The Everyday Item That Sparked A Hell's Kitchen Scandal

The purpose of "Hell's Kitchen" isn't simply to identify contestants with world-class culinary skills. Gordon Ramsay's goal on the show is to single out chefs who can thrive under extremely stressful work conditions. Participants have to perform under the pressures of a real restaurant kitchen while navigating a series of cooking challenges, and any mistake could lead to elimination. They have to manage all of this while dealing with the famously unfiltered temper of Ramsay, who has no problem loudly berating anyone who falls short of his lofty standards. As "Hell's Kitchen" fans are well aware, this intense environment frequently leads to drama, but sometimes it comes from a place you wouldn't expect.

On one occasion, it wasn't a bubbling feud or a burned soufflé that caused a minor scandal but an everyday item. "There was one time that one of us got ahold of a newspaper, and it was like all hell broke loose," Season 6 contestant Seth Levin told the New York Post. "They came over and ripped it out of our hand!" It wasn't the content of the paper that was the issue, but the fact that contestants aren't allowed items that expose them to the outside world. The showrunners want participants to feel the heat, so they enforce a sense of isolation. Contestants are also banned from using personal electronic devices like cell phones and laptops during the filming period. "It is just you by yourself in LA in this pit of fire," recalled Levin.

"Hell's Kitchen" thrives on high-stakes drama, and it's no surprise that contestants have to abide by rules designed to test their mental fortitude. It's an approach that's clearly worked, considering the series is still one of the best food shows around more than two decades since it first aired. Over the years, contestants have shared more details about how the behind-the-scenes setup ensures the show lives up to its name.

Two-time contestant Dana Cohen has previously remarked that everyone has a microphone on 24/7 and that it wasn't unheard of for showrunners to replace microphone batteries on sleeping contestants. She also claimed the cameras were inescapable and that even running to the bathroom wouldn't save you from their glare. Others have noted how the dormitory-style accommodation and strict contraband list were reminiscent of being in prison. "I watch a lot of those 'Lockup,' 'Lockdown,' jail shows, and I don't want to say it's the same, but they pretty much take everything from you," Season 10's Justin Antiorio told NorthJersey.com.

However, as we've seen from the rare times Gordon Ramsay was nice to contestants, the show isn't trying to push folks too far. When a contestant is eliminated, they're evaluated by a psychiatrist and given a chance to unwind. "They send you to this beautiful house where you can get anything you want: back rubs, nails done, haircut," a source told the New York Post. "It is kind of like decompression before you go back into society."