sailing yacht jl and dani

Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Captain Glenn Shephard Gives Update on Dani Soares and Jean-Luc’s Co-Parenting of Daughter Lilly Rose, Plus Cast’s Reaction

Avid Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans will definitely recall the paternity drama that unfolded between former stew Dani Soares and deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza-Launaux during their respective season on the franchise.

Although the two have apparently sorted out the paternity drama, their former boss, Captain Glenn Shephard , is giving us an update on how the couple is co-parenting following their split.

Below Deck star Dani Soares poses with daughter Lilly Rose

Speaking to Us Weekly , Glenn said Jean-Luc has somewhat stepped up to the plate and has “some involvement now” in daughter Lilly Rose’s life. He has even started up a college fund for her.

“I know that [Jean-Luc] has some involvement now with [his and Dani’s] baby. I heard that he’s setting up a college fund and that he talks to her regularly on zoom because they’re far apart,” Glenn told the outlet at the NBCUniversal Upfront on Monday, May 16. “[Dani is] in Australia and his boat is in the states. He has to keep working obviously and I don’t think he can go to Australia and start a job.”

Glenn admits he gets most of his updates on the couple through secondhand sources, but he added that he thinks Jean-Luc should do more, especially after adamantly dismissing the child as his own in the past.

“I was asking someone what’s his involvement because it’s been a while. Personally, I think he should do more. But I don’t know all the details. I’m not that close with them so I can’t really speak to it,” Glenn shared.

Viewers saw the whole drama play out on their screens between Dani and Jean-Luc.

“Let’s put it this way, this baby was made during the season while we had cameras 24/7 with us and I only slept with one guy,” Dani said in June 2021. “He hasn’t supported me at all in any way. He thinks it is not his child and he doesn’t want to have anything to do with it,” Dani said.

Several months after Dani gave birth to Lilly Rose, and after a paternity test that was demanded by Jean-Luc, he finally claimed the child as his own.

“I’m happy and proud to say sweet and beautiful Lilly Rose is my daughter,” he wrote in an Instagram post in January. “Dani and I have been working and communicating together to the best of our ability. This is imperative [to work out] for the sake of our daughter as she needs both parents in her life.”

Sometimes words just come a little too late, Jean-Luc. And Dani and her former castmates apparently agree.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dani Soares (@iamdanisoares)

Current Below Deck Down Under star and former Below Deck Sailing Yacht stew Alli Dore  told Us Weekly at the time, “I feel like after all the back and forth that happened and all the things that were said about Dani, there should have been a public apology in there to her.”

Chief engineer Colin MacRae also had some choice words for his former co-star, saying, “It’s never too late to redeem yourself with actions, but this pathetic attempt at owning up to being a father just for the sake of social media, with a complete lack of any form of support in real life, gains no respect from me whatsoever. Which is a crying shame because every child deserves to have a father.”

According to Captain Glenn, Dani and Jean-Luc appear to be making some headway in the line of co-parenting. Here’s hoping it continues.

What Happened Between Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux And Dani Soares On Below Deck Sailing Yacht?

Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux and Dani Soares' boatmance on Season 2 of "Below Deck Sailing Yacht" was one of the messiest in "Below Deck" history. The two met during their first and only season and after some flirting, they took their relationship to the next level, per Screen Rant . Soares, who is eight years older than Cerza-Lanaux, was clear that she wanted something serious and even hinted to him about having a baby together, via Us Weekly . "I want to have babies, I want to get married. Do you want to do that? Let's have sex tonight. And if I get pregnant? That's God's will," she told Cerza-Lanaux in an episode.

Cerza-Lanaux and Soares left "Below Deck Sailing Yacht" Season 2 together and it looked as if they were ready to take their romance onto land. Fans were curious to know if their relationship survived after the show. Cerza-Lanaux told Meaww , "Me and Dani aboard Parsifal found an escape you could say in one another ... I think the viewers are going to see how things pan out between me and Dani really soon so I don't want to spill the beans yet, you guys just have to stay tuned." In April 2021, Soares revealed on Instagram that she was pregnant and many wondered if Cerza-Lanaux was the father , which she surprisingly revealed during the Season 2 reunion.

Dani Soares named Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux as the father of her baby

During the "Below Deck Sailing Yacht" Season 2 reunion, Dani Soares stated that Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux was indeed the father of her baby. "Well, let's put it this way, this baby was made during the season while we had cameras 24/7 with us and I only slept with one guy," Soares stated, via ET . She then told host Andy Cohen that Cerza-Lanaux didn't think the baby was his and said that he "doesn't want to have anything to do with it." Soares read a text from him: "Don't go around telling people I'm the dad of this child. And I want a DNA test."

In a separate conversation with Andy Cohen during the reunion, Cerza-Lanaux stated that he wanted to be involved in the baby's life and would even move to Australia where Soares lives, per Us Weekly . In May 2021, Soares announced the arrival of her baby girl on Instagram . "She is here. She is perfect. And we trying to figure this thing out."

The following June, Cerza-Lanaux posted on Instagram , "There's a lot of gossip about my social media silence so I think it's time to clear the air ... I am working on a yacht in Central America and heartbroken to have to hear about the baby's birth on social media and read headlines ... All I can say is if she's mine, I want to be involved 100%." Suffice it to say, fans were not happy with the deckhand.

Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux finally took a paternity test

Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux angered fans yet again when he posted a baby picture of himself on Instagram and made excuses for why he didn't want to take a paternity test. In January 2022, he finally confirmed that he was the father of Dani Soares' baby. "I can't let 2022 go any further without sharing some beautiful news. An international DNA test that was done awhile ago was no small feat. I'm happy and proud to say Sweet and beautiful Lilly rose is my daughter," he wrote on Instagram . He went on to say that he and Soares had been talking and he had every intention of being in his daughter's life.

Unfortunately, it seems as if Cerza-Lanaux did not step up to the plate after the paternity reveal. His "Below Deck Sailing Yacht" castmates expressed their disappointment in him. "She has not received a single piece of financial, let alone moral, support from JL. His deceptive Instagram post was an absolutely false portrayal of his and her relationship as 'coparents,'" Colin MacRae told Us Weekly . Gary King also alleged that Cerza-Lanaux was an absent father. "It's all good in saying stuff on social media but words are completely different to actions and if his actions spoke louder than his words, then it would be different, but at the moment they're not."

As of now, Soares is raising Lilly in Australia as a single mother while Cerza-Lanaux is living his best life traveling the world, per his Instagram .

Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Dani Confirms Jean-Luc is Her Baby’s Father

By: Author Paul Dailly

• X (Twitter)

Below Deck Sailing Yacht concluded one of the most addictive seasons in franchise history recently, and in the aftermath, there's been a wealth of drama.

While the show was airing, Dani Soares announced her pregnancy, and this shocked many fans because the season showed her hooking up Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux.

