Dubai: A Michelin-starred celebrity chef recently got into a soup of his own making, for his remarks made in connection with Priyanka Chopra’s controversial “Quantico” episode.
Celebrity chef Atul Kochhar lost his contract with J W Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, where he operated the award-winning Rang Mahal Indian restaurant, after his tweet calling out Priyanka Chopra sparked widespread criticism on social media.
Priyanka Chopra was recently criticised for an episode of the TV show “Quantico” where her character Alex Parrish, an anti-terrorist officer, plots a nuclear attack in Manhattan to frame Pakistan for it. This episode aired just days before an India-Pakistan summit was to be held. The actor has since apologised for the episode.
Kochhar was one among many to criticise the actor for her role in the episode. A now-deleted tweet from the chef said, “It’s sad to see that you have not respected the sentiments of Hindus who have been terrorised by Islam over 2000 years. Shame on you.”
All of social media was outraged by the chef’s comments, accusing him of racism, bigotry and Islamophobia prompting the chef to delete his tweet and immediately apologise for his remarks saying that it was a “major error made in the heat of the moment” and added that he fully recognised his “inaccuracies that Islam was founded around 1,400 years ago.” “I am not Islamophobic, I deeply regret my comments that have offended many”, the tweet read.
His apology wasn’t well received as many lashed out at him for his “getting the Islamic date wrong, but not for his bigotry…”
Kochhar apologised a second time in a statement on Twitter that read, “I would like to apologise unreservedly to my Muslim friends, the Islamic community and everyone I have offended with my recent tweets. They were insensitive and wrong.
My work and my restaurants are defined by a passion to unite cultures through food, love and understanding. I have let myself and my colleagues down. I am upset and sorry for the pain I have caused and ask for your forgiveness.”
All actions have consequences, however, and Kochhar is no special case as, soon after the Twitter fiasco, the JW Marriot Marquis Hotel cut ties with the celebrity chef. Bill Keffer, the general manager of J W Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, sent out a statement in an email to Gulf News tabloid saying, “Following the recent comments made by Chef Atul Kochhar, we have taken the decision to end our agreement with him for Rang Mahal. With the termination of our agreement, Chef Atul will no longer be associated with the restaurant.
At the J W Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai we pride ourselves on creating a culture of diversity and inclusion for our guests and associates across the hotel and our restaurants. We also remain committed to delivering the traditional culinary experience and high service standards that Rang Mahal is renowned for.”
