Normally, the world of Gordon Ramsey revolves around food. He's a Michelin-starred chef and owner of several restaurants, and, of course, the voluble center of the
Hell's Kitchen, which just completed its third season, and the restaurant makeover show,
Kitchen Nightmares, which will make its American debut next month.
However, this summer, the law seemed to be nipping at food's heels as a major topic in his life. His former mentor was threatening a libel case, his brother was arrested on drug charges in Indonesia, and one of the participants in his
Kitchen Nightmares program filed a lawsuit alleging fraud in the production of the program.
On one front, at least, his legal coast has recently become slightly clearer. On August 9, the judge considering the
Kitchen Nightmares fraud lawsuit threw out the case.
The plaintiff, Martin Hyde, had alleged that Ramsay and his production crew had faked portions of the restaurant makeover, and that this had ultimately forced Hyde to quit.
The judge threw out the case, and ordered Ramsay and the plaintiff to enter into arbitration. This will allow the new series to move forward with its premiere. It's not necessarily the end of the road, though, for Hyde's lawyer Carl Person, has said that he expects the case will eventually make its way back to court.
This is not the first time that Ramsay has been accused of faking things for extra drama on the Kitchen Nightmares program. In the summer of 2006, he won a libel in the notoriously plaintiff-friendly British courts against the London Evening Standard. The paper had reported the claims of one of the owners featured in the UK Kitchen Nightmare show. The owner, Sue Ray, also claimed that Ramsay had faked conditions in her restaurant.
As mentioned, it's not necessarily the end of the road for this new fraud case, but for now, Ramsay and Fox are able to move forward with the program. The premiere will air on September 19.
- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: New York Post
(Image courtesy of Fox)