MasterChef victor criticised for condemning customer’s ‘astonishing’ request
MasterChef victor Simon Wood openly condemned a potential diner for their booking inquiry, yet numerous individuals strongly opposed his comments.
The potential diner reached out to his restaurant, WOOD, situated in Manchester, to inquire about the possibility of receiving special treatment during their visit for a significant occasion.
The message conveyed: ‘As it’s our first anniversary, my husband and I were wondering if it would be feasible to reserve a favourable table with a pleasant view and perhaps enjoy a complimentary dessert. I aim to surprise my partner.’
‘Thank you in advance for your consideration,’ they concluded.
Simon, 47, expressed his sentiments on X (formerly Twitter) by sharing the email and commenting: ‘Incredible… Expecting freebies for celebrations, which is the primary reason for our visit…’
The post, shared on December 15, has garnered 2.3 million views since then, eliciting varied reactions from social media users who voiced their perspectives on the matter.
Unbelievable….
Free food for celebrations, that’s why we’re here after all….
🤯🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/uFh2D1h1wo
— Simon Wood (@SimonJWoodUK) December 15, 2023
The chef made sure to obscure the customer’s identity for anonymity. However, social media user Olufemi Osasona believed that sharing their words was unwarranted.
“Publicly shaming a customer who requested a complimentary dessert on their special day is inappropriate. They asked politely and courteously. This could have been an opportunity to exhibit empathy and earn positive regard. It’s merely a Tiramisu, for heaven’s sake,” he remarked.
“He needs customer service training,” commented Simon, using a single emoji depicting a face gesturing for silence.
User Benjamin Maynard expressed, “I don’t perceive this as a major offence; it seems excessive to publicly shame a customer, even with their email concealed.
“Regardless of whether you believe it’s warranted or not, the customer merely posed a query. Negotiations occur commonly across various businesses. They have the right to ask, just as you have the right to decline.”
Similarly, User Chris Beddell concurred, stating, “Personally, I believe this has been blown out of proportion. They were simply testing their luck on their anniversary. Showing a bit of understanding, a decent person would have made that woman’s evening by offering the dessert instead of airing grievances on Twitter to discredit people.”
Within the 547 responses, a number of individuals echoed Simon’s sentiments. One such user, Manc Pictures, expressed, “I fail to comprehend some individuals. It’s pleasant to receive complimentary items, but requesting them is inappropriate!”
“I fail to grasp it… eateries aren’t obliged to provide complimentary items,” Simon retorted.
Furthermore, certain social media users have escalated the situation by resorting to leaving ‘fake’ Google reviews on WOOD as a form of ‘retribution’ for his social media update.
Don’t believe all the reviews you read folks.
Big love
— Simon Wood (@SimonJWoodUK) December 17, 2023
One of the one-star reviews states: “I’m certain the food is of good quality, but witnessing the public humiliation of a customer online makes me hesitant to visit this establishment.”
WOOD responded uniformly to each review using the same statement: “This review is false and part of an online Twitter hate campaign.”
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Simon shared a video exhibiting numerous reviews echoing similar sentiments, urging his followers not to wholeheartedly trust the deluge of negative comments.
‘Not all reviews are to be taken as gospel, folks. Sending lots of love,’ he expressed.
Simon rose to fame after competing on MasterChef in 2015. Following his victory, he assumed the role of executive chef at the Oldham Event Centre. Two years later, he unveiled WOOD in Manchester and subsequently introduced further ventures in Chester and Cheltenham.
Moreover, he authored the cookbook ‘At Home with Simon Wood – Fine Dining Made Simple’ and made a comeback to the BBC series as a guest judge.
MasterChef episodes can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
