Gordon Ramsay's Ex-Mistress Slams Netflix Documentary as 'Fake' and 'Disingenuous'
Gordon Ramsay has built a global reputation as a firebrand celebrity chef, notorious for his expletive-laden kitchen outbursts. However, his recent Netflix documentary series, Being Gordon Ramsay, aims to showcase a softer, more vulnerable side of the multi-millionaire restaurateur, portraying him as a devoted husband and father of six. The six-part series has been praised for its 'unflinchingly honest' insight into his personal life, but one viewer has been left with a distinctly bitter taste.
'A Travesty in Fact'
Sarah Symonds, 56, who claims to have had a long-term affair with Ramsay, has launched a blistering attack on the documentary, describing it as 'totally fake - just like him.' In an interview with the Daily Mail, Symonds stated: 'The title of the docu-series 'Being Gordon Ramsay' is misleading and disingenuous. A travesty in fact, as nothing about it was 'Being Gordon' at all. It was a glossed over, rehabilitated, glow-up version of a bully, cheat, liar and serial philanderer.'
Symonds, who alleges the affair and its aftermath left her traumatised, added: 'If I read once more that this documentary is 'unflinchingly honest', I think I'll scream. I am trying to heal, and then this appears everywhere. It makes me so angry.' Ramsay has consistently denied any affair occurred.
Portrayal Versus Reality
In the Netflix series, Ramsay, 59, describes his wife Tana, 51, as the 'foundation' of his life, supporting him through nearly three decades of marriage as he built his restaurant empire and achieved worldwide television fame. He expresses regret over work commitments that kept him away from his young children but insists they have always been his top priority.
Symonds vehemently disputes this portrayal, branding Ramsay 'a bully, a liar and a cheat.' She claims that during their alleged seven-year affair, which she says began in 2001, Ramsay cultivated the image of a loving family man while living a double life 'as a single man.' According to Symonds, his marriage was 'a sham' at the time.
'Gordon always acted like a single man, a man about town,' she said. 'He was always available and always at the same social venues late at night as me. He had the swagger and confidence of a man with no responsibilities, and the persona of a man who certainly wasn't rushing home.'
Family Life Under Scrutiny
Symonds alleges that while Tana was at home caring for their three eldest children, including premature twins Holly and Jack, with another on the way, Ramsay showed little interest in family life. Instead, she claims he preferred 'partying and socialising' with friends like fellow chef Marcus Wareing, basking in his newfound celebrity status.
'I used to feel quite sorry for him,' Symonds recalled. 'It was well known he had newborns and yet it was obvious to all of us that he didn't want to be at home, he wanted to be out living his life. He seemed to feel quite trapped by it all.' She further alleges that Ramsay confided plans to leave Tana and set up a bachelor pad with Wareing.
The Alleged Affair in Detail
Symonds claims she first met Ramsay at the upmarket London nightclub Chinawhite in October 2001, where he approached her table and exchanged numbers. 'Most happily married men aren't usually found drinking and socialising in the VIP section of London's most public nightclub late on a Friday night,' she noted.
She describes their relationship as spanning London, Los Angeles, and Dubai, with meetings in hotels and private apartments. Symonds says they attended public events together, including restaurant openings where Tana was sometimes present. She alleges Ramsay told her his marriage was 'in a bad way' and that he viewed it as good for his image but had 'no regard for his wife.'
'He said that it just looked good if he was married, but that he was his own man,' Symonds claimed. 'He said how he and Marcus were looking for their own flat together and that he would then leave her.'
Legal Action and Mental Health Claims
Symonds says she is considering legal action against Ramsay, alleging that the affair and his repeated denials have caused her complex post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction issues, and long-term mental health damage. She also claims his public insults, including calling her a 'slapper' during a live cooking demonstration, have led to years of online abuse.
Meanwhile, the documentary follows Ramsay's professional ambitions, including opening five restaurants in London's 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper, and personal milestones like his daughter Holly's wedding to Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty. In emotional scenes, Ramsay speaks about missing his children while working away, saying: 'When Oscar asks 'When are you back?' I can't say 'four weeks time' because he asks 'How many sleeps is that?' Man, that's f****** painful.'
Symonds dismisses these moments as 'the fake sincerity of a narcissist,' remarking: 'So nothing has really changed then. He is still away, Tana is still living in chaos, but with more kids to feed.' Ramsay was contacted for comment regarding Symonds' allegations.
