A CEO charged with assault aboard a Virgin Voyages cruise ship apparently thinks “defending his wife” means attempting to strangle someone over a barefoot dancing dispute.

At a Glance

• Kenneth DeGiorgio, CEO of First American Financial, faces federal assault charges after allegedly choking a fellow passenger on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship
• The incident began when DeGiorgio’s wife asked a man to stop dancing barefoot, and he responded with profanity
• Surveillance footage allegedly shows DeGiorgio grabbing the man by the neck and threatening to kill him
• The CEO was confined to his stateroom until the ship reached Puerto Rico, where the FBI became involved
• DeGiorgio claims he was defending his wife from harassment, though she reportedly admitted the passenger never physically touched her

Another Entitled CEO Thinks Rules Don’t Apply on the High Seas

Just when you thought cruise vacations couldn’t get any more chaotic, we have yet another case of someone thinking international waters means international immunity from both common decency and assault laws. Kenneth DeGiorgio, CEO of First American Financial, is now facing federal charges after allegedly choking a fellow passenger on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship over what might be the most ridiculous trigger imaginable: barefoot dancing. That’s right, folks – apparently, the sight of someone’s naked feet on a cruise ship dance floor was enough to allegedly set off this corporate executive into a violent rage.

According to reports, the trouble began when DeGiorgio’s wife, Nichol, approached another passenger, identified only as M.A., with what seems like a reasonable enough request. “Look, we are all grown-ups here, can you put your shoes on?” she allegedly asked. Now, was this the most pressing issue at sea? Probably not.

But instead of simply ignoring her or politely declining, the barefoot dancer reportedly responded with the kind of class and eloquence you’d expect from someone defending their constitutional right to expose their toes: “Shut up, you f—king bitch.”

From Verbal Spat to Federal Investigation

What happened next is where this story transforms from a petty cruise ship argument into a federal case. According to surveillance footage referenced in charging documents, DeGiorgio allegedly crossed the dance floor, grabbed M.A. by the neck, and threatened his life. Because nothing says “I’m a responsible corporate leader” quite like allegedly throttling a stranger while screaming “I’ll f—king kill you” over some bare feet and an insult. The ship’s captain, showing more restraint than our CEO friend, confined DeGiorgio to his stateroom until the vessel docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the FBI was contacted.

Now DeGiorgio faces charges of assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States – a federal offense that could land him up to a year in prison. His legal team is spinning a tale of a husband valiantly defending his wife from “harassment and intimidation.” But here’s where it gets interesting: Nichol DeGiorgio reportedly blamed herself for the incident and admitted the passenger never physically touched her. So what exactly was the CEO “defending” against? A rude comment? Someone’s naked feet? The horror!

The CEO Victim Card Gets Played

DeGiorgio’s spokesperson insists he was merely acting “in defense of his wife.” Because apparently in CEO world, an appropriate response to someone calling your wife a name is to allegedly grab them by the throat and threaten to end their life. I wonder if that’s covered in Harvard Business School’s conflict resolution coursework? The surveillance footage reportedly shows DeGiorgio grabbing M.A. by the neck and dragging him to the floor – all of which seems like a slightly disproportionate response to the situation at hand.

DeGiorgio has refused to speak with federal investigators without his attorney present – smart move and his constitutional right – while simultaneously claiming he “anticipates being cleared of any wrongdoing.” Must be nice to have that kind of confidence when there’s allegedly video evidence of you assaulting someone over barefoot dancing. Meanwhile, M.A. reportedly feared for his life during the encounter, which seems reasonable when someone is allegedly choking you and making death threats over your choice of footwear or lack thereof.

The Bigger Picture

What’s particularly galling about this case is how it exemplifies a mindset we see far too often among the privileged elite – that rules of civil behavior are optional and violent responses to perceived slights are justified. If the tables were turned and it was M.A. who had allegedly attacked the CEO over a comment about footwear, would we be hearing about “defense” or would we be reading stories about “cruise ship violence” and “dangerous passengers”? The double standard is as bare as the feet that allegedly triggered this whole fiasco.

DeGiorgio currently faces a simple misdemeanor charge, but the reputational damage may last far longer than any potential legal consequences. First American Financial hasn’t commented on their CEO’s alleged cruise ship rampage, but it’s hard to imagine the board is thrilled about having their executive leadership making headlines for allegedly throttling fellow travelers instead of, you know, running their company. Maybe next time, the DeGiorgios might consider a private yacht vacation – where the only bare feet to worry about are their own.