A British Michelin-starred movie star chef was attacked after allegedly defending his teenage daughter from thugs in a bar within the Philippines.
Jason Atherton, 51, was eating on the F Cafe and Bar in Cebu province along with his household when his 17-year-old daughter complained {that a} group of males harassed her exterior the restroom.
The award-winning chef, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, reportedly confronted them and requested them to apologise.
However the confrontation shortly turned violent and a mass brawl ensued, whereas surprising footage confirmed fists flying and bargoers being stomped on the bottom.
Jason is pictured with native governor Gwendolyn Garcia who condemned the attackers
Atherton is pictured amid a brawl within the F Cafe and Bar in Philippine’s Cebu province
In grainy cell phone footage, Atherton could be seen sporting a white shirt, first arguing with individuals exterior the bar after which caught up in a fistfight.
He was pictured at one in every of his eating places within the Philippines the following day sporting two black eyes and bruising round his nostril.
In a video taken by an onlooker, Atherton could be heard saying: ‘I need an apology…. When you might have intercourse together with her in the bathroom. She’s 17, she’s 17-years-old.’
Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia slammed the bar, claiming: ‘all of them ganged up on Jason, together with F Bar’s individuals’.
The politician added: ‘Worse, F Bar’s bouncers held him down so Jason could not combat again.
‘The woman supervisor joined within the melee, even offering a bottle to beat him additional, the entire time condemning him and all foreigners as troublemakers.’
Atherton is seen arguing with bargoers on this nonetheless from a video recorded by onlookers
Safety guards have been deployed on the bar and broke up the combat by holding the 2 events away from one another
Jason is married to Filipina Irha Atherton
Atherton, whose spouse is from the Philippines, met with Governor Gwendolyn who snapped a selfie displaying his accidents which included a pair of black eyes.
The governor added that the ‘internationally acclaimed English chef’ didn’t deserve the therapy.
She mentioned: ‘These guys have been harassing Jason’s daughter, whereas she was ready in line for the restroom. Jason requested them to apologise, as any father who loves his daughter would.
‘Tonight, I informed Jason, ”I am so sorry for what occurred to you, Jason. I hope this is not going to change your fondness for Cebu.
‘He answered, ”Oh no! It might have occurred wherever on this planet. In London or some other place”.
‘This gracious, gifted man actually didn’t deserve the shameful therapy he acquired.’
Atherton sharpened his culinary abilities underneath the tutelage of Gordon Ramsay from 2001-2010, earlier than putting out on his personal.
He launched his personal enterprise known as ‘The Social Firm’ and has since cultivated a restaurant empire with institutions in London, New York, Dubai, Shanghai and The Philippines, with a number of of the eating places incomes Michelin stars.
Atherton is pictured at work with one in every of his restaurant’s staff days after his bar room brawl within the Philippines
Clips of the brawl have been circulated on social media
Following condemnation from Governor Garcia, the bar launched a press release claiming their CCTV footage ‘confirmed it was Chef Atherton who initiated the assault in opposition to the opposite group’.
The assertion mentioned: ‘Safety personnel seen a commotion inside coming from sure clients that included Mr Atherton. A melee ensued and the pure response of safety was to go between the events to make sure that no one obtained damage and to pacify them.
‘The supervisor, who simply had an eye fixed operation, additionally went to make sure that safety was on high of the scenario. CCTV footage confirmed that it was Mr Atherton who initiated the assault in opposition to the opposite group.
‘Every little thing occurred so quick however thankfully the individuals have been ultimately pacified. We have been then knowledgeable that they went to the police and the district officers and settled every little thing amongst themselves. We have been knowledgeable that the matter was closed.
‘Whereas we attempt to make sure that everyone feels good in our institutions, we’ve no management over the actions of others. We deeply remorse what occurred to Mr Atherton and the opposite events concerned within the fracas.’
Cebu Metropolis Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia mentioned in a speech on December 28: ‘That is disturbing, and it considerations not solely the province of Cebu however most particularly, the Metropolis of Cebu because it’s in our jurisdiction.
‘This illustration feels that one thing needs to be achieved about it not solely as a public official but additionally as a father who additionally has a daughter.’
No formal complaints have reportedly been filed to police.
