Gordon Ramsay has dismissed an 'over-exaggerated' claim that a dog defecated inside one of his London restaurants, branding the viral video as 'clickbait'. The incident allegedly took place at the celebrity chef's Street Pizza venue in St. Paul's, where a TikTok user, @gizzellecade, posted footage on May 1 showing a dog standing on a training pad. She alleged that the pet had pooped on the pad and that the manager permitted the behaviour, prompting her to leave.
Ramsay's Response
The 59-year-old chef addressed the controversy on Tuesday when asked by TMZ about the videos. 'What we have seen is the CCTV footage, and under no circumstances did that dog do a pee or a poo,' he stated. 'So over-exaggerated, as always, clickbait.' When questioned about whether he would ban dogs from his establishments entirely, Ramsay clarified: 'Dogs are welcome outside and on the terrace of the restaurant.'
Public Reaction
The TikTok video has amassed over 20 million views, with commenters criticising the restaurant manager for allowing the training pad indoors. One user wrote: 'So disrespectful to those eating,' while another commented: 'I'm a dog owner, actually an assistance dog handler too so my dog comes absolutely everywhere with me (not a pet) and this is still a massive NO.' A third added: 'Absolutely, I would have walked out without paying.' The Independent has contacted @gizzellecade and a representative for Ramsay for comment.
Ramsay's Empire and Legacy
Beyond Street Pizza, Ramsay operates more than 90 restaurants worldwide, including The Gordon Ramsay, Savory Grill, Lucky Cat, Gordon Ramsay Steak, and Hell's Kitchen, inspired by his signature reality show. He rose to fame in the late 1990s, showcasing his demanding management style in the 1999 BBC documentary Boiling Point. This persona carried into his television career, with hits like Hell's Kitchen and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. In 2005, he launched the U.S. version of Hell's Kitchen, which was recently renewed for seasons 23 and 24.
Past Controversies
Ramsay has long been known for his fiery temper. In 1998, he famously ejected critic AA Gill from The Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, London, after Gill described him as 'a failed sportsman who acts like an 11-year-old' in a review. Ramsay later reflected on the incident in a Netflix documentary, admitting: 'I know it was wrong.' He added: 'Critics are important, OK? And constructive criticism is something that we thrive on, but when it becomes personal... When he walked in with Joan Collins, he thought that I wouldn't have the balls to do anything to him 'cause he's sat with the glamorous, amazing Joan Collins. And yeah, I couldn't wait for him to sit down, get the menu, time 20 minutes and ask him to get the hell out of that restaurant. Whether you're with Joan Collins or sat with the Queen, you're still going out, mate – you're not sitting here.'
