Remember that we're not here at The Gonzo Lecture just promoting politics and all kinds of other ideology. What we look for is the truth - mostly the uncomfortable truths that the established system wants us to ignore in order that the unnatural order of things might be maintained in their best interests.Recently, I've decided to reallocate Gordon Ramsey, once cited as an example of the unorthodox and an expert who stood by his guns in the face of the criticism of the poor wannabes and the safe systemites, off the Gonzo-approved list.
Reason? Ramsey projected himself as an idealist, a man of principles who put what he believed infront of what was crass, safe, mainstream and average. He said what he thought, regardless of the counter-opinions of the creatively and intellectually stunted.
At one point, Ramsey got a reputation as a bit of a bully. The other day I watched "Boiling Point," a documentary about his first restaurant opening. I'd only previously seen the well-marketed, polished and revamped Ramsey. On this show, he seemed very insecure. Too painful for me to keep watching.
This might have been the reason for some of the seeming counter-spin focussed on him being a family man - all those lovely cookery spots with his dear wife and kids. These may have in the light of recent tabloid "revelations" turned out to be a sham. The claim is that he's been having a long-term affair with a mistress. He doesn't seem to be prepared to comment.
Don't get me wrong - whatever he feels wants to do in his private life is his own affair - but let's not get hung up on the public Ramsey's virtues at the expense of the truth.
Gonzo is about being the same on the inside as you are on the outside - and being proud of it.
Don't be a douchebag.
