The release of Gordon Ramsay‘s Netflix docuseries Being Gordon Ramsay on February 18, 2026, has ignited fresh controversy, with his alleged long-term mistress Sarah Symonds publicly accusing the celebrity chef of whitewashing his history of infidelity. In explosive interviews with the Daily Mail and other outlets, Symonds, 56, claims the six-part series—touted as “unflinchingly honest”—is “completely misleading and fake,” triggering her complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from what she alleges was a seven-year affair with Ramsay beginning in 2001.
Symonds, a Welsh author and former host of the show The Mistress (2012–2015), has long maintained she was involved with Ramsay for seven years after meeting him, a claim the chef has consistently and vehemently denied. She describes Ramsay as having lived “a double life” during that period, cultivating a public image as a devoted family man while allegedly engaging in serial infidelity. “The title ‘Being Gordon Ramsay’ is totally fake—just like him,” Symonds told the Daily Mail. “It’s misleading and disingenuous. A travesty in fact, as nothing about it was ‘Being Gordon’ at all. It was a glossed over, rehabilitated, glow-up version of a bully, cheat, liar and serial philanderer.”
The docuseries, which follows Ramsay’s professional ambitions alongside vulnerable family moments—including admissions of guilt over being absent for much of his older children’s upbringing—portrays him as a flawed but devoted husband to Tana Ramsay and father to their six kids. Symonds blasts this narrative, asserting that “nothing about his marriage was real” and labeling it a “sham.” She argues the series omits any acknowledgment of past cheating scandals, presenting a sanitized version that ignores the pain she claims to have endured.
Symonds says watching the series reopened old wounds, exacerbating her PTSD, addiction issues, and long-term mental health struggles, which she attributes to the alleged affair and Ramsay’s repeated public denials. “If I read once more that this documentary is ‘unflinchingly honest,’ I think I’ll scream,” she said. “I am trying to heal, and then this appears everywhere.” She has indicated she is considering legal action against Ramsay, citing the toll of the relationship and his denials as causes of complex PTSD and lasting damage.
Symonds, once dubbed a “professional mistress” for her publicized affairs (including with politician Jeffrey Archer), authored the 2007 book Having an Affair?: A Handbook for the “Other Woman.” She has previously spoken about her experiences and even connected with others affected by the Ramsays, including Adam Peaty’s mother Caroline amid the recent wedding feud. “I really know what it means to go through this trauma [with the Ramsays],” she noted, describing herself and Caroline as “kindred spirits.”
Ramsay has not directly responded to Symonds’ latest comments, though he has historically dismissed affair allegations as unfounded. The chef’s team has not commented on the PTSD claims or potential legal threats. The series itself focuses on Ramsay’s rise from a difficult childhood, his empire-building, and family reflections—earning praise for its emotional depth from many viewers but drawing criticism for what some see as selective storytelling.
The backlash has fueled online debates, with fans divided: some defend Ramsay’s privacy and growth, while others question the omissions in a series billed as candid. Symonds’ outburst adds another layer to the scrutiny surrounding Being Gordon Ramsay, transforming what was intended as an introspective look at the chef’s life into a flashpoint for unresolved allegations from his past.
As the docuseries continues to stream and dominate conversations, Symonds’ accusations serve as a stark counter-narrative: for her, the “unflinching honesty” promised is nowhere to be found, leaving only pain and a call for accountability.