Jay Rayner just killed Toby Young and Sarah Vine with words and it’s glorious

John Plunkett. Updated April 25th, 2019

It began when food critic and TV presenter Jay Rayner joined the many, many people calling out Toby Young after he trolled 16-year-old climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg for being privileged.

https://twitter.com/toadmeister/status/1120998371416788993

Here’s what Rayner had to say.

I’ve known the rt hon @toadmeister since he was 19. I’ve also worked with him. The only constant has been his lack of self-awareness. Today, the son of Lord Young called out a determined eco-campaigner for being privileged. He has only become more himself with age. #twattery https://t.co/v1T9CJHscU

— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) April 24, 2019

Toby Young picked up on the fact that Rayner had known him for so long and suggested it was all a bit off.

https://twitter.com/toadmeister/status/1121323999928229888

Just when you’re thinking it can’t get any better, Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine joined in, referencing Rayner’s mother, the late, great agony aunt, Claire Rayner.

This is typical of @jayrayner1 he knew us all back in the day when he worked for the mail on Sunday. Yes, Tweeps, he worked on the Mail. His mother was a very talented and famous journalist.

— Sarah Vine (@WestminsterWAG) April 25, 2019

But you’ll be glad she did, because their combined efforts prompted one of the all-time great comebacks from Rayner, which we’ve already put in our diary so we can remember it this time next year.

The two of you have both made a terrible mistake here. You've have confused me knowing you, with holding either of you in any regard whatsoever. And Toby, if I'd done something so terrible that you coming to my aid might help, I'd deserve to be left for dead.

— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) April 25, 2019

BOOM!

And here’s just a flavour of the satisfaction it prompted on Twitter.

someone call an ambulance https://t.co/muVVEpeUiI

— Alan White (@aljwhite) April 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/chiller/status/1121333587633147905

https://twitter.com/Brainmage/status/1121336602855378945

https://twitter.com/moya_lm/status/1121334316414439424

Outstanding https://t.co/WLDq3FaVox

— The Poisonous Euros Atmosphere Fan (@DawnHFoster) April 25, 2019

Not so much dropping the mic as slamming it, still connected to the mains, into a paddling pool in which the two subjects of his ire are standing. https://t.co/He3nOw4Qhj

— Rob Davies (@ByRobDavies) April 25, 2019

PRAISE BE TO THE LORD OF FIRE 🙌🔥 https://t.co/8uvdmBKWL2

— Luke (@lukeaaronmoore) April 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/jamieeast/status/1121335005354102785

Oh my god 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/vgC50Z9FAR

— Hannah Al-Othman (@HannahAlOthman) April 25, 2019

Toby Young tried to have the last word but by then it was too late, far too late.

I’ve always had a certain regard for you Jay — always believed that beneath that tetchy, thin-skinned pomposity, there was a decent bloke. But Twitter brings out the worst in all of us.

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) April 25, 2019

To conclude …

Hello police? I’d like to report a murder. pic.twitter.com/orI2DFDL2u

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) April 25, 2019