Does Massi Scarcia Like Chef Joy on Below Deck Med? His Crush Explained

Massi Scarcia has barely settled into the Below Deck Mediterranean crew, but the new deckhand may already be heading toward his first boatmance storyline. The experienced Italian yachtie joined the Akira One after Max Salvador’s departure and immediately had to navigate the fractured relationship between Nathan Gallagher and Joe Bradley.

The deck drama does not appear to interest Massi nearly as much as someone working inside the yacht. Chef Joy Lefaucheur quickly catches his attention, and Bravo is now openly teasing Massi’s attraction to her as Season 11 moves toward its final charters.

Related: Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 Episode 14 Recap: Massi Arrives as Gen Hits Breaking Point

Does Massi Scarcia Have a Crush on Chef Joy?

Yes. Massi has openly admitted that he has a crush on Joy. His attraction becomes apparent almost immediately after he joins the crew. While Gen Lillie quickly realizes that the new Italian deckhand is not the type of man she was hoping would arrive, Massi’s attention turns toward Joy instead.

Bravo has now made the storyline explicit with a Season 11 preview centered entirely on Massi talking about how captivated he is by the chef. The network describes a new crush developing aboard the yacht as Massi explains his attraction to Joy.

Massi’s reaction is especially amusing because he otherwise presents himself as extremely confident. He joins the boat with more than a decade of yachting experience and has previously worked as a bosun and captain, yet meeting Joy appears to make him noticeably nervous.

Who Is Massi Scarcia?

Massimiliano “Massi” Scarcia is the Italian deckhand who replaces Max Salvador late in Below Deck Med Season 11. He is 26 and comes from La Spezia, Italy, with extensive professional experience that makes him unusually qualified for a regular deckhand position.

Bravo says Massi has spent around 11 years in yachting and has previously worked as a deckhand, bosun and captain. Captain Sandy Yawn is immediately impressed by his experience because the exterior department badly needs someone capable of joining the operation without a long adjustment period.

Massi explains that he deliberately does not want the responsibility of being in charge during this job. That allows him to remain outside much of the Nathan and Joe leadership battle, although his arrival quickly becomes another source of tension between the two men.

Does Chef Joy Like Massi Back?

There is not enough evidence yet to say that Joy has developed romantic feelings for Massi. The attraction currently appears much clearer from Massi’s side.

That distinction is important because Bravo’s preview specifically promotes Massi’s crush on Joy, not a confirmed romance between the two. Joy has not publicly established that she and Massi become a couple, and viewers have not yet seen them begin a relationship on the show.

For now, Massi’s interest should therefore be treated as the beginning of a potential storyline rather than an established boatmance.

What About Luke Brumer and Joy?

Massi has also arrived at an awkward moment because Joy already has unfinished romantic business with Luke Brumer.

Luke spent much of the earlier part of Season 11 caught between Joy and Gen. He became intimate with Gen while also having stronger feelings for Joy, but Joy rejected him after he admitted what happened. Luke eventually quit the yacht after his professional and personal problems became too much.

Leaving the boat did not end his interest in Joy. Episode 14 reveals that Luke is still communicating with her, and he sends flowers to the Akira One as another attempt to keep their connection alive.

That leaves Joy in an unusual position. Luke is continuing to pursue her from outside the yacht just as Massi arrives and begins developing his own crush aboard it.

Are Massi Scarcia and Chef Joy Dating?

There is currently no confirmation that Massi and Joy are dating, either during the season or after filming. What viewers know at this stage is that Massi is clearly attracted to her and Bravo considers the crush important enough to promote ahead of the coming episodes.

That makes it too early to describe them as a couple. Boatmances can move quickly on Below Deck, but attraction does not automatically mean Joy reciprocates or that anything happens between them.

The stronger question for the remaining episodes is whether Massi actually tells Joy how he feels and whether she gives him an opportunity to pursue her.

Could Massi and Joy Get Together Before Season 11 Ends?

It is possible because Massi enters the season with several charters still remaining, giving the show enough time to develop the crush beyond a brief joke. Bravo’s decision to release a dedicated preview about Massi’s feelings also suggests his attraction to Joy will receive at least some additional screen time.

However, Joy’s unresolved connection with Luke makes the situation less straightforward. Luke is no longer physically aboard the yacht, but his flowers and messages show that he is still trying to remain part of Joy’s life.

Massi therefore may have arrived as Max Salvador’s replacement, but his most interesting Season 11 storyline may have little to do with the deck department. Whether his crush becomes a genuine romance with Joy is something the remaining episodes still have to answer.