Gordon Ramsay's upsetting trick to feed meat to vegetarians & Paul McCartney row (2024)

Gordon Ramsay has shown a strong hatred to non-meat lovers over the years.

The foul-mouthed celebrity chef has gone to war with vegetarians on countless occasions - and even claimed his worst nightmare would be one of his kids announcing they were one.

Gordon once claimed he was part of PETA, but mockingly added: "People Eating Tasty Animals".

He also caused outraged when asked if he had any allergies, telling his Twitter followers: "Vegans".

Gordon has made it clear he is certainly not a fan of vegetarians and may have gone too far, once tricking a group into eating meat for his TV show.

But he has made a slight U-turn in recent years and even tried going vegan.

Tricking vegetarians into eating meat

Gordon has liked to play particularly nasty pranks on vegetarians in the past - causing a lot of controversy along the way.

While promoting the BBC's Comic Relief programme in 2003, the chef was asked what had been his most recent lie.

He replied: "To a table of vegetarians who had artichoke soup. I told them it was made with vegetable stock when it was chicken stock."

In one of his most controversial stunts, Gordon once tricked a vegetarian into eating meat while filming the second series of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2005.

Members of the public were invited to sample pizzas at a struggling Italian restaurant in Hertfordshire.

When one of the volunteers revealed he had been a a vegetarian for eight years, Gordon claimed the chefs had prepared a special vegetarian pizza for him to try.

Once he had eaten a slice, Gordon revelled in telling him: "Unfortunately, that pizza has got a lot of mozzarella and tomatoes, but underneath all that there is parma ham."

When the vegetarian complained that a "mean" trick had been played on him, Gordon hit back by claiming he "hasn't come out in a big rash".

Ramsay laughed at the man while asking if he would like more and told the restaurant's chefs that they have "converted a vegetarian".

As the man walked off, Gordon called out: "Good luck with the Vegemite!"

The controversial prank infuriated vegetarians - with many blasting his 'offensive and unethical' actions.

At the time, Tina Fox, the chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, said: "I am amazed that Gordon Ramsay can find the discomfort of a fellow human being so amusing.

"It can be deeply upsetting for vegetarians to find they have eaten any part of an animal in error. Would Gordon find it equally amusing if an anaphylactic customer died at the table due to eating nuts?"

A Channel 4 spokesman said: "We believe this was a genuine mistake and that Gordon Ramsay did not deliberately set out to give meat to a vegetarian."

Mocking vegan recipes

Gordon has proven he can adapt to the times, so he now spends a lot of time critiquing food on TikTok.

The foul-mouthed chef isn't afraid to go hard on people's cooking in real life, so he really loves exposing dodgy meals to his 20 million followers.

While Gordon usually dedicates most of his time to calling out those who don't prepare meat in the right way.

But back in January, he turned his attention to a Canadian TikToker called That Vegan Teacher.

"Eating animals is wrong, Gordon Ramsay. Hurting animals is wrong, Gordon Ramsay," she sang on the social media platform.

"Share this song, and if you call me a donut that's fine, as long as you're vegan from now on."

Gordon responded by watching the video back while mockingly chewing on a piece of lettuce.

At the end of the tune, Gordon spat out the lettuce and hit back by calling the woman a "vegan donut".

Then to really rub it in he picked up a juicy beef burger and started chomping away.

Uploading the same clip to Instagram, Gordon wrote: "Nothing wrong with being vegan. Everything wrong with trying to force people to convert."

In another edition of his #RamsayReacts series, Gordon roasted an amateur chef who shared a video of his cucumber Wellington.

The first step in his cooking process was to place two lettuce leaves onto a piece of cling film, before adding the mushroom crumb.

Gordon was less than impressed with what he was witnessing and stunned viewers with a dirty reference.

"Oh dear, that looks like one of my wife's toys from under the bed," exclaimed Gordon.

When the TikToker user rolled the parcel in pastry and popped it into the oven, Gordon cried: "No, stop it. Is there a raw cucumber in there?

"How dare you insult Wellington. You need to get back to the vegan teacher's classroom you donut."

Fears kids will be vegetarian

From an early age, Gordon educated his kids on where their food comes from.

He even caused controversy in 2005 by making them say say goodbye to their turkeys - when daughter Tilly was just a toddler.

"Bye bye turkeys," said Gordon, before adding: "See you in the oven!"

One of Gordon's very worst fears is that one of his children will announce they no longer eat meat.

So much so that Gordon has already come up with a pretty harsh punishment if one of them ever did decide to become a vegetarian.

He explained: "My biggest nightmare would be if the kids ever came up to me and said 'Dad, I'm a vegetarian.'

"Then I would sit them on the fence and electrocute them," he said.

Ramsay also said he would "never forgive" his daughters if they came home with a boyfriend who did not eat meat.

Paul McCartney row

Gordon's controversial comments managed to upset a Beatle.

Sir Paul McCartney, who has not eaten meat for 40 years, blasted "stupid" Ramsey for his outspoken remarks against vegetarians.

"I think it's a case of live and let live," the legendary singer told Sainsbury's Magazine in 2008.

"I will talk to people about the advantages of vegetarianism, and it will upset me if we've had a good conversation and they turn around and say something stupid.

"I just read a quote from Gordon Ramsay... 'If my daughter ever grew up and married a vegetarian, I'd never forgive her'.

"But even that I would forgive because it's not my affair, it's not up to me if he talks stupid or not."

