UK Edition
Gordon Ramsay defends 'beer of the people' Cass after starring in advert for much-maligned South Korean lager
Gordon Ramsay has defended his appearance in a TV advert for South Korea lager Cass after social media users called it "maybe the worst beer in the world".
In the TV advert, the celebrity chef is seen extolling the virtues of Cass, calling it "great beer" and "bloody fresh" as he enjoys a mixture of South Korean dishes.
"Sweet, spicy, super hot, very rare that three different types can blend with a fresh beer," he says in the advert.
The chef's endorsement was widely mocked online, where social media users called it "bloody horrible".
"I'm losing my mind over this recent Korean ad Gordon Ramsay did for CASS, which is maybe the worst beer in the world," one tweeted.
Another said: "Must have lost complete taste while doing Kitchen Nightmare…"
However, Ramsay, who was in South Korea at the weekend to film an episode of Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, jumped to the beer's defence at a press conference in Seoul.
“I‘m far from embarrassed,” Ramsay said, according to the Korea Herald.
“I have fallen in love with Korean food, and it doesn’t need to have an oversophisticated, slightly unique beer that costs a fortune,” Ramsay said.
“The authenticity of Korean food with the No. 1 beer for me felt like a perfect match. It‘s by far the freshest, coolest ... and also in these difficult times, with the economy in recession, it is a beer that can easily be bought and have some fun with. It’s not pretentious.”
He also took aim at Daniel Tudor, a British writer and co-founder of a craft beer pub in Seoul, who once said South Korean beer was worse than North Korea’s.
Saying he “wouldn’t worry much about what the British journalist said," he added: "But when I do meet him, I will give him a kick in the arse”.