Natalya Scudder Was Told to Dry Herself With Dirty Clothes After Being Detained

Natalya Scudder, a star of 'Below Deck: Mediterranean' Seasons 7 and 8, was told to dry herself with her dirty clothes after being detained in a U.S. immigration facility — a moment that underscores the harsh reality behind a high-profile deportation. "I basically got pulled from like this main waiting area to the behind the scenes of the airport,"

The Australian native, known for her role as a stewardess on the Bravo reality series, detailed her ordeal in an interview with TMZ, as reported by Page Six. Scudder claimed she was pulled from the main waiting area at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after her immigration processing took longer than usual. She said she was taken behind the scenes of the airport and informed she had earned money from photos taken 'on American soil' in 2024 — a violation, authorities allegedly told her, of her visa terms.

What Was Said

Scudder said she was told she had 'illegally worked on the wrong visa.' "illegally worked on the wrong visa." According to her account, the photos in question were monetized, possibly through her work as an OnlyFans creator, though she did not specify how the income was generated. While detained, officers reportedly took her iPhone and combed through everything: text messages, notes, ChatGPT history, Google searches, and screenshots. 'Whatever you think’s deleted on your iPhone, it’s not deleted,' she warned.

She described the holding room as having 'dirty blankets on the floor' "dirty blankets on the floor" and 'stains all over the walls.' "stains all over the walls." Scudder said she was the only woman in the facility and was given a shared loofah in the shower — with no towels provided. Officers told her to dry off with her dirty clothes and put them back on. When she asked for a blanket because she was freezing, she was told, 'This isn’t the Beverly Hills Hotel.'

Scudder claimed she was held for 30 to 40 hours — from the moment she landed at LAX to her final deportation. She said she was finally asleep around 3 a.m. when she was shaken awake for her 'official interview,' after which officials promptly deported her back to Australia.

How We Got Here

Scudder, who appeared on 'Watch What Happens Live' in September 2023, said the 17-hour flight to the U.S. ended in a nightmare. She had previously visited the country during her time on 'Below Deck: Mediterranean,' but this recent attempt to land triggered a deeper inspection. The incident reportedly stemmed from photos she took during a prior trip in 2024, which authorities believed were used for commercial gain — a potential violation of her tourist visa.

Though she loves America, Scudder warned fellow influencers to be very careful when traveling through the country, saying authorities are cracking down. 'They don’t want to end up below decency like these authorities allegedly subjected her to,' TMZ reported.

Scudder was held overnight in the detention center — a facility she described as degrading — before being placed on a 17-hour flight back to Australia. Her account paints a stark picture of the U.S. immigration enforcement system, particularly for foreign nationals whose online income may blur the lines of visa eligibility.

It's reported that Scudder was not allowed to stay for more than one to five days, though her detention lasted less than that. She said the entire ordeal — from landing to deportation — spanned 30 to 40 hours.

This is confirmed: Natalya Scudder was detained at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), held overnight in a U.S. detention center, and deported to Australia after being accused of illegally working on the wrong visa due to monetized photos taken on American soil in 2024.

Sources

• Bravo star details 'disgusting' night in detention center, deportation from the US — Page Six
• 'Below Deck' Star Natalya Scudder Details Horrific Conditions in U.S. Detention Center — tmz.com