Gordon Ramsay Lauds New Son-in-Law Adam Peaty as 'Absolute Thoroughbred'
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has expressed his wholehearted approval of his new son-in-law, British Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty, branding him an "absolute thoroughbred" in a candid new interview. The 59-year-old television personality, who walked his daughter Holly down the aisle at Bath Abbey last month, commended Peaty for being a "gent" and remarkably "grounded" despite his athletic achievements.
Praise Amidst Family Tensions
The lavish wedding ceremony was overshadowed by a bitter family feud that resulted in Adam Peaty's mother Caroline and father Mark being disinvited from the celebrations. Only the groom's sister Bethany represented the Peaty family in attendance. Ramsay addressed the rift directly in his conversation with OK! Magazine, expressing his distress over the situation.
"He's a gent, he's an absolute thoroughbred," Ramsay declared about his new son-in-law. "Adam is so grounded. He's not walking out as Olympic champion with his head up his a****."
Regarding the exclusion of Peaty's parents, Ramsay insisted it was not his decision to uninvite them and expressed hope for eventual reconciliation. "It's just upsetting. It's all self-inflicted from their side because we've done nothing - none of which you've read, no rudeness, no ignorance - we welcomed them," the chef explained.
Claims of Royal Treatment and Denials
Ramsay detailed efforts his family made to include the Peaty parents, stating: "We sent a chauffeur-driven car for them to come to the engagement party and treated them like royalty. So to get that barrage of press was very hurtful. Tana took it very seriously."
However, these claims have been vehemently disputed by Adam Peaty's estranged family members, who have reportedly branded Ramsay a "bully" in response to his characterization of their fallout as "self-inflicted." One relative told The Sun newspaper that the Ramsays' denial was "a pack of lies" and accused them of treating Caroline Peaty "as though she was nothing."
"How bl***y dare they. The sheer gall of them," the relative reportedly said. "The Ramsays did not treat Caroline like royalty at all - they treated her as though she was nothing. They ignored her existence and not once did Mrs Ramsay return any of Caroline's texts."
Wedding Speech Controversy
The family tensions reportedly spilled over into Ramsay's father-of-the-bride speech, where he allegedly made a pointed comment about the absent Peaty parents. According to reports, after telling Adam he was a "lucky man" and referencing his own wife Tana as an example of what the groom could look forward to, Ramsay reportedly told his daughter Holly: "Shame you don't have the same."
This remark reportedly left Caroline Peaty "outraged" and "hurt," with a family source suggesting she believed the celebrity chef had "pre-planned" the "cruel" and "very hurtful" swipe against her.
Despite the controversy, Ramsay defended his speech during a subsequent appearance on This Morning, describing it as "perfect and warm." His daughter Tilly confirmed she had reviewed the speech beforehand and found it required no tweaks, while bride Holly defended her father's words, saying she felt "overwhelmed with happiness" during the address.
Broader Family Dynamics and Future Hopes
The roots of the family conflict reportedly extend back to September 2024, when Adam and Holly did not invite wider members of the Peaty family to their engagement party. Caroline Peaty was also excluded from Holly's glamorous hen do at Soho Farmhouse, despite the presence of the bride's mother Tana and friends including Victoria Beckham.
In his interview, Ramsay expressed hope that the rift could eventually be healed by "drawing a line in the sand." However, recent developments suggest reconciliation may be increasingly unlikely. Last month, the Peaty family reportedly told friends they had "given up hope" of reconciling with their son after Ramsay referred to himself as "dad" in a comment on Adam's wedding video.
An insider revealed: "It's been a really emotional time for them as a family. They're coming to terms with what has happened and that Adam has picked his side. It's dashed any hope of reconciliation in the near future."
Amidst the ongoing tensions, Holly Ramsay revealed in an interview with British Vogue that her parents paid for her and Adam's luxurious £6,000-a-night honeymoon to Mauritius, which some interpreted as another subtle reference to the estranged Peaty family's absence from wedding arrangements.
