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Ramsay says son decapitated live rabbit

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Published Date: 18 May 2008
By Marc Horne
GORDON Ramsay has been labelled repugnant after revealing that his eight-year-old son inadvertently pulled off a live rabbit's head during a hunting expedition.
The former Rangers trainee said he took eight-year-old Jack on a hunt for rabbits.

"Jack was out ferreting with me three weeks ago.

"We couldn't get this bloody ferret out so I dug this hole and I stuck Jack down there.

"He got his hand on
the rabbit, and you know you have to pull it to break the neck? He pulled it and pulled the f***ing head off.

"I said: 'Jack, you're meant to break its neck, not rip its head off'.

"Then we took it home and ate it. Jack was dying to eat the kidneys."

Ramsay also spoke of his dismay after his wife Tana suggested giving their four children a vegetarian meal once a week and hoped they would remain meat-eaters in future.

"If one of my daughter's boyfriends turns out to be vegetarian I swear to God I'd never forgive them. If I ever have a son-in-law that's a vegetarian I'd rather run around Ibrox, stark bollock naked."

A spokeswoman for Advocates for Animals described his behaviour as "completely gross". She said: "This type of cruel behaviour sends out a very worrying message to young people.

"Although Gordon Ramsay has laughed this off, this must have been a very distressing and upsetting experience for an eight-year-old to go through.

"Encouraging a young child to kill an animal is no laughing matter."

Ramsay also said he may open a new restaurant in Scotland.His Glasgow restaurant, Amaryllis, closed in 2004 but he said he would not rule out opening something else here.



The full article contains 295 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 17 May 2008 7:23 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
 
1

Paddi,

18/05/2008 00:42:59
will this guy do anything for publicity?
2

C. RAB.BIT,

FIFE 18/05/2008 09:25:17
I STOPPED TRAINING AS A CHEF MANY YEARS AGO AND HAVE KEPT QUIET ABOUT IT SO THAT PEOPLE FORGET.AFTER LAST WEEKS PERFORMANCE I THINK GORDON SHOULD DO THE SAME ABOUT RANGERS. IF HE WOULD PROMISE TO RUN ROUND OLD TRAFFORD I
WOULD LOOK FOR A VEGETARIAN BOYFRIEND FOR HIS DAUGHTER.
ALMOST TWENTY YEARS AGO I NAMED MY DAUGHTER AMARYLLIS SHE IS STILL WITH US SHAME ABOUT GORDON'S RESTAURANT
3

Vego, for life,

South Australia 18/05/2008 09:55:31
I've seen a few of Gordon Ramsay's shows here in Australia. Whilst he may have some quality kitchen skills, his attitude toward other animal species, and the compassionate, healthy, and environmentally wise choice to be vegetarian is barbaric, and based on ignorance and selfish preferences. But of course, apparently any publicity is good publicity. By the way Gordon, I have two vibrant, intelligent, energetic vegetarian sons, and all the girls just adore them!
4

Dougie, Edinburgh,

18/05/2008 14:56:59
People who think pulling a head off a rabbit is outrageous must have a very sheltered existence because there are bigger problems in the world
5

Scott Lahteine,

USA 18/05/2008 18:35:18
"My grandfather was a caveman! My father was a caveman! I'm a caveman chef! My son is darned well gonna be a caveman!"
6

Trisha R,

Australia 19/05/2008 03:01:35
Teaching children to kill or demanding children eat the flesh of sentient beings is nothing short of child abuse. If we have no respect for life, then what we sow is what we will reap. Ironically, it is most likely Mr Ramsay will end up inadvertently raising vegetarians or vegans, because he is so opposed to a cruelty free, healthy, environmentally sound plant-based diet. Often indoctrination backfires.

Mr Ramsay's opinions and opposition to vegetarian and veganism belong in the last century. A UN report in 2006 revealed the meat and dairy industry are worse for global warming than ALL automotive industries combined. 7 times more grain is fed to animals than is used in biofuel production. This grain for cattle could be fed to the masses and is a leading contributing factor to the current world food crisis. Biofuels is a secondary contributing factor.

Even DEFRA (UK) has been suggesting that a plant based VEGAN diet is the best personal way to address global warming. Now if only Al Gore and green groups would stop avoiding the "other inconvenient truth" and stop leaving it up to animal rights groups to spread this very important message.
7

Juli,

USA 20/05/2008 12:26:33
An 8 year old who pulls the heads off of live little bunnies ? Meet the new Ted Bundy ! Seriously, am I the only one who predicts this little monster is going to grow up to be a serial killer ?
8

Wifie from Skye,

20/05/2008 12:46:20
To be honest, I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about! The story has been made into something which it's not by the media! The rabbit could not have been alive when the head came off - the neck would have been broken as he pulled on it, killing the rabbit instantly. Ferreting is a natural way of getting food. For those of you who don't know (probably most of you who have commented) a ferret is put down a rabbit hole where it will bolt the rabbit out to be shot. In some cases the ferret will decide to catch the rabbit and kill it with a bite to the back of the neck (similar to how a weasel/stoat kills a rabbit.) I'm sure Jack will not have been "distressed or upset" by this incident - most people (me as one of them) who have been brought up in a hunting family learn respect for animals at a very early age - although we kill animals for food (very natural) we have the upmost respect for them. Death is a part of life, something which you really understand when you are involved in country life. I think Jack showed the animal true respect by being desperate to eat it. Good on Gordon!!!
9

Angus,

Alexandria 21/05/2008 22:46:50
Ramsay is just a moron out for publicity.

I hope his daughter marries a vegetarian in the dead of winter.
10

Feral, Priscilla,

Darien, CT, USA 29/05/2008 18:17:56
I'm a vegan cookbook author and have avidly watched Ramsay's TV shows. His talents aside, he's a bully and that's a shame since he has had the fortune to entertain and influence lots of people. The world doesn't need another coarse, dominating male who derides would-be chefs on his show, or feels defensive about plant-based cooking. Ramsay acts like a jerk and that's a pity. Looking forward to his kids' adolescent rebellion and his partner's spirit to impose wonderful vegetarian meals on the household.

Priscilla Feral
President, Friends of Animals
Co-author, Dining With Friends: The Art of North
American Vegan Cuisine
11

Ashley Dodge,

Irving, USA 08/07/2008 04:13:46
Ramsay is a great chef! I would absolutely love to meet him someday and yes I find nothing wrong with what he says. Just because a kid pulls off a rabbits head (he is right you have to pull the head to break the neck) just means the kid was over excited...for someone to call the child "a future serial killer" is completely and utterly ignorance on their part and should learn to read and educate themselves before committing slander.

For those people who think what happened was barbaric, shut up. Honestly. How do you think we have lived as long as we have and adapted as we have WITHOUT hunting, WITHOUT killing animals. Was a rabbit killed? Yes. But was it killed for FUN and then LEFT there? No. Ramsay took it home and used it for food, which is what people do. For those who eat meat of any form, well believe me that rabbit got more use out of it than any other animal one is consuming from places like Walmart or McDonalds.

If you choose not to eat meat that's great for you as well. I honestly don't care, but you HAVE to take a vitamin supplement in order to gain the nutrients needed to live a healthy life meaning one must consume meat if wanting to live a completely healthy life. Do I condone the killing of animals for no reason...no, but do I think that what Ramsay did is wrong...not at all. NOR should his 8 year old son be ridiculed for his actions. In my mind and experience, he was simply over enthusiastic in being able to catch and kill the "prey" that he used too much force.

Grow up and educate yourself before you put him into the same category as Ted Bundy...that's just ridiculous.

 

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