Below Deck'S Natalya Scudder Opens Up About Harrowing Detention Center Experience

Detention Drama for Below Deck's Natalya Scudder

Natalya Scudder, known for her stint on seasons 7 and 8 of Bravo's Below Deck, recently opened up about a nerve-wracking experience in a U.S. immigration detention center. In an interview with TMZ published on Saturday, July 25, Scudder detailed her ordeal after being held for "30 to 40" hours.

"I basically got pulled from, like, this main waiting area to the behind-the-scenes area of the airport, which is like a detention holding center," Scudder alleged, painting a grim picture of the conditions. According to her, the holding center featured "dirty blankets on the floor" and "stains all over the walls," with a shower available but "no towels."

Visa Woes and Unwelcome Surprises

Scudder, who holds Australian residency, had a visa to enter the United States but not to work. Her troubles began upon landing at LAX, realizing that "something is wrong here." She recounted a confusing interaction where authorities questioned her about earning money from photos taken on U.S. soil in 2024, suggesting she worked illegally on the wrong visa. "They were just like, 'In 2024, you took photos on the land that generated this much money,'" she explained.

“I love America, but I think the laws — the warning from this, for anyone who does content creation, would be: they really have locked in now on people who do Instagram or make any money from YouTube, OnlyFans, Playboy,” Scudder concluded.

Embarrassing Searches and Departure

Scudder described the intrusive search process, where officials allegedly went through her iPhone, accessing everything from ChatGPT history to deleted messages. She claimed it was "embarrassing," with agents purportedly laughing during the ordeal. Her detention experience culminated in a feeling of helplessness, as she was the only woman in the facility and received no information about her situation. Even basic requests, like a blanket, were met with dismissive responses, likening it to "not at the Beverly Hills Hotel."

After enduring a 17-hour flight to the U.S., followed by the lengthy detention, Scudder was ultimately deported back to Australia. Despite the experience, she emphasized a cautionary takeaway for content creators: ensure you have the correct visa if planning to monetize content in the U.S.

The incident underscores the complexities and potential pitfalls influencers face when navigating immigration laws, especially when their work crosses international borders. As of now, there has yet to be a comment from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials regarding Scudder's allegations.