Gordon Ramsay’s ‘ex-mistress’ lashes out at ‘misleading’ Netflix documentary
The alleged former ‘mistress’ of Gordon Ramsay has hit out at his Netflix documentary, branding it ‘fake and misleading.’
Being Gordon Ramsay follows the celebrity chef, 59, as he embarks upon his most ambitious project yet.
In the six-part docuseries, he attempts to balance family and professional life with the opening of an enormous new restaurant concept at 22 Bishopsgate – one of London’s tallest and most high-profile buildings.
At the same time, it demonstrates a softer-side to the fiery-tempered Hell’s Kitchen and MasterChef USA host.
Between navigating the setup of 22 Bishopsgate, the series sheds a light on Ramsay as husband to wife Tana, and father of their six children – Megan, 27, Holly and Jack, 26, Tilly, 24, Oscar, six, and Jesse, two.
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One person who has taken umbrage with the series is Sarah Symonds, who claimed to have had a seven-year affair with the chef from 2001 to 2008.
Speaking to Daily Mail, 56-year-old Symonds described the series as ‘totally fake – just like him.’
She continued: ‘It was a glossed over, rehabilitated, glow-up version of a bully, cheat, liar and serial philanderer.’
Rejecting the show’s depiction of Ramsay as a devoted husband and family man, she added: ‘Gordon always acted like a single man, a man about town.
‘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.’
Ramsay’s marriage was rocked in 2008, when Symonds came forward with allegations of a seven-year strong affair.
She said that she had been 31 and working in sales for an events and limo company in London when she first met Ramsay at London’s Chinawhite Nightclub.
She claimed that he had ‘no regard’ toward Tana, 51, implying that his marriage and family life were useful for his image.
‘He said that it just looked good if he was married, but that he was his own man,’ Symonds said.
After her allegations were first published in News of the World, Ramsay vehemently denied all claims – even telling the audience at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham: ‘If I was going to cheat it wouldn’t be with a complete slapper.’
That same year, Gordon and Tana went on to renew their vows in a show of public solidarity – while Symonds published her self-help book, Having An Affair?: A Handbook for the Other Woman.
Ramsay has continued to deny an affair with Symonds, and insists that he only ever met her four times.
In the wake of the allegations, Gordon and Tana went on to welcome sons Oscar and Jesse.
The pair also suffered a miscarriage in 2016, losing baby boy Rocky only five months into Tana’s pregnancy.
Speaking at the time, Gordon told HELLO!: ‘We were devastated, but thankfully we’re through the worst now. It could happen at any time to anyone. It has brought us all so much closer.’
Earlier this month, the Kitchen Nightmares host reflected on his first meeting with Tana, describing how he ‘stole’ her from the friend she’d been dating at the time.
Gordon told OK! magazine: ‘Tana was driving the car and I was sat in the back seat looking at my mate going, “Oh my god, your girlfriend is f****** gorgeous.”
‘She looked like a young Julia Roberts and she brought this level of excitement like no other. I’m not sure what Tana said when she met me, I got the feeling she wasn’t a big fan.’
Earlier this month, Ramsay was forced to answer against allegations that he’d ‘behaved like a bully’ toward son-in-law Adam Peaty’s parents.
In the wake of daughter Holly’s marriage to Olympic swimmer Peaty, reports emerged of a feud between the two families, with Peaty reportedly describing him as a ‘big bully.’
In response, Ramsay told The Sun: ‘I’m certainly not a bully,’ describing their claims as ‘appalling.’
While the Ramsays’ marriage may seem stronger than ever, Symonds has indicated that she is considering taking legal action against the Next Level Chef star.
She claims that the stress of their alleged affair and his repeated denials caused her to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction issues.
‘If I read once more that this documentary is ‘unflinchingly honest’, I think I’ll scream,’ she said.
‘I am trying to heal, and then this appears everywhere. It makes me so angry.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted Gordon Ramsay’s representatives for comment on this story.
Being Gordon Ramsay is streaming now on Netflix UK.
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