Below Deck’s Jean-Luc speaks out on paternity test for Dani’s baby as he comes under fire for his behaviour

Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s ‘heartbroken’ Jean-Luc ‘J.L.’ Cerza-Lanaux has broken his silence on the topic of castmate Dani Soares’s new baby girl, saying there will be a paternity test ‘ASAP’ but the goal is for the duo ‘to take them together’ instead of shipping saliva samples.

Dani and her daughter are currently in Australia, while Jean-Luc is on a crew in Panama, Central America.

Jean-Luc had written in an earlier post about the logistical difficulties of being so far away, and claimed he was ‘heartbroken’ to ‘hear about the baby’s birth on social media’ as well as read headlines saying the baby’s father wasn’t interested in being involved.

The crew member wrote: ‘All I can say is if she’s mine, I want to be involved 100%.’

However fans and his castmates were not convinced by his post, with BDSY’s season two chef Natasha De Bourg asking: ‘Why didn’t you reach out 9 months ago ??? No woman deserves to be treated the way you treated Danny [sic].’

BDSY’s chief engineer Colin McRae also fiercely criticised his castmate, accusing him of ‘lying through his teeth’.

Now J.L. has taken to Instagram again to address the comments his initial post received and clear up his intentions towards Dani and her newborn.

Sharing a throwback snap of himself as two-month-old baby and giving his birth weight as 10.2lbs and length as 20.5in, J.L. hit back at his detractors.

‘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.’

‘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.’

He also defended himself for sharing about the situation on social media, writing: ‘Why am I sharing on Insta? Because its [sic] 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.’

He then disclosed: ‘It’s also the same platform she blocked me on 12/31’, before ending his post with a teasing revelation, claiming he’d ‘got a message from Dani last night on WhatsApp’ but sharing no further information on its contents.

Again, he faced challenges in the comments, with Colin back again to accuse him of lying and poor treatment of Dani.

‘Please keep this disgustingly desperate attempt to save face and blame Dani, off of social media. It’s pathetic,’ he blasted.

Other cast members also criticised his choice to be so open, with co-star Sydney Zaruba commenting: ‘This is a child no longer a reality tv show. Get it off social …? [sic]’

Whether or not more information comes from J.L. or Dani first, the new mum has been quizzed by host Andy Cohen about the identity of her mystery baby daddy on the upcoming season two reunion for the hit Bravo reality show.

In the trailer for the episode, when Andy asks if deckhand J.L. is the father after their romance was a major storyline in second season of the Below Deck spin-off, Dani is seemingly coy.

‘Well, let’s put it this way…’ she begins, before the teaser cuts out.

The Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 reunion kicks off with Part 1 on June 21, followed by Part 2 on June 22 on Bravo. The show is available to stream on hayu in the UK.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Captain Lee addresses whether Below Deck Med star could ever make a return

MORE : Below Deck producers ‘put cameras down’ during terrifying boat crash: ‘It was a real true emergency’