VIDEO: Watch Lee Ryan Leave Hell’s Kitchen

September 6th, 2007 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: Hell's Kitchen, Lee Ryan

Posted in Hell's Kitchen

4 responses to “VIDEO: Watch Lee Ryan Leave Hell’s Kitchen”

1. MANDY says:
   September 7th, 2007 at 9:21 pm

   Could someone please tell me why Lee Ryan has not been praised for his stand against the unacceptable racist comments made by Marco Pierre White. He was 100% right and deserves a medal.

2. Marie says:
   September 8th, 2007 at 6:01 pm

   Because “pikey” is not a “racist” remark. It is a derogatory remark against a chosen “lifestyle” - as in calling a homeless person a tramp!

   It is, nonetheless, offensive to use the term for individuals choosing to lead the lifestyle of their choice and Lee Ryan demonstrated personal integrity and courage in pointing it out. More to the point, Lee Ryan further demonstrated in his actions that he did not think that Marco Pierre White was being deliberately offensive and may not have been aware of what he was saying. Anyone with an ounce of logic and sensibility will agree with that - as stated by Marco himself when he said “is there something wrong with living in a caravan”?.

   Disappointingly, Marco did not handle the situation very well at all and was very wrong to have treated Lee in the manner he did. He made an innocent joke and subsequently stated that his last intention would be to offend anyone. Clearly, he would have been wise to have stated this to Lee from the outset, and his subsequent behaviour was far more offensive than the ill-advised but innocent joke he made.

   Lee was extremely polite and respectful in the way he addressed the point - although it was odd that he knew what they should not be called, yet could not answer Marco when he asked what was the correct term that he should use. How could Marco be educated on something he did not know if the person addressing the issue could not provide the relevant answer? Marco fully educates you on how to cook; he does not half-explain something to you and then expect you to fully understand.

   Having said that, we all make errors in judgment at times and, hopefully, Marco will realise and acknowledge this at some point. It was rather sad in the way he failed to professionally address the situation properly given that, aside from that episode, Marco has appeared kind, respectful and inspirational throughout. A bit of humility would not go amiss.

   Paul was right with his comment about the PC world we live in. It has become ridiculous (ie not being allowed to use the word “blackboard” in schools - is black not an actual colour? What is wrong with saying blackboard but not whiteboard)? Now it seems that individuals are turning a lifestyle issue into a race issue which is thoroughly absurd. I am sick to death of people using the “race card” with everything. If you are going to be offended about something, then at least ensure that you are offended about the correct subject!

   Furthermore, it’s about time that people refrained from jumping on the bandwagon and making a huge furore every time a politically incorrect comment is made. If it is clearly not meant to be offensive, then use common sense - as Lee did in simply pointing it out. We all make mistakes. It only becomes 100% unnaceptable when it is consciously and offensively deliberate and the individual intended it to be that way. That was not the intention in this case as was acknowledged by Marco following Lee’s departure.

   Marco’s comment appeared to be entirely innocent and made without any conscious intention of offending anyone. However, on the other side of the coin, Brian was also right about certain comments being offensive to certain individuals and, in this case, it was clearly personal to Lee and his friends and Marco should have apologised.

   Normal law abiding and environmentally conscious travellers would be rightfully offended to be referred to as a “Pikey”. However, the word does not apply in their case and, whichever way you choose to view it, it can hardly be construed as a racist comment when they are not a specific race in the first place!

   Marie
   (who, as a little girl, always wanted to be a travelling gypsy - and sometimes, when overwhelmed with bills and mortgage, still does)!

3. Marie says:
   September 8th, 2007 at 7:54 pm

   On a further note, I don’t usually respond to letters (this is the first time ever), but the very first letter has incensed me and, following further thought, I would like to add the following:-

   We live in a country where elderly people are left to die in starvation, soaking in their own excrement; where cancer patients do not receive first class treatment in one of the richest countries in the world; where our education system is the laughing stock of Europe and our youngsters are semi-illiterate and demotivated; where there is endemic bullying and a lack of respect in society overall, with an undercurrent of violence; live turkeys are kicked around a barn, as featured on national television, without the British public raising a finger so long as they get their cheap additive-preserved drumsticks; and where we obssess about trivialities such as an innocent off-the-cuff comment connected with celebrities - and why is all this being allowed to happen? Perhaps because the British public and our political class of meddling self-rightous are too busy obsessing about what is and what is not totally acceptable to say and to think.

   We live in a democratic society and Marco is a free man. Who is that sets themselves up as a self-appointed abritrator of what he can or cannot innocently say? Does nobody give a thought to the fact that he comes from a different culture - one that gives rise to “impulsiveness and hot-headedness”? Is that not racist in itself?

   What is totally and 100% unacceptable is that we should be held to ransom over this current fashionable obsession with insults, either imagined or real. If we make an innocent comment, do we really need to legislate or go overboard about it? Is it not enough to simply point out that it can hurt certain individuals,hope that the other person takes it on board and move on? Then again, whatever happened to that old play-ground saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”? After all, it is a “playground” saying because, not many years ago, no normal adult (or child) would take it seriously or give it a second thought.

   What is more insidious and systemically evil is the thought that some adults obsession with imaginary or real insults are being passed on to their children who do not have the maturity or understanding required to simply dismiss it and move on. Instead, those comments, which would normally be dismissed, are absorbed into their very being, often resulting in tragic consequences. Call a child fat years ago and they would have told you to “f… off” and gone and bought themselves a hamburger. Do it today and you could find yourself reading about a suicide. Who is responsible for this? I would say it is the self-rightous politically correct individuals that created the situation in the first place.

   If you call your child lazy because they do not get up in the morning, does that mean they can report you to Childline? Where is it all going to stop and, if everyone is so concerned about living in a perfect society, why are we tolerating and living with so much that is substandard and soul destroying?

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   September 12th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

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