Yahoo News Gordon Ramsay criticised for commenting on woman's teeth during 'Saturday Night Takeaway' game
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay sparked social media fury when he made a "humiliating" comment about a woman's teeth during a game on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
The 54-year-old TV star appeared on the show to play a game of 'Read My Lips', in which he wore noise-cancelling headphones and had to identify a series of food items by reading the lips of members of the public.
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While playing with contestant Lorna, from Coatbridge, he was initially able to identify nachos and biryani, but struggled when she tried to mouth "garlic bread" to the celebrity.
He threw in several incorrect guesses before turning to the hosts and saying: "It's the gap in her teeth, I can't understand what she's saying."
The hosts moved on with the show swiftly, but fans on Twitter were shocked at Ramsay's rudeness.
I think @GordonRamsay needs to apologize about the comment he made about the ladies from teeth! How insulting and humiliating for her! You might of find it funny, but it might off been something she doesn’t feel that confident with, and you knock it even more! #bekind
— Ashley Gardner (@ashley1413) February 27, 2021
Imagine being excited to be on tv, only for Gordon Ramsay to insult you & your teeth 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 #SaturdayNightTakeaway
— Nicole (@_NicoleHClarke) February 27, 2021
I can’t believe that #GordonRamsay took a dig at that lady’s teeth who was just playing the game and who had done nothing wrong. Just proves he’s not a nice person. #SaturdayNightTakeaway #antanddec
— Robert (@r_o_bert345) February 27, 2021
I cant believe #gordonramsay just insulted that ladys teeth live on prime time TV!
Am so disgusted ive switched it off!
Ant & Dec laughing and didn't say anything! Well done what a fantastic example you all are!!#SaturdayNightTakeaway #itvtakeaway #antanddec #gordonramsay— Ashley Mogire (@MogireAshley) February 27, 2021
One viewer wrote that the comment was "insulting and humiliating" and used the #BeKind hashtag, while another said they were "so disgusted" they had turned off the show.
Not everyone was upset by Ramsay, though, with some suggesting the comment was obviously meant as a joke.
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Ramsay also managed to turn the air blue during the game, despite Ant and Dec quipping beforehand that they had invested in a bleep machine ahead of any slip-ups.
When one contestant mouthed the word "pizza" at him, Ramsay said "p***ed" and started to name alcoholic drinks.
Ant apologised to audiences at home for the Kitchen Nightmares presenter's language.
Saturday Night Takeaway returned to screens earlier this month, again lacking a physical audience due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The launch episode gained an average viewership of 7.3 million people, which has only been beaten by The Masked Singer in terms of non-news and non-sport programmes this year.
Read more: Ant and Dec host virtual assembly for schoolkids
Ant and Dec are among the most highly-paid performers on British television, reportedly signing a three-year deal with ITV worth £40m in 2020.
Saturday Night Takeaway continues to air every Saturday at 7pm on ITV.
Watch: Ant and Dec thank key workers on Saturday Night Takeaway
