Inside Jonas Pate's Alleged Physical Altercation With Female Staffer On Set Of Netflix's 'Outer Banks'

"Outer Banks" co-creator Jonas Pate is under fire from fans of the show after reports of him allegedly putting his hands on a female staffer surfaced overnight. According to several reports, tensions reached an all-time high on the set of "Outer Banks" after the show resumed production for its fifth and final season, prompting the show's leads, Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline, to reportedly intervene.

On Wednesday, October 22, TMZ reported that Pate, co-creator and executive producer of the popular Netflix show, got into a physical altercation with a female production assistant.

The initial report states that Pate "put his hands" on the PA and "shook her while shouting in her face," prompting Stokes, 33, and Cline, 27, to step in to de-escalate the situation.

An insider told PEOPLE that Pate "was screaming at the female production assistant and grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her."

The insider explained that Pate didn't physically "hurt her;" however, they stated that he still "crossed a line," adding, "Putting your hands on someone is never, ever okay."

Production for the show's fifth and final season began this week in Dubrovnik, Croatia, according to TMZ, and sources said "tensions were high" on set.

One source told the publication that Pate's outburst wasn't "unusual behavior" for him, while another said, "It's about time that it's made public."

Following the news, many fans shared their opinions about the alleged encounter on X, formerly Twitter, slamming Pate and calling for his removal.

"This is unacceptable!" a user posted. "Power imbalances on set require zero tolerance. Kudos to Stokes and Cline for intervening, but Jonas Pate owes a full apology and accountability. Hollywood, do better."

Another user echoed that sentiment, demanding Netflix remove Pate from the set for the remainder of production. "No employee should EVER have to go through this type of treatment," they wrote.

On Instagram, a user claiming to have first-hand experience on television and movie sets wrote about how disheartening it was to hear the news, but also praised the show's stars for "stepping in and standing up to the abuse we almost always receive."

"Outer Banks," which began streaming on Netflix in 2020, follows a group of teens from the poor side of an island who run into trouble with the island's wealthy residents during their search for a missing ship rumored to be carrying a large amount of gold.

Viewers and critics alike have praised the series for its intense writing and emotional storylines. The series has even topped Netflix's global charts on multiple occasions, according to Tudum.

The official Instagram page for the series posted a photo of the main cast members in June 2025, writing, "Summer time and OBX is back in production."

Before production began on Season 5, Pate, along with his brother, Josh Pate, and co-creator Shannon Burke, spoke about the final season, which is set to stream on Netflix in 2026.

"We are over the moon to be setting out on one last trip with the Pogues," they said in the summer of 2025. "Being back on set with our cast for this final round is nothing short of bittersweet and surreal. We can't wait to show everyone what we have in store this season — it's going to be a wild ride."

"We’ve always known from the beginning what the last scene would be," the group added.

Along with Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline, season 5 will see the return of Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Drew Starkey, Carlacia Grant, Austin North, and Fiona Palomo.

The show's creators previously got candid with fans in a letter shared online last November, explaining the show's origins and detailing how much working on the series has meant to them.

"That photo sparked an idea for a story of four best friends who only want to have a good time all the time," they wrote. "From this beginning, we imagined a mystery that would lead to a five-season journey of adventure, treasure hunting, and friendship."