legal fallout now collides with the show's broadcast at a moment of peak visibility for the franchise. For more on how reality stars navigate legal crises in the public eye, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.

What Happens Next in Gallagher's Legal Cases?

With an Australian arrest warrant active, Gallagher's whereabouts remain unclear. News.com.au reported that his bail conditions did not require him to surrender his passport or refrain from leaving the jurisdiction.

Separately, Gallagher faces an active bench warrant from Ireland's Dungloe District Court, issued in April 2025 after he failed to appear over an alleged August 2022 assault in Donegal, according to Irish newspaper The Donegal Daily. Cameron's apprehended violence order against Gallagher has been finalised for two years. Representatives for Bravo and Cameron did not return Rolling Stone's request for comment.