As fans questioned whether Jean-Luc could be the father, there's been a lot of back and forth, but Dani shed light during the reunion special this week.

Never one to hold back, Andy Cohen asked Dani whether Jean-Luc was the father, eliciting the following response.

"Well, let’s put it this way: This baby was made during this season while we had cameras 24/7 with us, and I only slept with one guy … [Jean-Luc] hasn't supported me at all in any way," the star responded.

"He thinks it's not his child, and he doesn't want to have anything to do with it."

When filming wrapped, they spent a few days together, according to Dani, but Jean-Luc then returned to America as she returned to Austalia.

Soares said that Jean-Luc was initially supportive, but he then became "not interested anymore."

Dani revealed that Jean-Luc did want to get a paternity test done but has yet to do so, and he was not at the reunion because he was working on another boat.

Fortunately, Cohen got on Zoom with Jean-Luc to shed some light on the situation, where he said that he wanted to be a part of the child's life if he was truly the father.

"Though you may not want anything to do with me because of me asking for a paternity test, I understand that," he said. 

"That’s something that I can get over. But what I can’t get over is if this is my child, is not being there for her, to watch her grow up, to watch her learn how to eat, to watch her learn how to walk. I can’t get over that."

Much of the drama surrounding the paternity has spilled online, with Jean-Luc sharing a photo of himself and saying that they both wanted to get the paternity test, but the Australian borders being closed are the issue, according to the star.

He said he wanted to "set the record straight" with the post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux (@jeanluc_cerza_lanaux)

In the aforementioned post, Jean-Luc said he learned of the child's birth on Instagram before addressing that paternity tests are readily available in drug stores.

"Yes, I know paternity test kits are available at drugstores but the goal is for us to take the tests together instead of shipping saliva samples around the world. But yes, there will be one ASAP," he shared.

Sydney Zaruba, a Below Deck alum, was unimpressed with his decision to make the matter public.

"JL, why do you continue to lie through your teeth? Please keep this disgustingly desperate attempt to save face and blame Dani, off of social media. It’s pathetic," she wrote. 

"We in her circle have seen first hand how you have treated her for the last 9 months. So again, man the fuk up and do what’s right for this poor little girl, AND KEEP IT OFF SOCIAL MEDIA."

What are your thoughts on all the latest developments?

Hit the comments below.

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht 's Dani Soares & Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux Air Out Their Baby Drama

During part two of the below deck sailing yacht reunion, dani soares and jean-luc cerza-lanaux discussed their baby drama, including the status of a paternity test..

Below Deck baby drama.

During part two of the Below Deck Sailing Yacht season two reunion, which aired tonight, June 22 on Bravo, Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux gave an update on their relationship status and discussed the unconfirmed paternity of the stewardess' daughter Lilly .

As E! News readers well know, Dani surprised Below Deck fans when she announced in April that she was going to be a mom. Before long, fans began wondering if her former co-star was the father.

And, as Dani shared in the new episode, she's pretty confident that the season two deckhand, often called JL, is the father of her daughter, telling reunion host Andy Cohen , "Well, let's put it this way, this baby was made during the season while we had cameras 24/7 with us and I only slept with one guy, so…"

As she continued, Dani claimed that her ex hasn't supported her throughout the pregnancy. "He thinks it's not his child," she added. "And he doesn't want to have anything to do with it."

Per the Bravo personality, she learned she was pregnant upon returning to Australia after filming. "I told him, and he was obviously a bit shocked and everything, but he seemed supportive," she noted. "He told me he would support me, whatever I decided to do. So, he was supportive in the beginning, and then it just changed. Like, around December things just changed, and he was just not interested anymore."

Apparently, on New Year's, Dani received a text that allegedly read: "Don't go around telling people I'm the dad of this child. And I want a DNA test." According to Dani, she agreed to the DNA test as long as Jean-Luc organized and paid for it.

"He hasn't done anything," she revealed. "I asked him again. But, since January, he's asked about the baby like, twice or three times."

To make matters worse, after a "horrible comment" allegedly made by Jean-Luc's mom, Dani now has "zero interest" in the family being "involved in [her] child's life."

However, in his own interview with Andy, Jean-Luc hit back that, if he is the father, he has every intention to be involved in Lilly's life. "The fact that people are telling me that I want nothing to do with this child, it's really tearing me up," he snapped. "All my friends and all my family know the type of person that I am and know that I want everything to do with that child…If it is mine."

Jean-Luc defended that he still didn't know for sure whether Lilly, who was not born yet at the time of taping, was his child. On the status of the paternity test, Jean-Luc relayed, "There was talk of a DNA test, and I still want to do it…We've gone as far as me trying to reach out to her doctor's office."

Later on, Jean-Luc claimed he wanted to be present at the birth, noting, "The fact of me knowing that this could possibly be my child and not being there for the birth is f--king killing me."

After watching his co-stars' feelings on the drama, Jean-Luc asked them to not "judge a book by its cover." He went on to confess that he even considered moving to Australia. "I've thought about every possible avenue, every f--king avenue, and I just haven't come up with one yet," he said. "To Dani, what we had on the show, for me, was real. I don't care what anybody says, even now that we're going through what we're going through."

Jean-Luc went on to call their relationship a "genuine" one and offered up an apology. "The fact that we are at where we are now, I'm really sorry," he remarked. "I would assume to say that most of it is my fault. Maybe, because I'm the boy that you think that I am."

Before concluding, he declared that he wanted to be there for Dani and wanted to co-parent Lilly, if she is his daughter.

For more episodes in the Below Deck franchise, be sure to head to Peacock .

(E!, Bravo and Peacock are all part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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Andy Cohen’s Maury Moment: The First ‘Below Deck’ Baby Deserved Better

Where to stream:.

• Below Deck Sailing Yacht

'Below Deck Med's Chef Johnathan Shillingford Thinks Aesha Scott Handled Those Rude Charter Guests "Very Well"

'below deck's 8 worst guests of all-time: from jill zarin to delores the midnight swimmer, ‘below deck mediterranean’ exclusive clip: aesha scott stands up for herself against a rude charter guest, 'below deck med' exclusive clip: bri muller's laundry room "burn book" causes more drama between her and elena dubiach.

The Below Deck franchise has given us a lot of firsts. Across Below Deck , Below Deck Mediterranean , and Below Deck Sailing Yacht , Bravo has aired everything from nudity to near-death experiences to in-depth analysis of maritime law. And now, after a total of 15 seasons have aired, we seem to have the very first Below Deck baby on our hands, a child that deserves a much better welcoming than she has received so far.

During Part 2 of the Below Deck Sailing Yacht Reunion, host Andy Cohen questioned stew Dani Soares about the daughter she welcomed in May and if the father is deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux. It was an easy jump to make as we watched the two slink into the guest cabin for a private night of fun throughout this season which has aired for the majority of the spring, just as she revealed the pregnancy. But it was filmed at the end of last summer, so…anyone with basic math skills knew it added up.

