- Leaked video purportedly shows Charkowski attacking his child from above while in another he threatens to murder his wife
An editor who worked on a hit Bravo reality show is facing child abuse charges in California as terrifying video emerges purporting to show him physically attacking his son and threatening to murder his estranged wife.
Christopher Charkowski, 39, who according to IMDb has worked on 81 episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean, a show that showcases what it’s like to work on luxury yachts that are rented by the rich and famous, was arrested on January 4, reports Newsweek.
An X user who goes by the name Beks or @Antifaoperative posted the videos online on Sunday as well as documents surrounding his arrest. If convicted on the charges, Charkowski could face up to six years in prison.
In their posts, Beks claims to be a friend of Charkowski’s wife, Dara Fay Stransky. She too responds in the thread, quipping: ‘Oh look, that’s my soon to be ex husband.’ Beks replied: ‘Love you, Warrior.’
‘Editor for multiple shows including &, has been charged with felony aggravated child endangerment,’ Beks wrote to begin the thread.
The horrific videos appear to have been taken from a camera allegedly inside Charkowski’s home. In the clip, a man punches a small child repeatedly. Two other children and two dogs are also seen in the clip.
In another piece of footage, the man, who Beks says is Charkowski, threatens an older woman, who is said to be the editor’s mother, saying: ‘I’m gonna f***in’ murder her, then I’m gonna kill myself.’
Friends of the couple reacted with outrage to the footage.
‘Chris, I’m am beyond disappointed in you. As a friend, I will never forgive you for this in any way shape or form. I’m absolutely disgusted in you. This is extremely hard to watch, serious trigger warning,’ one person wrote.
‘I’m just so tired of people saying & doing things that allow abusers to remain in the shadows. As a culture we need to do better for domestic violence victims,’ another person wrote in a tweeted that Dara Stransky retweeted.
Meanwhile her friends have been attempting to raise money to help her and her children through this difficult time.
According to his IMDb page, Charkowski has worked on a variety of stand-up comedy specials for acts such as Marlon Wayans, Nick Kroll and Sheng Wang.
In addition to 89 episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean, he has also worked on 34 episodes of its predecessor Below Deck.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Bravo for comment.
Charkowski was also the lead assistant editor on Jury Duty in 2023.
On a job advertising website, Charkowski says that he is a native of New Jersey who moved to Los Angeles to work in TV.
‘I love my job and it reflects in my work and attitude. I take my job serious and love to be under pressure,’ he wrote.
In a 2021 interview, Dara Stransky revealed that she is a mother to four children, one of who has autism.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
