Marco Pierre White has opened up about an incident in which he was allegedly said to have made Gordon Ramsay cry while he was a young chef. Gordon worked under Marco in the late 1980s when Gordon was in his early 20s, working his way up to the role of sous chef at Marco and Nigel Platts-Martin's restaurant, Harveys in Wandsworth, London.
The Volatile Kitchen Personas
Fans of the two chefs will know they are both famed for their volatile kitchen personas: Marco was dubbed the "enfant terrible" of British cooking, while Gordon's explosive on-screen behaviour is the stuff of legend. Given their reputations, it is hardly surprising the pair could clash in a busy kitchen. But one tale goes further, alleging Marco reduced the Kitchen Nightmares star to tears. And now Marco has shed light on the incident.
Marco's Praise for Gordon
Speaking to legendary documentarian Louis Theroux on his podcast, Marco noted that he liked Gordon. He dubbed him "kind" and a "great technician" and said he "worked hard." Marco said: "When I think of Gordon, his plates are clean. They're always tidy; they're tidy and they're consistent. And that's what it takes to win three stars at Michelin. Great technician, great palate, tidy plates, consistent."
The Crying Incident
Louis described the assessments as "interesting facts," but he wasn't "getting the feelings." Clarifying, he asked Marco whether he liked him, to which he replied that he did. Louis then added: "You made him cry." Marco replied: "He made himself cry. He was chopping onions at the time, Louis." But Louis hit back, saying Marco was "trivialising" the moment and insisting Gordon had not been cutting onions. "You weren't there," Marco replied, chuckling. Louis said: "No, but I've read the story."
He then referred to a profile in the New York Times, in which Louis claims Marco was quoted as saying Gordon "crouched down on the floor in the corner of the kitchen," adding that Gordon "buried his head in his hands and started sobbing." Marco noted that he had sued The New York Times for defamation over allegations of drink and drug use — a case in which he was awarded £75,000 in libel damages. Louis pressed on, continuing to read the extract, which suggested Marco had created "Ramsay the monster."
Marco's Account
Once Louis finished the passage, Marco said: "No, no. That is not true. What's true is Gordon cried and it was his last night or his second-to-last night. I think it was his last night. And it was highly emotional for him." He continued: "And he did say to me, 'I don't care, Marco, just f*****g hit me, whatever'. He was very upset." Louis then asked why he was upset, to which Marco claimed it was "30 plus years ago."
Ramsay's Persona
Asked if he thought he had "created the Ramsay persona," Marco responded: "I cannot be held responsible for that," adding that Gordon is his "own creation" and we are "responsible for our own journeys in life." Louis followed up by asking if they were on friendly terms now. Marco said: "Yes, we do a TV show together," referencing a "beautiful text" sent to him by the chef. He added: "So the Gordon Ramsay the press wants to talk about is not the Gordon Ramsay I know. Gordon Ramsay, as far as I'm concerned, is a beautiful boy."