And before we heard from Dani or JL, sure, there was the chance that maybe she met a different tall and hunky and more mature man and also had some fun. However, it not only seemed unlikely, it turns out, it never happened. When finally given the floor to talk, Dani said, “Well, let’s put it this way: this baby was made during the season while we had cameras 24/7 with us and I only slept with one guy.” And what has that guy’s reaction been since learning he’s the father? “He hasn’t supported me at all in any way,” Dani revealed. “He thinks it’s not his child and he doesn’t want to have anything to do with it,” she said of JL’s reaction.

She went on to detail how she found out she was pregnant as soon as she got back to Australia after the charter season in Croatia and that initially JL was “Obviously a bit shocked and everything but he seemed supportive.” But then it changed, and by December of last year he was “not interested anymore.” That became apparent on New Year’s Day when she got a message from him that said, “Don’t go around telling people I’m the dad of this child,” and saying he wanted a DNA test to prove it. Dani agreed as long as he organized and paid for it, which has yet to happen, and said he has asked about the baby two-three times total this year. She went on to say, “She’s gonna be amazing,” about her daughter, and that she would “Do my best every day to give her everything she needs.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dani Soares (@iamdanisoares)

Andy was sure to tell her, “This girl is going to come into a world where she is very loved and you’re gonna be an incredible mom.” Dani’s pals also had her back, with Alli Dore saying, “She’s working so hard…she’s been amazing,” and of JL, “It’s incredibly disgusting and frustrating that he won’t even acknowledge the situation. My heart breaks for Dani but she’s so strong and I know she can do this without him and she will be better off.” Gary King was also sure to add that he “does not have a spine,” which, if it weren’t so true, would warrant some kind of joke about his height here, but it’s just too disappointing to even have fun with.

For her part, Dani was also sure to say she wished he was at the reunion so everyone could hear his side, though he later got his own sit-down with Andy. “Five days after the reunion was recorded, Jean-Luc found time in his work schedule to speak with Andy,” the screen read, as it was previously announced he was on coward, sorry, on charter . And let’s not forget, angel on Earth Colin found a way to drive 90 minutes to Wifi, so it feels like JL (also not the most motivated cast member we’ve ever seen on the show) could’ve figured out a way to face his fellow castmates.

“It was really unfortunate, I did want to be there but I had a charter and it was our primary’s daughter’s birthday so basically one of the biggest days of the whole charter that I could not take time off for,” is the excuse he gave. It seemed as though Andy was lobbing a few softball questions to start off the interview, but when asked what lessons he learned, JL replied, “Do not get intimate with any of the crew.” Ok bro, game on! He admitted, “The status of my relationship with Dani is kind of a little uncertain,” and that the two talk “a little bit back and forth but not as much as we probably should.” He added that “there’s some things that are to be questioned,” but that “we’re trying to be adults about this whole entire process and figure it out.”

Except he seems to have way more to figure out than she does. He said after he asked for the paternity test that it “turned into a lot of backlash and her not wanting to hear from me,” yet he thought, due to his lack of experience with women, that it was a “very understandable question to ask in any situation.” To confirm: it is not. He went on to say that he told Dani, “If this is my child, I want to be a part of that child’s life every single day as much as I can for the rest of her life.”

It’s the same sentiment he expressed this past weekend in an Instagram caption , and one that he repeated over and over again during his time with Andy, though that didn’t make it truer. In fact, it often felt as though someone had told him what to say, but he didn’t quite know what it meant, or that he meant it . Saying you want to be involved “100%” is very noble. But he had a relationship with Dani, they cared about each other, and so far, he’s been involved 0%.

In fact, the extent of his involvement is that he claims he will happily pay for the DNA test and that it’s gotten as far as him reaching out to her doctor’s office, even saying he wanted to be present for the birth. But none of those things have materialized, as Lilly was born on May 26th, and as the screen savagely stated, “Jean-Luc and Dani have yet to speak to each other.” Bro. Is the only good thing to come out of this mess going to be this sick burn ? Because, somehow, even his headphones were irritating.

Every season, viewers tune in to this show to see how crazy the guests are, how beautiful the landscapes are, and mostly, who hooks up on the boat. And almost every season, multiple crew members come through for us. However, there has never been a Below Deck baby before, and beautiful Lilly seems to be the first. We’ve always known that what happens on (or below) deck never stays on deck, but this drama has really jumped. Despite JL’s mom being messy online, Dani’s fellow crew members have truly had her back and rallied around her in comment sections as well as privately showing their support.

And for her part, Dani has been a class act. She didn’t post a photo of her pregnant belly until April when it became too hard to hide it, and has vowed to not “throw dirt” on JL’s name to the child. She’s remained admirably optimistic and strong publicly and seemed fully ready to embrace motherhood, despite not deserving to face it in this way.

But Lilly could’ve had a better celebration. A Below Deck Baby special on Bravo (or hell, even on Peacock), like a baby shower we would actually want to see! The crew members would show up with smiles and nautical-themed presents and Daisy could get wine-drunk again — it would’ve been awesome! This baby should be celebrated Andy-style, not Maury-style. It’s a wonderful, beautiful, special occasion. She’s being born to a loving mom who has a fantastic group of coworkers-turned-pals and now an international audience of people that also wish the best for her. I hope she never has to sit through that reunion or hear its pathetic excuses, and simply know that as far as her mom is concerned, she will always be the primary.

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux’s Ups and Downs

Making waves! Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux ended their time on season 2 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht together, but it wasn’t long before the pair were in a complicated situation .

The costars met on the Parsifal III and it wasn’t long before Jean-Luc revealed that he had a crush on the stew. Although their relationship was initially just casual, they eventually started to become serious over the course of the season.

“You’ve been there for me every step of the way,” the deckhand told Dani during one of their last night’s together on the boat. “You made this entire trip that much better.”

Even though Dani seemed to feel the same, she wasn’t sure they were looking for the same thing.

“To be a hundred percent honest, you make me feel, like, I’m the most amazing person in the world,” the stew said in a June 2021 episode. “But I just don’t see how this could actually work. That’s what you get when you get with 30-plus year-old women, who have no time to waste.”

Jean-Luc, however,​​​​ was positive they could make it work. He told Dani: “At the end of the day, if we make one another happy, then that’s all that matters.”

Following their show exits, Dani went on to reveal that she was pregnant in April 2021.

“Everybody’s so supportive,” Dani exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2021. “ Alli [Dore] ‘s in Australia and she was like, ‘My parents said they can come to their farm if you need some support, and you can stay here with us and they’ll be the grandparents!’”

Dani added that Natasha De Bourg , Daisy Kelliher , Glenn Shephard , Colin Macrae and Sydney Zaruba all reached out to her, but she didn’t mention Jean-Luc at the time .

Fans began to speculate that the deckhand was the father of Dani’s daughter, whom she welcomed in May 2021.

