Gordon Ramsay’s “Authentic” Asian Restaurant Is So Problematic

The last few months have been exceptional for Asian representation. Looking at you, Crazy Rich Asians! And of course, we love it. Cultural, racial, and ethnic representation is super important. But when the line between appreciation and exploitation become blurred, that’s when the problems start. Remember when Scarlett Johansson was cast as an Asian character for a movie? Or Emma Stone? Not okay. But this is not a problem specific to the movie industry (even though it still has tons to learn).

Gordon Ramsay, celebrity chef, has been in the news quite a bit lately, and for tons of different reasons. Footage of his very problematic interview in 2010 with Sofia Vergara resurfaced, and it’s as uncomfortable as you’d think. Then more recently, he posted a very ominous tweet with his shadow resembling a human cat (?). That one was less about backlash and more about hilariously strange internet theories behind the tweet. And now, here we are again. Ramsay is under fire once again thanks to his newest restaurant concept.

Where one of his old restaurants used to stand, he’s creating a new one that he seems to think is brilliant and completely original: an “authentic” Asian restaurant called Lucky Cat. Even the name is pretty yikes, if you ask me.

People are not happy.

I like you @GordonRamsay but how are you gonna open an “authentic” asian restaurant without an ASIAN CHEF?

— Vivienne 🥀 (@rosemajeste) February 5, 2019

It seems obvious, but not to Ramsay, apparently.

Solid suggestion!

I told you ScarJo was relevant, here. She’s literally become a verb!

Remember the reaction to his Pad Thai https://t.co/rHk9OtiDZ6

— somegirl (@somegirl505) February 4, 2019

If he can’t make pad Thai, how does he think he can make “authentic” Asian food as the basis of his ENTIRE restaurant?

Ramsay’s restaurant group described it as a “revolutionary new venture and concept for the group.” Ummm…”revolutionary” and “new” don’t really come to mind when talking about cuisine with such a rich history and tradition. Sure, it could be new to them, but it still sounds weird to say it like that.

The cat’s out the bag... @LuckyCatGR - opening in Mayfair, Summer 2019 ! #LuckyCat pic.twitter.com/7Lc0zlMdYs

— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) February 1, 2019

That weird cat picture is starting to make a little more sense now. Just a little.

This is a lot of peoples’ reactions, and we don’t know how to feel.

Many are also defending Ramsay’s decision to open up an Asian restaurant.

For those bashing @GordonRamsay for not having an Asian chef at his authentic asian restaurant. I'm dissapointed in your closed minded views. Why is it that it has to be an Asian chef? Julia Child was not French and wrote one of the most famous French cookbooks in the world!

— Between Two Forks (@BetweenTwoForks) February 8, 2019

Julia Child was iconic, but that’s not really the point.

@GordonRamsay I see nothing wrong with you opening an Asian restaurant in London. It'll be great for people there to experience food from Asia. Everyone is blowing all of this out of proportion. As an Asian, I don't mind. Your a professional chef, you know what you're doing.

— Flirting Bacon (@jadelam731) February 8, 2019

People should definitely be able to experience great Asian food. Just remember that one person can’t speak for an entire group.

There’s lots of criticism from multiple angles, but when thinking of why his restaurant is controversial, let’s not forget the flack he received from his show Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted. The premise is literally about Ramsay traveling to other countries to see if he can cook local cuisine better than the people who live there…

Seconded. Just…no.

....UNCHARTED will include three key ingredients: unlocking a culture’s culinary secrets through exploration and adventure with local food heroes, no matter where they may lead him.” Because the world needs @GordonRamsay as Christopher Columbus. In 2018.

— ODeeDaily (@ODeeDaily) July 28, 2018

Being compared to Christopher Columbus is definitely not a compliment, people.

Are you fucking kidding me? 'Uncharted'? Is @GordonRamsay going to wear a pith helmet and carry a blunderbuss, taking shots at the local natives as he shows them how white men cook their food? https://t.co/U5Un4GnoNL

— chris dwyer (@chrismdwyer) July 28, 2018

Yikes, he went there! But that’s the actual plot of the show, which is somehow worse.

There’s lots of comparison between Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain, but they definitely had two different agendas.

Some users on Instagram had things to say about this new restaurant.

Here’s that, ahem, creative logo again. Who OK’d this? Just wondering.

I’m sorry, but the pad Thai video (see one of the tweets above) is just too funny. He seriously could not make it and wants to open an Asian restaurant.

Is this sarcasm? It shows both sides, but it stings more if she’s referring to how cringey the idea is.

Ramsay has been struggling to keep up a good image (as good of an image someone who yells at other chefs on TV for a living has), but he just seems to keep on sinking. We hope he learns to just stay in his lane the rest of 2019. And apologizes to Sofia Vergara — that was not cool.