Susanna Reid, 48, is standing up for women everywhere as she embarked on a tirade, calling out Heston Blumenthal, 53, after he made “sexist” claims about female chefs.
In her Daily Mail column, the presenter wrote how unimpressed she was by the Michelin-starred chef’s comments that there are fewer female chefs than male because “the body clock starts working”.
“Get back in the kitchen, Heston!” the GMB host subtitled the piece.
“I’m not sure why Heston Blumenthal thinks he’s an expert on women. The recently remarried chef — famous for snail porridge — claims there are so few female chefs because we can’t lift heavy pots,” she continued.
Susanna began to compare carrying pots to carrying a child, to prove his claims utter “tosh”.
“Tosh! A big Le Creuset dish weighs more than a baby, but women easily carry both. How else do mothers across the country whip up dinner every night?” she said.
“I hope Heston’s left with a nasty taste in his mouth after the sour reaction to his comments.”
Her criticism comes after the celebrity chef and award-winning restaurateur said in an interview with the Economic Times: “I have always employed female chefs, but historically and ultimately, the body clock starts working.
“It’s evolution, and it is one thing to have a 9-5 job and quite another to be a chef with kids.
“So, that makes it difficult. [The physical strain of lifting] heavy pots and pans.”
He explained his theory after being asked why there aren’t more women represented at the top level of the industry, but his answer didn’t sit well with many readers and he received a furious backlash on social media.
Jumping to Twitter to react to his interview, users were less than impressed: “Hey @waitrose I don’t think that anyone who has given birth is going to be able to buy your #Heston range anymore. We just can’t lift the pots and pans that are needed cook them,” one user said sarcastically.
“Heston Blumenthal thinks that evolution means mums can’t lift pots and pans but they can lift their two stone toddler,” another said.
“To be clear #HestonBlumenthal (a chef with kids) not only should men just get bloody well get over the ‘shock’ of female chefs standing up for themselves, but also I assure you that lifting a baby in a car seat is heavier than any pot or pan. Welcome to the 21st century,” a third stated.
In the past, the father of three said female chefs had to be “tough as old boots” to be successful in the male-dominated industry.
The London-born star continued to say that men are “shocked” when women stand up for themselves in the kitchen, in addition to blaming other factors such as culture and healthcare.
“The women are also fighting sexism,” he said, adding: “Quite frankly, men [chefs] have asked for this; they’ve brought it on themselves. The shock of women standing up for themselves is strong and men get really insecure.”
Recognising workplace sexism didn’t go along way for fans as his previous comments had already done the damage.
But according to the 53-year-old, the level of equality in the culinary world is “much better than it was 15 years ago”.
His words came after the Michelin guide released its 2020 list of restaurants, many of which are led by male chefs.
Express.co.uk has contacted a representative for Heston Blumenthal for comment.
