Gordon Ramsay had a turbulent and challenging childhood. He was raised in poverty-blighted Scottish projects and moved 16 times before eventually settling in England. His father, Gordon Ramsay Sr., an alcoholic womanizer, was violent towards Gordon’s mom, Helen Ramsay, and his children.
“He hit us when he was drunk, things were thrown, we had to run for our lives,” Gordon told The Telegraph in 2008. “We spent many nights and weekends hidden in DHSS rooms. I remember being woken in the night, mum screaming, and rushing down the street in our pajamas to a neighbor’s to wait for the police.” Gordon said his mother would be hospitalized, and he and his siblings taken into care.
“Every time he got violent, any present that my brother, sisters, or I had given mum would be smashed, simply because he knew it belonged to her,” Gordon wrote in a piece for CNN. “There were instances when the police were called to take him away; mum was taken to the hospital while we kids were taken to a children’s home.” Gordon said he’s vowed never to be like that with his six kids. “I want to be a role model for my children and have them look up to me,” he wrote.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