“She is here. She is perfect. And we trying to figure this thing out,” she captioned a photo of the newborn’s little hand at the time. “We both healthy and happy. Thank you for all the support ❤❤❤ Will post more once mummy had some rest 😂.”

One month later, Jean-Luc took to social media to explain his side of the story .

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“There’s a lot of gossip about my social media silence so I think it’s time to clear the air. While others are off chasing their 15 minutes of fame, I am working on a yacht in Central America,” he wrote via Instagram in June 2021. “[I’m] heartbroken to have to hear about the baby’s birth on social media and read headlines, like, ‘Dani Soares Says Her Baby’s Father Doesn’t Want Anything to Do With It.’ All I can say is if it’s mine, I want to be involved 100 [percent].”

He continued: “As someone who grew up with parents who weren’t together, I wouldn’t wish that on any child. Not looking for a pity party. Just want everyone to know how strongly I feel about this, especially the haters who are so sure I am neglecting my responsibility. No one wants to know more than me if this is my baby girl!”

Scroll through for a timeline of their ups and downs:

Credit: Courtesy Dani Soares/Instagram; Courtesy Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux/Instagram

Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux's Ups and Downs

Making waves! Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux ended their time on season 2 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht together, but it wasn't long before the pair were in a complicated situation . The costars met on the Parsifal III and it wasn't long before Jean-Luc revealed that he had a crush on the stew. Although their relationship was initially just casual, they eventually started to become serious over the course of the season. "You've been there for me every step of the way," the deckhand told Dani during one of their last night's together on the boat. "You made this entire trip that much better." Even though Dani seemed to feel the same, she wasn't sure they were looking for the same thing. "To be a hundred percent honest, you make me feel, like, I'm the most amazing person in the world," the stew said in a June 2021 episode. "But I just don't see how this could actually work. That's what you get when you get with 30-plus year-old women, who have no time to waste." Jean-Luc, however,​​​​ was positive they could make it work. He told Dani: "At the end of the day, if we make one another happy, then that's all that matters." Following their show exits, Dani went on to reveal that she was pregnant in April 2021. [sendtonews type="float" key="EehXV1rE2N-3106741-14453"] “Everybody's so supportive,” Dani exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2021. “ Alli [Dore] 's in Australia and she was like, 'My parents said they can come to their farm if you need some support, and you can stay here with us and they'll be the grandparents!'” Dani added that Natasha De Bourg , Daisy Kelliher , Glenn Shephard , Colin Macrae and Sydney Zaruba all reached out to her, but she didn't mention Jean-Luc at the time . Fans began to speculate that the deckhand was the father of Dani's daughter, whom she welcomed in May 2021. “She is here. She is perfect. And we trying to figure this thing out,” she captioned a photo of the newborn's little hand at the time. “We both healthy and happy. Thank you for all the support ❤❤❤ Will post more once mummy had some rest 😂.” One month later, Jean-Luc took to social media to explain his side of the story . “There’s a lot of gossip about my social media silence so I think it’s time to clear the air. While others are off chasing their 15 minutes of fame, I am working on a yacht in Central America,” he wrote via Instagram in June 2021. “[I’m] heartbroken to have to hear about the baby’s birth on social media and read headlines, like, ‘Dani Soares Says Her Baby’s Father Doesn’t Want Anything to Do With It.’ All I can say is if it’s mine, I want to be involved 100 [percent].” He continued: "As someone who grew up with parents who weren’t together, I wouldn’t wish that on any child. Not looking for a pity party. Just want everyone to know how strongly I feel about this, especially the haters who are so sure I am neglecting my responsibility. No one wants to know more than me if this is my baby girl!" Scroll through for a timeline of their ups and downs: [podcast_block]

Their Growing Connection

The crew members started a flirtatious relationship during season 2 .

"I think when we were playing Truth or Dare and he said that he fancied me," the stew revealed during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in April 2021. "I don't know, it just made me look at him differently."

From there, things slowly got more serious.

"Being with Dani is something special. I'm definitely afraid to fall in love," Jean-Luc said during a May 2021 episode of the Bravo show.

Credit: Courtesy Dani Soares/Instagram; Courtesy Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux/Instagram; Laurent Basset/Bravo

An Unexpected Distraction

After Jean-Luc proved to be not so fun during a night off, Dani decided to enjoy her time with fellow stew Alli .

"When I am drunk, I get touchy and emotional. When Jean-Luc gets drunk, he is just in himself. He is like a little flower that doesn't have water," Dani explained during a May 2021 episode. The duo went to a guest cabin and hooked up, which both women confirmed after the episode aired .

"I mean, Alli's gorgeous, you know, and for me, if people are having fun and you're not upsetting anybody, it doesn't matter if it's a boy or if it's a girl,” Dani exclusively told Us that same month. “We were just having fun and that's it."

Credit: Courtesy Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux/Instagram

The Chlamydia Scare

During a May 2021 episode, Jean-Luc revealed to Dani that he was struggling with a health scare that could be a potential STD.

"I'm thinking I'm having fun and enjoying myself and then there you go, serious s--t. Not only f--king feelings but also f--king diseases," Dani said after learning the news.

The stew considered leaving the boat but chose to stay after talking to Colin. Jean-Luc later learned from the doctor that he didn't actually have an STD like he initially thought.

Planning a Future Together

As the crew's time on the Parsifal was coming to an end, Jean-Luc and Dani talked about what the future looked like for them in a June 2021 episode.

The deckhand told the stew that she "means a lot" to him. But for Dani, she was looking for something serious in the relationship.

“I want to have babies, I want to get married," she said. "Do you want to do that? Let's have sex tonight. And if I get pregnant? That's God's will."

While Dani was joking about getting pregnant at the time, she did explain that she was nervous about Jean-Luc's lack of commitment in relationships in the past.

“It really scares me that you haven’t had a relationship before,” she told him.

Jean-Luc convinced Dani to try to take a "leap of faith" and the twosome ended up leaving the boat together at the end of the charter season.  

Credit: Courtesy Dani Soares/Instagram

Surprise Pregnancy

In April 2021, Dani revealed on social media that she was expecting her first child .

“It’s just you and I little baby,” she captioned the photo of her growing baby bump via Instagram.

While many fans wondered if Dani's boat romance with Jean-Luc led to a pregnancy, she told Us that she wasn't looking to reveal her baby's father publicly at the time.

"I just don’t think that’s relevant for my situation, that’s all,” the Bravo personality told Us one month after her announcement. "I understand that people are curious about it, and I understand that I’m on a TV show and everybody wants to know. I just don’t think it’s anybody’s business right now.”

Jean-Luc Breaks His Silence

Right before the first part of the Below Deck Sailing Yacht reunion, Jean-Luc addressed all the speculation about whether he was the father of Dani's daughter and was met with backlash from fans and several of his cast members. Alli, Sydney, Colin and Natasha called for the deckhand to deal with the possibility that the child is his.