U-turn on veganism

Despite vowing he would never go vegan, Gordon did dabble back in 2018 as part of a major U-turn.

"Going to give this #vegan thing a try … Yes guys you heard that right. Gx," he tweeted in April 2018.

This coincided with Gordon launching a vegan pizza at his restaurant, leading some to think it was a gimmick, but others praised him for embracing new things.

Once Gordon got a taste for the vegan life he couldn't go back as he took part in a vegan cook-off on MastherChef.

Then in a sensational twist this year, Gordon launched his own vegan 'beef' Wellington as part of Veganuary.

He began promoting the meat-free meals being sold at his restaurants and many people have praised the move to add inclusive options for vegans.

Sharing the recipe, he wrote: "A vegan twist on our classic beef welly… try making @breadstkitchen’s delicious beet welly at home this #Veganuary."

While the introduction of a vegan dish excited a few of his fans, it riled many who thought there were better ways to cook vegetarian recipes than by just adding beetroot.

Gordon Ramsay's upsetting trick to feed meat to vegetarians & Paul McCartney row (2024)

FAQs

Did Gordon Ramsay trick vegetarians into eating meat? ›

He replied: "To a table of vegetarians who had artichoke soup. I told them it was made with vegetable stock when it was chicken stock." In one of his most controversial stunts, Gordon once tricked a vegetarian into eating meat while filming the second series of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2005.

Is Paul McCartney still a vegetarian? ›

In the history of rock music, no band has ever matched the Beatles' success and influence. Paul McCartney co-wrote most of their songs, sang, and played bass guitar. He has been a vegetarian since 1975, and has long been among the most prominent celebrities to demonstrate massive commitment to animal protection.

What is Paul McCartney's diet? ›

Diet. Alongside his late wife Linda, McCartney famously made the switch to vegetarianism in the 1970s, something that was less common then. In 1991, Linda even launched her own brand of vegetarian foods to eat at home, which is still hugely popular.

What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite food? ›

Ramsay previously said if he could choose his last meal on Earth, it would be beef Wellington. Ramsay is a huge fan of the British dish, and many regard his own recipe as his greatest of all. In most of Ramsay's restaurants, you can find it on the menu.

Can vegetarians suddenly eat meat? ›

If you suddenly switch back to eating meat, you might not have sufficient digestive enzymes to handle meat, which can cause some physical discomfort. Going slowly and starting with small portions of meat will make the process easier. Because meat has a higher fat content than plants, it takes longer to digest.

Why do vegetarians choose not to eat meat? ›

Some want to eat more healthy foods. Others have religious or economic reasons or are concerned about animal welfare. “Vegetarian diets are also more sustainable and environmentally sound than diets that rely heavily on meat, poultry and fish,” says NIH nutritionist Dr.

Was Ringo Starr a vegetarian? ›

I've been vegetarian for the last 25 years. I was 'veggie' before, then I got off it and back on, and I've been vegetarian since 1992. I think it's important and I'm always promoting proper eating.”

Which Beatle was not a vegetarian? ›

All the Beatles - apart from Ringo - were vegetarian by 1967. Ringo became vegetarian in the 70s - apart from turkey at Christmas!

Which celebrity is pure vegetarian? ›

List
NameOccupationCountry
Amitabh BachchanActorIndia
Vidya BalanActressIndia
Nic BalthazarFilm directorBelgium
Jacob BannonMusician, member of ConvergeUnited States
156 more rows

What religion is paul McCartney's wife? ›

Sir Paul McCartney has married Jewish New Yorker Nancy Shevell.

What is Paul McCartney's favorite food? ›

Apparently, McCartney, a vegetarian, slices his go-to bagel into thirds before layering on hummus and vegetables to build a perfect sandwich.

Was John Lennon a vegetarian or vegan? ›

As far as I know, he stayed a vegetarian until his death. Returning to John Lennon now, his diet for the remainder of the 1960s and throughout the 1970s was mainly vegetarian, although he did occasionally go back to eating meat now and again.

Does Gordon Ramsay ever use a microwave? ›

In fact, Ramsay said in his interview with Insider that he didn't even have a microwave in his own kitchen.

What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite dessert? ›

Individual Sticky Toffee Puddings

A perfect amount of puddings for a small gathering. Be sure to drizzle on extra toffee sauce--you deserve it.

What is Gordon Ramsay's signature dish? ›

The Beef Wellington is Gordon Ramsay's signature dish – and once you taste it, you'll see why!

Is Gordon Ramsay anti vegan? ›

Gordon Ramsay is famously averse to vegan food – but it turns out the celebrity chef has been keeping a closely guarded secret for many years. Opening up to competitors on the US Masterchef: Back to Win series, Ramsay admitted that despite his public disdain of vegan food throughout his career, he actually loves it.

Is Gordon Ramsay vegetarian now? ›

While Ramsay has finally started to embrace veganism, he was formerly a staunch critic, dishing out his usual harsh reviews on social media and going so far as to state that he was “allergic to vegans.” However, not long after mocking the vegan lifestyle, he revealed on Twitter that he was “going to give this vegan ...

Does Gordon Ramsay have a vegetarian restaurant? ›

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has opened a new location of his Hell's Kitchen chain in Washington, D.C. The first to be located outside a hotel or casino, the restaurant is also distinctive in other ways — it is the only one to have a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu.

Is there a vegetarian episode of chopped? ›

No Problem! Four chefs make vegetarian dishes from plant-based basket ingredients.

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