Top Chef Show Faces Backlash For Filming At A Former Slave Plantation
Bravo's Top Chef premiered its fourteenth season on December 1 to loud criticism. The cooking competition show — usually a favorite amongst food TV fans — set part of its first episode on a historic seventeenth-century slave plantation, and people were not happy. Charleston's Boone Hall Plantation, which is open to the public still displays the original cabins where African-American slaves who worked there used to live. During the episode, the history of the plantation was briefly discussed, while a black contestant called the experience "surreal."
The backlash against the episode's filming location was almost immediate via Twitter:
Nobody would ever suggest filming Top Chef at Auschwitz. A plantation was viewed as appropriate and you've gotta think about why that is.
— The Kitchenista (@MissAngelaDavis) December 5, 2016
People were further outraged when the black contestant lost in the final round to the white contestant:
Anyone else notice the symbolic nature of the black man losing the sudden death to a white guy with a truffle on a plantation? #topchef
— Evan Dunbar (@EvanDunbarMusic) December 2, 2016
Y'all took the BLACK MAN to a plantation to kick him off your show?!?!? @bravo #topchef
— La Femme Nikita. (@Nikitaontop) December 2, 2016
Several days after the show aired, judge Tom Colicchio took to Twitter to publish a statement that briefly dissected the issue and apologized for any offense caused and took time to directly answer fans' criticisms.
We certainly didn't mean to disrespect anyone, clearly people are upset and I apologize for that. https://t.co/GVFsi6Ah0z
— Tom Colicchio (@tomcolicchio) December 5, 2016
We are shooting in the South I would think it odd if we ignored Charlestons History. https://t.co/ejiFYRcSj9
— Tom Colicchio (@tomcolicchio) December 5, 2016
The Daily Meal has contacted Bravo for further comment.