Jean-Luc clarified the next day that he was actively looking to take a paternity test .

"Yes, I know paternity test kits are available at drugstores but the goal is for us to take the tests together instead of shipping saliva samples around the world. But yes, there will be one ASAP," he confirmed at the time.

He added: "Why am I sharing on Insta? Because its the only way I have to set the record straight about me not wanting to be involved if the baby is mine."

Jean-Luc said that he was blocked by Dani on Instagram in December 2020, but that following his recent post he received a message from his ex on WhatsApp.

Credit: Bravo (2)

Finale Revelations

During part two of the Below Deck reunion, Dani finally confirmed that she believes Jean-Luc is the father of her baby.

"Let's put it this way. This baby was made during the season while we had cameras 24/7 with us and I only slept with one guy," Dani clarified. "He hasn't supported me at all in any way. He thinks it is not his child and he doesn't want to have anything to do with it."

Jean-Luc, who had an individual conversation with Andy Cohen during the second part of the episode, agreed that most of what Dani said was true. He did want to clear up that he wanted to be involved if the child was his, and he even considered moving out to Australia to support Dani and the baby.

"Dani, what we had on the show for me was real. I don't care what anybody says, even now that we're going through what we are going through. What I felt for you, and the time that we had, was genuine. Everything that I ever said to you was true," Jean-Luc said in an emotional message to his ex.

He added: "The fact that we are at where we are now, I am really sorry and I would assume to say that most of it is my fault. Maybe it's because I am the boy that you think that I am. With that being said, I want to be there for you. ... I need you to know that I did support your decision and still do. I really hope that we can coparent together and have respect for one another like we did."

The reunion episode ended with an update that the pair have yet to speak.

Credit: Courtesy Dani Soares/Instagram; Courtesy Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux/Instagram

Still Waiting for a Resolution

Dani recalled how “supportive” Jean-Luc was when he first learned she was pregnant, but things changed when she was about 16 weeks. “It got a bit weird. We weren’t talking every day,” she said on the “Side Piece” podcast in July 2021, noting things “turned” in December 2020. She remembered getting upset about him requesting the DNA test at the time, but then claimed Jean-Luc never followed through.

She admitted that she didn’t want to be friends with him anymore, but she made it clear that if he wanted to be involved in their child’s life, he could. “[I said], ‘Obviously, I’m here whenever you need to talk about the baby, email me, call me, message me and I’ll always talk to you about the baby.’ That’s where we were at in the beginning of January. Since then, we exchanged maybe like 10 messages all together,” Dani said. “He knew when my due date was, he didn’t reach out on my due date so he did complain that I didn’t share the birth with him, but I’m, like, ‘Dude, you said you’re not the father so and you’re not communicating with me.’ Do you think I’m just going to video call you in the birth, like, ‘Hey watch the birth of the daughter that you don’t think is yours?’”

Dani claimed that Jean-Luc has not yet sent her any information about the paternity test he wants conducted. She also revealed that despite their rocky relationship, she will be OK with him in her child’s life if and when he chooses to step up.

“The thing is, I don’t want my daughter to one day be wondering why he didn’t make it possible. So whenever he feels like it, whenever he wants to, the doors will be open,” she said. “I just don’t want to do that to my child one day. But he will have to tell her why he wasn’t there before. That will be up to him to answer.”

Credit: Courtesy of Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux/Instagram; Courtesy of Dani Soares/Instagram

Paternity Resolved

“I’m happy and proud to say sweet and beautiful Lilly Rose is my daughter,” Jean-Luc wrote via Instagram in January 2022, seven months after Dani welcomed their daughter. After confirming that he is the father of the baby girl, Jean-Luc explained, “Dani and I have been working and communicating together to the best of our ability. This is imperative [to work out] for the sake of our daughter as she needs both parents in her life.”

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht: What happened when Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux left Parsifal III together?

The Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2 finale featured Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux leaving Parsifal III together.

In the months since filming ended, Dani had a baby, and Jean-Luc is the presumed baby daddy. Although all signs point to them no longer being a couple, some fan theories speculate they are a couple but are keeping it quiet.

As fans wait for the reunion, Dani has dished what happened with her and Jean-Luc immediately following their departure from the luxury sailing yacht.

Did Jean-Luc and Dani spend time together after Below Deck Sailing Yacht?

New mom Dani, Alli Dore, and Daisy Kelliher dished all about the Below Deck Sailing Yacht finale on Pita Party. Alli set the record straight on her feelings about Gary King and Sydney Zaruba.

Then the conversation turned to Dani and Jean-Luc leaving together. Alli claimed everyone wanted to know what happened, to which Dani replied that’s “not what everyone’s asking me.”

Yes, it was a nice reference to Dani being plagued with the question of who the father of her daughter is. Daisy, Alli, and Dani all laughed before Dani answered Alli’s question.

“I had a hotel booked for a few days in Croatia that was my plan anyways to stay for a few days just to recover before going to Australia,” Dani spilled. “Jean-Luc was going to try and change his flight to stay with me, but he couldn’t, apparently. He flew back to the US like two or three days after we left the boat.”

Unfortunately, Dani didn’t go into detail regarding their time together or what happened after Jean-Luc left for the United States. It’s no secret there’s oh so much more to this story.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dani Soares (@iamdanisoares)

Dani shares what she did after Jean-Luc left

After Jean-Luc left, Dani was in Croatia alone and revealed because of COVID-19, the experience was not what she hoped or imagined.

“I just stayed in Croatia. Because of COVID-19, I was scared, and I was flying to Australia. I had to do the test again. So, I just stayed in the hotel and just enjoyed the spa area. That’s all I did before I flew back to Australia and was in quarantine for two weeks,” Dani expressed.

Well, what Dani Soares revealed regarding her time with Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux after leaving Below Deck Sailing Yacht wasn’t full of the juicy details fans wanted. There’s always the reunion or more Pita Party episodes for Dani to share her story. Hopefully, she chooses one platform.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht reunion airs Monday, June 21, and Tuesday, June 22 at 9/8c on Bravo.

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Reunion: Dani Soares Says Father of Her Child Wants Nothing to Do With the Baby

In a sneak peek at the 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' season 2 reunion, Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux face questions over her baby.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht  fans may finally get the answer they've been wanting on the season 2 reunion on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen , as Dani Soares opens up about the father of her child for the first time. The second stewardess shocked viewers when she announced her pregnancy in the middle of the series' run, giving birth just weeks later , as her boat-mance with deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux started to play out onscreen. Bravo watchers were quick to assume that Jean-Luc (aka J.L.) was the dad, drafting up timelines that made the parenting pairing plausible, but Dani stayed mum... until now.

