‘Embarrassing': Champions League clip shows sad decline of internet icon

News.com.au

4 days ago

Fans around the world are saying the same thing about world-famous chef 'Salt Bae' as sad footage continues to swirl.
The internet sensation, whose real name is Nusret Gokce, has gone public to insist footage of him being rejected from a Champions League final VIP afterparty is misleading.
The 41-year-old appeared to be escorted away from a building in Munich where a party was supposedly being held following Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thrashing of Real Madrid on Sunday morning (AEST).
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Witnesses filmed the viral social media personality being pushed by a doorman outside of the venue, The Sun reports.
The viral vision shows the person he was with attempted to confront security staff about the issue, but to no avail.
The internet icon then took some time to sign autographs for the fans waiting outside.
Despite the suggestion that he was kicked out of the event, the chef and restaurateur has claimed that he was just there to see the fans.
You can watch the incident and decide for yourself in the video player above.
The Turkish cuisine influencer said: 'The rumours spreading on social media that 'Nusret was kicked out' are not true. In fact, there was no after-party there. I wasn't even invited to such an event.
'I was just passing by, and someone acting out of line in the background made it look like something happened.
'But the claim that I was kicked out is simply false. This is an attack on my reputation.'
In a translated statement on Instagram, he also wrote: 'After the Champions League final match, we arrived to the hotel in UEFA bus, the reason we were there at that moment was because of our thousands of fans who wanted to see us there.
'As always, I was in that area to return their love and to take photos. Due to the busyness that occurred, while I was waiting for my vehicle to go to my own hotel, my back turned in front of the door, there was a directive from Mr. Dormen.
'There was no organisation like invitation party in the middle, hence the news that I was not included in the party. It's all just baseless.'
Despite his statement, the damage has been done in the eyes of some social media users with one person dubbing the chef 'an embarrassment to himself'.
Another person commented on the video by writing: 'When money can't buy you Respect.
'Salt Bae shamelessly kicked out at the Champions League after-party'.
Sunday morning's incident is far from the only hit Salt Bae's celebrity status and ego have experienced recently.
He also came under fire for his antics on the pitch after the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France.
He took the trophy from centre-back Cristian Romero — breaking a key FIFA rule.
Only a select few people — including players and managers who have won it, as well as heads of state and FIFA officials — are allowed to touch the iconic trophy.
He also pestered several players for photos during the celebrations.
Gokçe also pretended to do his trademark salt-sprinkling trick over the trophy as irritated players stood by.
The chef's behaviour prompted an internal investigation at FIFA into how he was allowed onto the pitch.
According to reports at the time, World Cup officials responsible for the delivery of the 2026 World Cup — which is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico — plan to ban Salt Bae from attending the tournament.
Gokce is said to be friends with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who praised him as 'number one' after visiting his Qatar steak house during the 2022 tournament.
Salt Bae shot to fame in 2017 when a video of him lovingly preparing a steak by theatrically sprinkling a handful of salt crystals quickly went viral.
Nusret then became a celebrity in his own right, cooking for celebrities like David Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio, and DJ Khaled.
He opened his first Nusr-Et steakhouse in Istanbul in 2010.
He has continued to court controversy in recent years with criticism over the insane prices of meals served in his Dubai restaurant.
He was also further criticised in 2023 for publicising a public meeting he shared with wanted billionaire Isabel dos Santos, who was once celebrated as Africa's first billionaire.
Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola's former president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, continues to conduct business despite facing sanctions and ongoing claims of corruption.
It is far from the company Salt Bae once kept when his celebrity status peaked during his run as the most popular meme on the internet in 2017.