Joe Jonas recalls 'terrifying' fall between two boats on Italy yacht trip
Synopsis
Joe Jonas thought he was stepping onto a restaurant transfer boat in Portofino — instead, a wave pushed it away and he plunged between two vessels, fully clothed and phone in pocket, with the first mate falling in after him. The singer called it the scariest moment of his holiday, one that left him shaken long after he was safely out of the water.
Key Takeaways
Joe Jonas fell between two boats during a yacht vacation in Portofino, Italy while attempting to board a restaurant transfer vessel.
He was fully dressed with his phone in his pocket when he entered the water.
The first mate also fell in while attempting to help Jonas out of the water.
Jonas avoided swimming toward the yacht ladder due to concerns about the engines and fell back in on a first attempt to climb out.
He described the incident as 'really terrifying' and said it 'spooked' him for a considerable time after.
His girlfriend Tatiana Gabriela and friends Morgan Stewart and Jordan were present during the incident.
Singer-songwriter Joe Jonas has opened up about a harrowing holiday incident that left him shaken, describing how he slipped and fell into the water between two boats while on a luxury yacht vacation in Portofino, Italy. The 37-year-old musician recounted the near-miss experience on a recent podcast appearance, calling it a moment that 'really spooked' him.
What Happened in Portofino
Jonas and his girlfriend Tatiana Gabriela had joined friends Morgan Stewart and her husband Jordan for a two-night stay aboard a private yacht, complete with its own crew, chef, and tender boat. The trouble began when the group decided to head ashore for dinner at a nearby restaurant — one that required guests to use the venue's own transfer boat and staff rather than the yacht's tender.
'But as I took a step, I think a wave came in and it pushed the boat far out from the yacht,' Jonas recalled on Morgan Stewart's podcast. 'It sounds like the bougiest problem, but it was terrifying because then I slipped and fell between these two boats. The first mate tried to grab me, but he also fell in after me.'
Trapped in the Water, Fully Clothed
Jonas was fully dressed at the time, with his phone still in his pocket, when he found himself submerged between the two vessels — separated by only a few feet. As he surfaced, his priority was to swim away from the boats rather than toward them. He specifically avoided swimming back toward the yacht's ladder due to concerns about the engines.
'The first time I climbed up, I must have hit my shin or something, and then I fell back in,' he said. The first mate, who had also fallen into the water attempting to assist Jonas, was alongside him during the ordeal.
'Adrenaline Going So Fast'
Describing the immediate aftermath, Jonas said the experience triggered an intense adrenaline rush for everyone present. 'In those moments, you're just like, your adrenaline is going so fast, and of course, all your faces are like in shock. You're like, "Oh my god, is he okay?" Which I was like, "No, I'm fine,"' he recounted.
Once safely back on the vessel and the adrenaline had worn off, Jonas said he turned to Tatiana and admitted the gravity of the situation. 'I finally came down from the anxiety and I looked at Tati and I was like, "That s*** was really scary." Like that really spooked me for a while. It was really intense,' he added.
A Sobering Reminder at Sea
The incident, while not resulting in serious injury, underscores the unpredictable hazards of maritime transfers — even on calm-looking Mediterranean waters. Sudden wave surges near docked or anchored boats can close the gap between vessels rapidly, creating crush risks and swift-water hazards that can catch even experienced travellers off guard. Jonas did not detail whether any medical attention was sought afterward. The singer appears to have emerged from the incident without lasting physical harm, though the psychological impact, by his own account, lingered for some time.
Point of View
But the real detail worth noting is the maritime safety dimension: transfer boats between yachts and restaurants are a common practice in the Mediterranean, and the gap between vessels is a documented hazard. Jonas's account — a wave, a sudden gap, a plunge fully clothed with a phone — is a scenario that plays out with more serious consequences for non-celebrities with less crew support. The podcast format here also signals a broader trend of A-listers using informal audio platforms for personal disclosures that would once have gone to print profiles. Expect the clip to circulate widely, which is likely the intended outcome.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Joe Jonas on his boat vacation?
Joe Jonas fell between two boats while trying to board a restaurant transfer vessel during a yacht trip in Portofino, Italy. He ended up in the water fully clothed, with his phone in his pocket, and the first mate also fell in trying to rescue him.
Where did Joe Jonas's boat incident take place?
The incident occurred in Portofino, Italy, where Jonas and his girlfriend Tatiana Gabriela were on a two-night private yacht trip with friends Morgan Stewart and her husband Jordan.
Was Joe Jonas seriously injured in the boat fall?
Jonas did not report any serious injuries from the incident. He mentioned hitting his shin on one attempt to climb out and falling back in, but described the experience primarily in terms of its psychological impact, saying it 'spooked' him for a while.
Where did Joe Jonas talk about the boat incident?
Jonas recounted the incident on Morgan Stewart's podcast, where he described the sequence of events in detail, including the adrenaline rush and his reaction once he had safely returned to the yacht.
Who was with Joe Jonas during the boat incident?
Jonas was accompanied by his girlfriend Tatiana Gabriela, along with friends Morgan Stewart and her husband Jordan. A first mate from the yacht's crew was also involved, having fallen into the water in an attempt to assist Jonas.