"He thinks it's not his child and he doesn't want to have anything to do with it," Dani tells Andy of the father of her daughter, as third stew Alli Dore says her "heart breaks for Dani." Then, Andy asks Dani point-blank, is J.L. the father? "Well, let's put it this way..." Dani offers, but the teaser cuts out before she gives her full answer. The clip then cuts to a separate one-on-one interview Andy did with J.L., who for some reason couldn't be present during the conversation with the rest of his co-stars.

"What do you say to that?" Andy asks J.L., seemingly about Dani's comments. The deckhand starts to get emotional, telling the host, "Oh man, you're gonna make me do this now, aren't you?"

See if all for yourself here:  

J.L. and Dani aren't the only yachties in Andy's hot seat. First mate Gary King faces some tough questioning first, with Andy kicking things off by asking, "Gary, do you think you were a twat to all the women on the boat?" Then, chief stewardess Daisy Kelliher confronts Gary for "clearly" hating her and thinking she's a "giant b***h," to which he responds, "Don't put words in my mouth!"

The conversation then pivots to Gary's romantic entanglements with both Alli and deckhand Sydney Zaruba, whose love triangle sparked plenty of friction all season long, with Gary hooking up with Sydney during one of the crew's first nights aboard Parsifal III before opting to pursue Alli instead.

"Why don't you think you broke girl code?" Andy asks Alli, who replies with, "Why don't we ask Sydney?" "I told myself I wouldn't get emotional," Sydney then offers up, a tease of what is still to come during the tell-all special. 

Below Deck Sailing Yacht   wraps up its sophomore voyage with its season finale, airing Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. The two-part reunion kicks off the next week on Monday, June 21, at the same time, and wraps up with part 2 on Tuesday, June 22, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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Did jean-luc & dani date after below deck sailing yacht season 2.

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90 Day Fiancé’s Big Ed Brown Reveals Current Relationship Status After "Scandalous" Tell All With Liz Woods

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On Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2, Dani Soares and Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux's relationship was one of the most discussed topics, but what happened to the couple after they disembarked? When the two met aboard Parsifal III, Dani was a hardworking second stew, while Jean-Luc was cast as a deckhand who struggled due to lack of sleep. As their time on the yacht passed, Dani and Jean-Luc found themselves growing closer. They eventually formed one of many relationships featured throughout the Below Deck franchise. Although Jean-Luc didn't have relationship experience, and infamously confessed that he potentially gave Dani an STD, the two ultimately ended their time on Below Deck Sailing Yacht together.

While Dani and Jean-Luc continued to hang out after Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2, their relationship quickly fizzled out. One of the biggest problems that they faced was the distance between them: Jean-Luc is an American who's originally from North Carolina, while Brazilian-born Dani lives in Australia. In addition, both of them appeared to be at different stages in their lives, as 32-year-old Dani was ready to settle down and start a family, while 24-year-old Jean-Luc wasn't too committed to the idea. Just as Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 dramatically concluded , Dani shocked viewers by announcing her pregnancy, and all signs pointed to Jean-Luc as the father.

Related: Below Deck Sailing Yacht: Dani Soares & Jean-Luc Relationship Timeline

Dani Soares Gave Birth to Lilly Rose In May 2021

Dani welcomed her daughter Lilly Rose in May 2021, shortly after she revealed her pregnancy. At the time, Dani kept Lilly's other parent a secret, but it soon emerged that Jean-Luc was the infant's father. Although Dani's timeline of events added up, and Dani and Jean-Luc were clearly intimate, as documented on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2, Jean-Luc was reluctant to claim Lilly without a paternity test. Jean-Luc's apprehension infuriated viewers and his Below Deck co-stars, especially after Dani publicly criticized Jean-Luc for avoiding responsibility.

Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux Confirmed Paternity In January 2022

Although it took a few months, Jean-Luc got a paternity test in January 2022, which confirmed that Lilly was his daughter. He hasn't publicly spoken about Dani or Lilly since, due to the backlash against him. However, several times this year, Dani has hinted that Jean-Luc hasn't stepped up as a father. While she switched careers, and now works as a nurse in Sydney, Jean-Luc is still a yachtie. According to his Instagram, he is currently stationed in Miami, Florida, after spending time in Costa Rica and Mexico.

Short-lived relationships aren't rare when it comes to the Below Deck franchise, and there have been several love triangles featured on the shows, including Gary King, Daisy Kelliher, and Ashley Marti on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3. Since the yachties are kept in close quarters, only interacting among themselves (and with charter guests), it would be unusual if unexpected flings and alcohol-infused trysts didn't happen. Dani and Jean-Luc are the only Below Deck couple to end their relationship with a child involved, and although they won't appear on Below Deck Sailing Yacht again, they certainly made their mark.

Next: Below Deck: How Jean-Luc Has Avoided Responsibility For Dani's Baby

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Does 'Below Deck' Alum Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux Have A Relationship With His And Dani Soares' Daughter?

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Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux hasn't been a part of the series since Season 2 after a groundbreaking realization occurred at the end of the season: he fathered a child with the second stewardess, Dani Soares. Intimate relationships are plentiful throughout the Below Deck franchise, but the aftermath was one of the biggest scandals in Reality TV .

Although Jean-Luc and Dani were intimate during filming, his reaction to the pregnancy and birth shocked fans across the globe. Now, three years after the birth of their daughter, Lilly Rose, fans want to know if Jean-Luc stepped up to be the father and partner Dani and Lilly deserve.

Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux Has Showed Little Interest In Being A Part Of Lilly Rose's Life

US Weekly reported after Season 2 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht aired, Dani Soares announced on Instagram that she was expecting a baby girl . Because of the time stamps, many speculated that her co-star Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux was the father. However, at the time, Dani never mentioned who her unborn daughter's father was.

Years later, it appears that Jean-Luc is still not a part of Dani or her daughter's life. According to US Weekly, former co-star and engineer, Colin MacRae, shared that Jean-Luc wasn't a part of Dani or Lilly's life at all , showing no financial or personal support. "[Jean-Luc] won’t reply to me, since I called him out at the very beginning to step up to the plate and be a man," the engineer told US.

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht': Gary And Daisy's Season 4 Relationship Drama Might Force Some Filming Changes

Gary and Daisy argued over her changing the facts about her hooking up with Colin.

Back in 2021, Dani didn't name the father of her unborn child, making hoards of fans rushed to social media seeking answers.

Dani told US Weekly, "I just don’t think that’s relevant for my situation, that’s all." Becoming a mother after being on national television made Dani become a little more private — especially around something so sensitive. "I understand that people are curious about it, and I understand that I’m on a TV show and everybody wants to know. I just don’t think it’s anybody’s business right now," the former stew said.

Bravo noted Jean-Luc blocked many of his co-stars once the news came out.

Knowing a baby was involved, fans couldn't wait for the Season 2 reunion to air on Bravo. It was there that Dani confirmed Jean-Luc was the father . The only issue was, Jean-Luc wasn't a part of the reunion because he was away on another charter . Instead of appearing at the reunion to face the situation head-on, he did a "Part 2" recording with Andy Cohen . Dani was disappointed that Jean-Luc wasn't there to share his side of their relationship.

