Amy Cochrane
Today at 17:58
Belfast chef and restaurateur Michael Deane has apologised “unreservedly” after facing criticism over a social media post referring to migrant workers delivering food.
On Wednesday evening, Mr Deane posted on Facebook that by ordering food to your home via an app you are “inviting a stranger, often an undocumented one right to your front door”.
The post was subsequently deleted.
A hospitality union then issued a statement claiming the chef’s post “adds fuel to the atmosphere of hate” and claimed it was putting migrant workers “in danger”.
On Thursday afternoon, Mr Deane issued an apology on his Facebook account saying his words were “poorly thought out and badly timed”.
"In attempting to comment on how the app economy has undermined the economic and social fabric of our city, decimating the high street and making strangers of neighbours, I appeared to lay the blame at the feet of the migrant workers who deliver food via these apps. For that, I would like to apologise,” he wrote.
“Migrant workers are the backbone of the hospitality industry, including my own establishments; without them our pubs and restaurants would not function.
"My words were poorly thought out and badly timed, and I apologise unreservedly.”
Prior to the original being deleted, Mr Deane posted: “Dine out tonight support your local restaurant who stay loyal to its people and its produce Hospitality Ulster. Britain has become addicted to the app economy.
“Tap a button, and dinner, groceries, or a ride home magically appear.
"But here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody wants to say out loud: when you order… you’re not just ordering food or transport you’re effectively inviting a stranger, often an undocumented one right to your front door.
“Think about it. Once upon a time, the milkman left a couple of bottles on your doorstep. You knew his name, his family, his round.
"Now, an anonymous rider pulls up outside your house, logs your exact location, and disappears into the night with your data.”
On Monday concerns were raised after a man was forced from his car near the east Belfast site by a crowd who then damaged his vehicle.
Police have since confirmed that the driver of a second car was also confronted by the group. Both incidents are being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.
A spokesperson for Unite Hospitality NI posted on Thursday: “Across hospitality and delivery platforms, migrant workers have been on the receiving end of abuse, threats and violence.
“As hospitality workers, we know the reality: it is in hotels, bars and restaurants where our members, overwhelmingly young women and non-binary folk, face endemic sexual harassment and abuse.
"The same forces who now terrorise migrant workers are not protecting women or children, they are perpetuating the climate of fear that keeps workers unsafe.”
They continued: “For many people, eating out is an occasional treat, but the reality is that working-class households are under pressure like never before.
"That pressure in turn also hits hospitality staff, with hours, tips and jobs all under strain as prices rise and less people eat out. People are working longer hours for less pay and are increasingly reliant on the quick, affordable food delivery provided by predominantly migrant workers.
“We offer our full solidarity to delivery workers and all migrants facing intimidation."
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll also hit out at Mr Deane, branding his original post “disgusting” and accusing him of "punching down on migrant workers”.
“Scapegoating migrant workers won't fill your tables,” he added.
by Browns_right_foot
27 comments
Only apologising because he got caught.
I remember this clown putting his Christmas dinners on a NI Business page, during COVID for delivery, and these were measly as fuck for the price. Got a ton of backlash and added something like a roast potato.
Ohh the penny has sunk, just as much as his customer base.
More like Michael Dickhead
An extremely unlikable person.
He’s just looked at the backlash and is worried about the 💰
“Hello, Deane… You are a stupid head”.
Out of touch businessman
Poor show all round. At least stand by your convictions.
Wonder how many of same foreign kids from overseas on those delivery bikes that he’s complaining about, are also working in the kitchen or on the floor in his restaurants?
Dea-mage limitation
You dun gun fucked up boy.
Its always the ‘ahhh I didn’t mean what I said now you’re mad’ rubbish.
Your Deliveroo takeaway is hardly threatening his livelihood
cooks foreign cuisine accepts tourists cash but cries about migrants the moron so glad the same people protesting now done him out of so much cash during the flag protests
Remember folks, when you hear “Buy local”, this is the kind of self entitled gouging cunts that ARE local.
Cunt knew what he was doing
He’s a Temu Gordon Ramsay anyway. Has a higher opinion of himself than his actual worth.
Too late, apology means nothing he said what he meant to say. Then backtracked and started talking about apps. Didn’t mention apps in his first post. Just talked about the people being undocumented. Which is funny cos those apps request documentation 😅
In his comment aswell he talked about how big the app based economy has become in Britain
Don’t see how that is relevant to Belfast
Deane:
**Apology NOT accepted**
Because:
Words from people with power like Deane have ripple effects, consequences and influence. Saying the word “sorry” or the phrase “I apologise” without any action is both an offense and falsehood.
‘Sorry’ is a doing word; ‘Sorry’ requires action.
*What has Deane done to resolve the problems he has caused with his reckless words?*
*What compensation has he given to the low paid workers of Uber, Just Eat and Deliveroo?*
*What help has he provided from his privileged position since the destruction of the hospitality industry due to COVID 19 government regulations?*
*What financial support did Deane receive were others did not due to the destruction of the hospitality industry due to COVID 19 government regulations?*
Perhaps Deane should face some FoI and GDPR requests to remove all customer data from his databases, including credit card information.
Perhaps Deane should face returns and complaints for food orders delivered, walk outs before paying and all for the reason of “spoilt food” … Cause his words should make anyone sick.
Whipping up racial hatred to, er, get a couple more people into your expensive restaurants. Blimey.
I hate these apologies. If you’re gonna be a PoS, At least own it so we all know you for who you actually are. The back-pedalling is so transparent.
Only one thing worse than a gobshite and that’s one who backs down the minute he gets a bit of pushback
Maybe take a jaunt to one of his places and question his customers and staff. Are ye legal or illegal? See how he likes it.
What is it with so many business owners here being such massive egotistical shit stains.
What even is undocumented in an NI context? Not like in the USA where there are many that the country doesn’t know about
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