Heartbreaking story of what happened to restaurant owner after appearing on Gordon Ramsay show
Topics: Film and TV, US News, Gordon Ramsay
Chelsea Connor
Featured Image Credit: FOX
Topics: Film and TV, US News, Gordon Ramsay
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.
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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."
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.
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.
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.