Reality Tea shared that it was revealed on Part 2 that :

• Jean-Luc denied being the father.
• He asked for a paternity test but refused to pay for it, which only made the waiting game longer.
• Jean-Luc claimed if the child was his, he wanted to be a part of her life, despite living across the globe.

It wasn't until after Dani gave birth to Lilly Rose that Jean-Luc confirmed he was the baby's father.

I’m happy and proud to say sweet and beautiful Lilly Rose is my daughter

He shared a lengthy Instagram post about his decision to stay quiet and that he did eventually take a paternity test to confirm the DNA was his. At the time, he shared that he and Dani were "working and communicating together" on what was best for Lilly. Unfortunately, his words didn't mean much to Dani.

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She shared his post on social media, writing, "Actions speak louder than words," insinuating that Jean-Luc has done the bare minimum of being a part of their lives.

Thanks to Instagram, it appears Jean-Luc and Dani have no relationship . His bio claims he's still in the yachting industry and has a new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Dani has been a strong, single mother to beautiful baby Lilly.

Below Deck Co-Stars Shunned Jean-Luc While Dani Soares Has Flourished Since Becoming A Mother

Once news broke out that Dani Soares was pregnant, the Below Deck Sailing cast rallied around her. They knew the depths of Dani and Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux's relationship and knew he was the father.

Thankfully, Dani has had the love and support of her family and friends since giving birth to Lilly. On Instagram, Dani showed she has thrived since becoming a mother.

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She has since moved on from the yachting world and became a nurse. In April 2024, she shared a beautiful tribute to her supporters upon graduating from nursing school. "I would like to thank Lilly for being my motivation and the reason I'm alive after so much happened in my life before she got here," the Below Deck alum wrote. "I will always aim to make you proud, even when all I want to do is shout out a few truths from the rooftop."

In 2022, Dani shared on social media some insights on parenting. "Only a real parent understands that life is not about you anymore, it’s about the life you made and brought into this world and everything you do is for her.”

Like Jean-Luc, Dani walked off the show after season 2 . A proud and successful mother of one, Dani has proven she doesn't need Jean-Luc or the baggage he brought to her life throughout her pregnancy.

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'Below Deck' 's Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux Breaks Silence on Dani Soares' Baby: 'If She's Mine, I Want to Be Involved'

In an Instagram post Sunday night, Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux tried to "clear the air" regarding rumors about his possible paternity

Digital News Writer, PEOPLE

Jean-Luc "J.L." Cerza-Lanaux is speaking out amid speculation that he may be father of his ex Dani Soares' newborn baby girl .

Rumors have been swirling about the Below Deck Sailing Yacht star's possible paternity, ever since a preview for the Bravo show's season 2 reunion showed Soares saying that her baby's father is keeping a distance from her and his offspring .

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Cerza-Lanaux tried to "clear the air," hitting back at Soares' comments in the process.

"While others are off chasing their 15 minutes of fame, I am working on a yacht in Central America and heartbroken to have to hear about the baby's birth on social media and read headlines like " Dani Soares Says Her Baby's Father Doesn't Want Anything to Do With It ," Cerza-Lanaux wrote. "All I can say is if she's mine, I want to be involved 100%." "As someone who grew up with parents who weren't together, I wouldn't wish that on any child," he added. "Not looking for a pity party. Just want everyone to know how strongly I feel about this, especially the haters who are so sure I am neglecting my responsibility. No one wants to know more than me if this is my baby girl!"

Cerza-Lanaux followed up the post with another on Sunday, answering some questions he said he'd seen his followers asking in his comments section.

"I learned of the baby's birth, not the pregnancy, on IG," he captioned a photo of himself as a baby, adding: "Yes, I know paternity test kits are available at drugstores but the goal is for us to take the tests together instead of shipping saliva samples around the world. But yes, there will be one ASAP."

He also addressed why he hadn't gone to see Soares or her daughter yet, writing: "No, Australia isn't open yet or I would have already gone so those of you saying 'just go' must not know that. We are truly on different continents so easier said than done."

"Why am I sharing on Insta?" he asked. "Because its the only way I have to set the record straight about me not wanting to be involved if the baby is mine. I absolutely do. It's also the same platform she blocked me on 12/31."

He added, "Why did I leave comments on when many of them are negative? Because it's real. Haters gonna hate and everyone is entitled to an opinion no matter how misinformed it may be. Good news is I also received a ton of much needed support."

Cerza-Lanaux concluded the second post by writing that he'd received a message from Soares on Saturday night, though he did not elaborate as to what she said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE 's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In both posts, Cerza-Lanaux was slammed by his Below Deck Sailing Yacht costars.

"Don't play the innocent victim here JL," Colin MacRae wrote. "Man the f--- up."

He said: "Why do you continue to lie through your teeth? Please keep this disgustingly desperate attempt to save face and blame Dani off of social media. It's pathetic. We in her circle have seen first hand how you have treated her for the last 9 months. So again, man the f--- up and do what's right for this poor little girl, AND KEEP IT OFF SOCIAL MEDIA."

"What is wrong with you?" Sydney Zaruba asked in the comments to the first post, asking in the second, "This is a CHILD no longer a reality tv show. Get it off social...?"

"No one is stopping you from getting a paternity test," Alli Dore — who is pregnant with her first child — said. (Cerza-Lanaux responded to this comment, explaining, "I want to take a paternity test and would like to do it in person. If I get the invitation, I will be on my way").

Said Natasha De Bourg: "No woman deserves to be treated the way you treated Dani."

Other alums from the Below Deck also knocked Cerza-Lanaux.

"Center yourself in the conversation and then throw insults — classic first steps to reconciliation," Courtney Skippon wrote, adding a "🥴" emoji.

"You do realize that when you send a text to someone, that text stays around forever?" said Izzy Wouters. "All of the terrible things you've said to Dani, your self-absorbed behavior and your complete lack of regard for Lilli and her health and well being. They're around. Forever. this pity party is pathetic and is fooling nobody. Grow up. If you're so desperate to know if you're sweet Lilli's sperm donor, get a test. And yes, you'll only ever be a sperm donor regardless of any outcome. You aren't a real father. A real father wouldn't act like you have. Pathetic."

Soares first announced her pregnancy news in April, sharing a picture of her baby bump on Instagram with the caption: " It's just you and I little baby ."

She later opened up about the pregnancy in another candid social post, sharing that her journey to motherhood wasn't how she "dreamed" or "planned" it would be.

"From the moment I knew you were here, I've been making sure I'm doing everything I can to help you grow healthy inside of me and to make sure you'll have what you need when you out," Soares wrote at the time. "This is not how I dreamed, not how I planned, but you are not unwanted."

"Bringing a life to this world is a blessing and you are here to show me I have a reason to keep going and a purpose in this life," she added. "You already so loved."

