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People applauded Jay Rayner’s definitive response to being asked to write a ‘culinary guide’ to Saudia Arabia
Not the first time we’ve featured Jay Rayner on these pages and it surely won’t be the last.
This time the food critic, TV presenter and all-round good egg shared the news that he’d been invited to write a ‘culinary guide’ to Saudia Arabia, funded by the Saudi government.
And Rayner’s response, in which he really wasn’t holding back, went wildly viral because, well, look.
I've just received and vigorously declined an invitation to write a 'culinary guide' to Saudi Arabia, fully funded by the Saudi govt. It's a murderous, homophobic, misogynistic regime. I've been shocked by the willingness of various hospitality businesses to take their money 1/
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) July 16, 2024
The killing and then butchering of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by the govt should be reason enough not to take their money. I'm mentioning this in a blatant attempt to shame any other food journalist who considers taking this blood stained gig.
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) July 16, 2024
And also this.
Should be said that I can’t imagine taking money from any govt to write about their country’s food. But none have offered so there’s been nothing to reject. Saudi Arabia has. https://t.co/MY8KJFk6bX
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) July 16, 2024
And here is just a little bit of the love people had for this.
Admirable. If only sports, cultural and business organisations had this much integrity. https://t.co/O6xx890Sy1
— Plashing Vole (@PlashingVole) July 16, 2024
Rare integrity. Well done indeed.
— Anthony Warwick-Ching (@AntWarwick) July 16, 2024
I'm finding it quite scary the amount of travel/lifestyle folks who are suddenly in bed with the Saudi government. No questions asked, everything is just wrapped in a Saudi logo at the moment. Good on Jay for speaking up. https://t.co/PcbM4vb0D5
— Lucy Thackray (@LucyInTheSky22) July 17, 2024
Your integrity was already obvious to me in the quality and character of your writing and has now been confirmed.
— Joseph Elms (@JosephElms) July 16, 2024
I already considered Jay Rayner to be the absolute goat of food critics for refusing to review that Salt Bae tit and scranning a delicious local kebab outside his restaurant instead. This just confirms his status https://t.co/uyCXwOsLEh
— Sam Gore (@samgorecomedian) July 16, 2024
You can take our footballers! But you’ll never take our food critics!
— EPLnews (@EPLnews24_7) July 16, 2024
Find myself having a lot of time for Rayner in recent months. This should the standard for most professionals as regards that regime. https://t.co/HhPtef7bma
— Darcys’Wickham (@DarcysMick) July 17, 2024
Well said Jay It has horrified me how many people seem to have short term memories. The Saudis are trying to buy their way into all sorts of avenues, eg, Sports etc. It's very disturbing, especially as a woman!
— upursbetty #FBPE 3.5% #RefugeesWelcome (@upursbetty) July 16, 2024
Music industry take note https://t.co/iW8qhrPtQx
— Sean Kerrigan Griffiths (@SeanKGriffiths) July 16, 2024
And if you wanted a little bit more reading on the subject.
Follow @jayrayner1 here
Source @Jayrayner1