As Fraser Olender experienced on Below Deck Season 12, a long-distance relationship is never easy—especially while away at sea.
During Season 12, Episode 4, Fraser expressed his frustration at only seeing his boyfriend five days so far in the year and referred to his boyfriend as a “pen pal” while calling their schedules “incompatible.” By Episode 5, the relationship came to an end following Fraser’s kiss with Damo Yorg.
During the June 30 episode, Fraser ended up going off the boat to have a “talk” with his boyfriend—and came back a single man. “Just so you know, my boyfriend and I broke up,” he told stew Barbara Kulaif. “Because we don’t see each other.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” he added, while going about his chief stew duties and preparing to serve the charter guests lunch.
Fraser confessed the end of his relationship felt inevitable.
“Long distance is super hard. It’s never something I wanted to be in. And lo and behold it’s not working. It needed to be done,” he said, and later added, “If I’m dating someone, it’s because I want to date them, and see them. So it’s not the right time for us.”
In a recent interview with The Daily Dish, Fraser shared more details about his mindset at the time of the breakup.
“Do I really have a boyfriend? Yes. But seeing him five times a year? I don’t know if that classifies as something that’s going particularly well,” he said. “I quickly realized that I’m very unhappy in our situationship.”
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Fraser Olender explains how Damo Yorg kiss led to his breakup
Fraser’s decision to end the relationship was hastened after he shared the steamy “first kiss of the season” with Damo in the hot tub during Episode 4. After the passionate moment was over, Fraser realized he might have an issue, since he and his boyfriend had previously had a conversation about not making out with other people.
“Do I think I’ve cheated? Absolutely not. It would not bother me if my boyfriend was to like make out with one of his straight male friends. If it was another gay man, I get it. It wouldn’t be cool,” he explained in his confessional.
Fraser felt confident in his difficult decision, but shared with stew Rainbeau de Roos that he wasn’t shutting the door forever on rekindling the relationship with his ex.
“I feel like if we’re ever back in the same place, at the same time, no longer doing what we’re doing, it absolutely could work out,” he said in Episode 5 of the season. “And I’ve got not a single bad word to say about him. But it’s right guy, wrong time.”
RELATED: Solène Favreau Reveals a Big “Problem” After Hooking Up With Kyle Stillie
Does Fraser Olender regret kissing Damo Yorg?
Fraser shared that he doesn’t regret kissing Damo after the crew night out.
“Everything’s all super fun, and free, and jovial, and joking. None of it’s serious,” Fraser told The Daily Dish. “We definitely let loose and have a good time, and we’re all adults and we can all do that in jest, and it’s not taken personally by anyone.”
Will Fraser be doing any more smooching this season of Below Deck? It’s possible, but, “I don’t have any serious crushes or aspirations with anyone this year,” he revealed in the exclusive interview.
Fraser and Damo weren’t the only St. David crew members locking lips this season. Solène Favreau shared why she might have a big “problem” after her kisses with Kyle Stillie.
—Additional reporting by Stephanie Gomulka