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'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Stars Dani and JL Finally Reveal if JL Is Her Baby Daddy (SPOILERS)

Published June 22 2021, 11:14 p.m. ET

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 reunion of Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

Who knew that a yacht crew would make for must-watch television? Apparently, Bravo was right on the money with Below Deck Sailing Yacht . The drama-filled historic second season has come to an end, and as we tune into the reunion, there’s one major question on all our minds — where in the world is Jean-Luc "JL" Cerza Lanaux ?

JL is rumored to be Dani Soares’ baby daddy after their passionate summer yacht fling, and for some reason, he’s nowhere to be seen in the first part of the Below Deck Sailing Yacht reunion. Could that be related to the baby daddy rumors? Well, the rest of the cast certainly had something to say about JL and the lack of his presence at the reunion and in Dani’s life.

JL was not at the ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ reunion, but he filmed a separate interview with Andy Cohen.

JL says that he wishes he could have been at the reunion, but do we really buy that? To be fair, he says he’s working on a yacht in Central America, which is why he couldn’t be at the Below Deck Sailing Yacht reunion. However, the lack of his physical presence at the reunion doesn’t mean he’s not there. In fact, JL is probably the most talked-about cast member in the first part of the reunion.

He does make an appearance in the second part of the Below Deck Sailing Yacht reunion in a separate interview with Andy Cohen . According to him and Dani, we would find out everything we need to know about their relationship and JL’s involvement with Dani’s new baby girl, Lilly.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dani Soares (@iamdanisoares)

“I think the reunion is going to answer all the questions and more,” Dani told Entertainment Tonight regarding questions about what happened in their relationship and if JL is Dani’s baby daddy .

Dani also admitted that she was disappointed JL wasn’t at the reunion with the rest of the cast. “It's much better when we're all together and we can have a discussion instead of just being separate, and we might not get a chance to answer and things like that.”

JL is addressing the rumors that he is Dani’s baby daddy in Part Two of the ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ reunion.

Dani all but completely confirmed that Jean-Luc was the father of her baby. When Andy asked Dani, "Is JL the father of your baby?" Dani replied, "Well, let's put it this way: This baby was made during this season while we had cameras 24 / 7 with us, and I only slept with one guy." That one guy was JL.

For his part, Jean-Luc addressed Dani's claims that he is not interested in being a part of his child's life and that he hasn't been supportive throughout her pregnancy. She also stated that he wanted a paternity test done, which she asked him to pay for, but he never got it done. Jean-Luc said that he still wants to have the test done, but that after he asked for it, she didn't take it well.

"I asked for a paternity test, and essentially, that turned into a lot of backlash and her not wanting to hear from me and essentially not having to do anything with me. But, for me, as a 24-year-old at the time with not much experience at all in a relationship and a woman telling me that she's pregnant, I feel like that that's a very understandable question to ask in any situation," JL said in the interview with Andy.

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"And she took it very poorly, and I understand why she took it poorly, because, you know, in her mind, I might be the only person that she's ever been with. And if that's the case, I told her, I really do apologize. But for my peace of mind, I just wanted to know. And I told her that if this is my child, I want to be a part of that child's life every single day as much as I can for the rest of her little life or for his life," he said.

But despite saying that he still wants to have the paternity test done, the reunion special, which was filmed in mid-May, shortly before Lilly's birth, ended with an update saying, "Jean-Luc and Dani have yet to speak with each other."

'Below Deck' Star Dani Soares Says the Father of Her Baby "Doesn't Want to Have Anything to Do With It"

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Took Extra Precautions to Film During COVID-19

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Does Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Dani Soares Have a New Boyfriend? We Examine the Photo Evidence

The former BDSY  stewardess shared some life updates that hinted at a new romance and shared a peek at her adorable daughter.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht   alum Dani Soares  recently shared some life updates, and they have us wondering whether the Sydney, Australia-based mom has a new love in her life. 

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Watch Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Peacock and the Bravo app . 

But even if we were left questioning some things, one thing is abundantly clear: Dani and her daughter, Lilly , have a total blast together. Keep scrolling to see what's new with the former stew. 

Is Below Deck Sailing Yacht alum Dani Soares dating anyone? 

One of Dani's pictures showed her gazing fondly at a gentleman who had his arm around her. In the photo, both Dani and her mystery man were dressed to the nines, she in a long navy-blue dress with a plunging neckline and cutouts, he clad in a royal blue jacket over a crisp white shirt. Her caption simply read: "Couple goals." 

Whether they are coupled up as friends or something else, the photo made it clear that Dani and her plus-one look great together, and seem to have a great time together, too. 

Dani Soares shares an update on her daughter Lilly 

Dani has also shared some recent updates on her daughter, Lilly, who apparently has a blast anywhere she goes. In a January 25 Instagram post , she included a video of her and Lilly riding a kiddie train. The little one was thrilled, smiling wide and squealing with delight throughout the ride. In her caption, Dani wrote: "POV: You having the most [fun] on a tiny train that goes in circles for 2 minutes." 

The former yachting pro also shared a snapshot from the special day in her Instagram Stories. The photo showed her and Lilly smiling wide on the ever-so-fun train ride. "Long weekend happiness," Dani captioned the snap. 

On December 28, 2023, Dani shared another video of Lilly living her best life. In the Instagram post , the little girl was seen lying down serenely splashing the water around her as she spread out like a starfish. "2023: If all you did was survive, it's ok. We made it," Dani captioned the photo, noting that she was "looking forward to 2024."

Dani Soares opens up about motherhood 

Back in 2022, Dani shared her philosophy on motherhood with another post that showed her sweet little girl. The photo featured Lilly dressed up in shades of pink, sitting in front of a flower mural.

“My favourite flowers,” Dani captioned the capture of her then 14-month-old daughter. “My number one priority always! Only a real parent understands that life is not about you anymore, it’s about the life you made and brought into this world and everything you do is for her.”

Dani  welcomed her daughter in May 2021 . It was later confirmed that Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux , who also appeared on Season 2 of  Below Deck Sailing Yacht,  is Lilly’s father.

Dani Soares Shares Sweet New Photos of Her Daughter: “Where Has Time Gone?!”

Does dani soares still working in yachting after below deck .

Dani, who according to her Instagram bio is now a nurse, opened up about finding time to balance it all in another Instagram post .

"Mum guilty! Oh my goodness! Honestly it's so hard. I'm basically feeling guilty 24/7. I feel guilty if I study, if I go to work, if I go out, if I stay in, if I cook something not super healthy, if I order delivery, and so on... I haven't learned how to navigate this yet but I'm giving my best. My daughter it's my priority and will always be," she said.  Also, if you are a parent who has 0 care of your child, we're not the same! I can't make any small decisions in my life without taking my daughter in consideration, as it should be. If nothing in your life has changed since having kids, we're not the same. Anyways, we're always wrong in someone's eyes and in our own eyes too often."

• Dani Soares

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

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