Former Below Deck star João Franco‘s old social media post about reassessing his values has resurfaced following his arrest in Turkey over an alleged involvement in a deadly fight. João and his brother, Karlos Franco, were taken into custody after a physical altercation in Bodrum left a 17-year-old dead. The incident occurred just three weeks after João shared a message about becoming a better person.
João Franco reflected on his values before his arrest in Turkey
Neither João nor Karlos has publicly addressed the arrest. However, weeks before the incident, João posted on Instagram an emotional message about taking time away from social media to reconsider his priorities.
Alongside a sunset selfie, he wrote, “I’ll be taking some time to reassess my values, realign my moral compass and remind myself of the person I want to be…” He continued, “Less ego. More humility. Less reaction. More understanding. Less judgment. More compassion.” He added that he wanted to be remembered not just for his achievements but for how he treated others.
Meanwhile, CCTV footage obtained by Page Six showed the altercation, which reportedly began as a verbal disagreement at a clothing store. Karlos appeared to throw the first punch, while João initially seemed to intervene. However, the confrontation escalated into a physical fight involving several men.
During the incident, one man fell and remained motionless. Local reports identified him as a 17-year-old store employee who hit his head on nearby stairs. Although emergency responders revived him after he suffered cardiac arrest and sustained a severe head injury, Haberler.com reported on Monday that the teenager had died.
João has appeared in several Bravo shows, including Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Down Under. His most recent appearance was in Season 4 of the latter, where he worked as a Bosun. The show also documented his struggles with alcohol and his decision to quit drinking in 2020.
Born in Zimbabwe, João moved to Europe to pursue a yachting career and has since worked as a superyacht captain. Earlier in October, he shared a photograph with Karlos in Bodrum, joking that they were “keeping each other out of trouble.”
Following the incident, both brothers were taken to the Bodrum Courthouse and remain in prison. A source told Page Six that they are “awaiting the next steps.”
