Another day, another reason for Twitter to be mad at Gordon Ramsay. His new show, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, had already stirred up controversy before its first episode even aired on National Geographic on July 21st. When the show was first announced back in 2018, it was presented as a combination of a travel show and a cook-off, with Ramsay traveling to areas far out of his comfort zone, and challenging local cooks to a contest where he showed them how to cook their own food better. Er, tasteless much?
This approach was softened in the subsequent trailer, which made it seem more like a chance to enjoy watching Ramsay struggling while out of his element — an opportunity made all the more delicious by the fact that in his other shows, including Hell’s Kitchen and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, he’s usually the authority figure shouting at everyone else. But two episodes in, and the show is already being grilled over one particular scene involving a wild goat, filmed while Ramsay was in (the distinctly charted territory of) New Zealand.
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xodf7-wSzw&t=143s"]In the episode, Ramsay goes out hunting with local Dan Russell.
The two are after wild goats, which, as Ramsay explains, are considered an invasive species because they have no natural predators to keep them in check, meaning they are free to munch away at all the vegetation, with disastrous results for the plants on the island. Until, that is, Ramsay and Russell arrive armed with a rifle. Ramsay shoots one of the goats (although we don’t actually see the animal die) and the pair go to collect it. Next we see of the goat, it’s looking distinctly more like the meat we’re used to coming across in supermarkets.
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GwAvQ14f5I"]As far as hunting scenes go, it was fairly clean and quick. However, Twitter had many goat-related feelings.
There are calls for a boycott — although most came from one user:
Seriously @GordonRamsay ? WTF! What did that goat do to you that you had to kill it? You cant live & let live. Animals are innocent & want to live just as much as humans! #BoycottGordonRamsay #BoycottGordonRamsay #BoycottGordonRamsay #BoycottGordonRamsay #BoycottGordonRamsay https://t.co/0TMfQBZZPo
— Beach Cat (@BeachCat0201) July 31, 2019
Animal lovers are arguing that Ramsay needs to extend them the same respect he claims to have for trees.
And that his priorities are out of whack:
@GordonRamsay @National Geographic “Not enough to kill… pigs, chickens, goats. All in the name of $$$$$$$. Shame on you.”
— BeijoVegan (@BeijoVegan) July 30, 2019
One user felt that the goat was stopped in its prime.
Why would you do that @GordonRamsay ? That poor goat was living his best life with his buddies He wanted to live Surely there was enough ‘meat’ for you to use for your tv work without you having to snuff the life of this beautiful goat .You obviously enjoy killing .Shame on you
— Suzy Sue (@suze5252) August 1, 2019
However, because the internet is the internet, there is now a backlash to the backlash.
People are pointing out that, firstly, as Ramsay explains in the show, the goats are considered pests.
goats are pests in NZ, we hunt them for food on a daily basis.... they will kill our unique native trees/bushes if we dont keep on top of a regular cull. Gordon Ramsay's meal looks perfect 🙂
— Meg (@Meg08735730) July 30, 2019
And that hunting animals has been going on for quite some time…
Ppl hatin on @GordonRamsay for killing a goat. Dont you know how ppl survived all this time? Do you know where your food comes from? It doesnt get easier each kill. You feel for the animal and appreciate its time on Earth. In fact, it's more natural. Real organic.
— PR!NCE (@therealp41) July 30, 2019
Ramsay has not been afraid to get his hands dirty before in the name of meat.
Here he is hunting another invasive species — wild hog — in a much more graphic scene from a show that aired three years ago:
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p5x0nxtqVs"]At least these animals didn’t die for nothing:
BTW, if you are going to eat meat, goats taste really good.
I know it’s absurd, well said. One of the best curries I’ve had was goat.
— Andrew Willatts (@awillatts) August 1, 2019
And we can’t ignore the fact that many animals who end up on our plates are killed in much more violent ways.
Seriously, if you think that was bad…
That said, it’s probably best to leave animal slaughter to the pros: please don’t just starting taking out random goats.
Many meat lovers don’t like to think about the grizzly processes that go into getting our favorite foods to us. And watching it on TV can bring it uncomfortably close. However, if you are going to eat meat, it’s important to acknowledge that at some point, someone had to kill this animal, and at least Ramsay is open about how and why people in New Zealand kill goats. And if this made you think twice about eating meat, we’re sure the goats of New Zealand are grateful.
