• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Heartbreaking story of what happened to restaurant owner after appearing on Gordon Ramsay show

Home> News> US News

Published 15:40 24 Feb 2024 GMT

Heartbreaking story of what happened to restaurant owner after appearing on Gordon Ramsay show

He appeared on an episode of season one of the reality TV series

Chelsea Connor

Chelsea Connor

Featured Image Credit: FOX

Topics: Film and TV, US News, Gordon Ramsay

Chelsea Connor
Chelsea Connor

Chelsea is a Journalist for UNILAD. Before this she worked as a Journalist and Comedy Writer for seven years, working for companies such as Newsquest, NationalWorld and Samahoma Productions. She became a qualified journalist back in 2017, completing a NCTJ at Liverpool City College.

X

@theccjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

Three years after appearing on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares restaurant owner Joe Cerniglia tragically died.

The owner of the Italian restaurant, Campania, in New Jersey appeared on an episode of season one of the reality TV series.

At the time of filming, Cerniglia's eatery was in huge debt and on the verge of shutting down.

Advert

The episode showed Cerniglia's laid back approach to his business, something Ramsay seemingly wasn't a fan of.

"Why did you decide to go into business if you haven’t got a clue how to run a business?" Ramsay questioned.

Cerniglia welled up after being asked the question and admitted to 'feeling really upset', to which Ramsay followed up with: "Are you feeling upset now?

"Thank f**k for that. Hopefully, I’m getting through to you now."

Advert

Restaurant owner Joe Cerniglia was once in 'overwhelming' debt.
FOX

Ramsay went on to say that without change Cerniglia's restaurant was 'about to f***ing swim down the Hudson'.

On the show, Cerniglia's wife expressed her concern for her husband and the business, explaining how much stress it was causing him.

"People like us put everything on the line for a dream. If this business fails, we will lose everything," she tearfully told Ramsay.

Advert

However, after a re-vamp of the menu and restaurant makeover, the business went on to be hugely successful.

After the first experience visiting Cerniglia's restaurant, the TV chef went back a year later to check how the owner was getting on, to which he said the turnaround was 'nothing short of a miracle'.

Cerniglia even won Chef Central's Bergen County Ultimate Chef Competition in 2008 and came Runner Up in 2009.

The business went on to be hugely successful.
FOX

Advert

However, in 2010, Cerniglia's body was found floating in the Hudson river after jumping from the George Washington Bridge.

The New York Medical Examiner's office ruled his death as suicide and said: "He died from drowning and blunt impact. He jumped from a height."

After hearing of the heartbreaking news, Ramsay released a statement, saying: "I was fortunate to spend time with Joe during the first season of Kitchen Nightmares. Joe was a brilliant chef and our thoughts go out to his family, friends and staff."

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Cult classic film removed from Disney+ over controversial scene that had it banned from TV

    The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has long expressed its concerns about the scene in the 1989 movie

    Film & TV
  • 5 hours ago

    Vin Diesel hints Paul Walker could be in upcoming Fast and Furious movie and it's left fans very divided

    He's desperate to reunite Dom and Brian

    Film & TV
  • 6 hours ago

    Trump supporters are revealing the ‘red line’ that would make them stop supporting him and people say it’s ‘disturbing’

    President Trump's shocking approval ratings were recently released

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Starbucks customer outraged after barista allegedly wrote 'illegal' joke on her cup

    "When I read it I’m like, OK. Was I supposed to laugh?"

    News
  • Gordon Ramsay warns you should never order from one specific part of a restaurant menu
  • Gordon Ramsay warns there is one part of a restaurant menu you should never order from
  • Over 80% of restaurants that appeared on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares have closed
  • Heartbreaking story of what happened to chimpanzee sent to space by NASA in 1961