Does João Franco Still Have Feelings for Kasey Cohen?

After a season full of flirting with both Brooke Laughton and Kasey Cohen, João Franco appeared to be committed to starting a beautiful new relationship with Brooke as the two left the Talisman Maiton for their trip to Florence in the Below Deck Mediterranean Season 3 finale. However, that romantic fantasy appeared to be shattered for fans at this season's reunion when it was revealed that João's communication with Kasey may have been a little too flirty during his relationship with Brooke. 

So this begs the question: Does João still have feelings for Kasey? The Daily Dish caught up with João over the phone at the end of August to get to the bottom of just that. "I don't," João told The Daily Dish. "The thing with how the show was and how everything felt, it was very intense. So having left with Brooke, even after we left, we both felt like we were being followed by cameras. It was really difficult at the beginning. And then coming to feel about who I wanted to be and learning things about myself, I have changed in a way that I don't think I could be with anyone from the show. I'm not the same person at all. I very strongly believe that."  

João told The Daily Dish that he doesn't believe his communication with Kasey after this season of Below Deck Med ended crossed the line. He explained that he believes she may have "misconstrued" him "being very charming," thinking he was actually being "very flirty" when he consoled her after she received criticism from fans on social media as this season aired on TV. João also said that he had told Brooke about his interactions with Kasey during the season, as well as after the season ended. 

João shared that he wasn't happy with the way Kasey broached the subject at the reunion. "If there was ever an issue, I think it should be brought up from the start; it shouldn't have been held onto and then brought up at a reunion because it feels a little bit malicious, and there's more to it than what's being said. Within a few minutes, we can't explain what happened or how I felt or how she felt," he explained. "It makes it very intense." 

Still, João said that he and Kasey have been able to move on as friends after talking, along with Brooke, after the reunion. "Yes, I have spoken to Kasey. We've kind of ironed things out, in terms of how we feel. We are just friends," João said, noting that they recently spent some time together, along with Captain Sandy Yawn, in New York. "We're absolutely fine. I don't hold grudges with anyone. I don't want to. It's a lot to do with how I was and with my personality that changed things. So I would have liked to have started again with everyone and basically taken a step back and try to figure out who I was. I see the wrong in what I did, and I hope to fix things with everyone." 

Even though it seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for João and Brooke's relationship, he said he doesn't regret keeping in touch with Kasey after the charter season ended. "I don't regret it, no. I can't regret anything I've done after the charter season because in no way was it intended in any wrong way," he shared. "If Brooke had an issue with our friendship, I understand why [in] having seen the show, but I very strongly feel that it was a friendship." 

In reflecting on his relationships this season of Below Deck Med, João couldn't help but note, "It's been a roller coaster ride, for sure."

Watch the Below Deck Med crew reveal their biggest regrets of the season, below.

Captain Sandy’s MVP & The Cast’s Biggest Regrets