*This article has been updated.

Gordon Ramsay is back in Dubai and in his usual straight-to-the-point manner, he made a statement about influencers in a way only he can.

Ramsay, according to Arabian Business stated, ‘I think every influencer, if they pay, have the right to write whatever they wish.’ The report went on to quote local chef Izu Ani, who put a blast on influencers in the midst of a public spat with a high-profile food critic last year.

Chef Izu was quoted by AB saying if influencers like what he does, they like it and if they don’t, that’s fine too

*Correction: This quote was originally attributed to Gordon Ramsay.

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“I’ve worked two years on this project. What have you done? You want freebies everywhere. You want people to pay you. I don’t pay you for articles. If you like what I do, you like it, if you personally don’t, that’s fine,”

Chef Izu Ani

 

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A post shared by Lovin Dubai (@lovindubai) on Mar 19, 2019 at 6:43am PDT

You’re right. We shouldn’t get free food and you shouldn’t get free marketing

Lovin Dubai has been growing for four years. And while it’s incredibly tempting to accept every offer for a free meal that comes through our door, what the food and PR industry need to understand is that the marketing you’re asking for is not free.

Stop inviting us for free food. Consider paying us instead.