ITV has issued an apology following an editing blunder that resulted in on-screen subtitles showing explicit language from a repeat broadcast of Gordon Ramsay's "Food Stars USA". The incident occurred in May when the f-word appeared twice in the subtitles at approximately 8:25 a.m., despite the audio track having been edited to remove any swearing. The celebrity chef, 59, is known for his passionate on-air personality and frequent use of strong language.
Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, has stated that the broadcast was a "clear breach" of its code, which prohibits the most offensive language from being aired before the 9 p.m. watershed. ITV2 subsequently apologized for the error, explaining that the subtitles were generated from a version of the program that had not been fully edited for offensive content.
The channel has reportedly implemented new measures to prevent similar discrepancies between edited and unedited program versions from occurring during broadcasts. However, Ofcom noted that ITV did not issue an on-air apology immediately after the program concluded. In its ruling, Ofcom acknowledged the steps taken by ITV2 to prevent future recurrences but concluded that these measures would not have mitigated the offense caused to viewers by the specific broadcast.
This is not the first time Ramsay's language has caused issues on live television. Earlier this year, presenter Ben Shephard had to apologize on "This Morning" after Ramsay inadvertently swore during a live cooking demonstration. Ramsay exclaimed "Oh s**t" after knocking over a container of soy sauce, prompting Shephard to quickly apologize to viewers, stating, "We are live. I'm just pre-empting a strike."