Ghanaian chef Ebenezer Smith, known as Millennium Chef Smith, recently faced a major scandal after being exposed for falsifying a Guinness World Record in a cooking marathon. In an emotional interview with GHOne TV on Sunday, Smith expressed deep remorse, stating he feels he “does not deserve to live” due to his disgraceful actions.
Smith was detained at La Police Station following the revelation that the Guinness World Record certificate he presented at a press conference was fraudulent. He had claimed to have completed an 820-hour and 25-minute cooking marathon, from February 1 to March 6, 2024, but this was debunked by Alina Polianskaya, a Public Relations Executive for Guinness World Records (GWR), who confirmed to the BBC that the certificate was fake.
Polianskaya clarified, “He does not hold the GWR title, and that is not our certificate. The current record holder is Alan Fisher from Ireland, with a cooking marathon of 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds, achieved in Japan from September 28 to October 3, 2023.”
Reflecting on his actions, Smith expressed profound disappointment in himself, apologizing to the people of Ghana and his supporters worldwide. He explained that his desperation for a stable career in the culinary industry led him to this deceitful act. “I’ve worked in various hotels and restaurants, and nothing seemed to be working out. I wanted a platform to showcase my skills and secure a permanent position in the culinary world,” he said.
Smith admitted that he had not filed a genuine application with GWR and had instead used another individual’s application reference. He explained that his actions were illogical and driven by his desire to succeed. Smith revealed he had no permission from the owner of the application reference he used and acknowledged the deceit towards his sponsors.
When asked about his message to those he misled, Smith expressed profound regret and said, “I feel like at this point in time, I give my life out to them to do to me as they wish. I don’t even deserve to live because it’s too much for me to bear.”
The chef’s candid confession highlights the pressures and challenges faced by individuals seeking recognition and success in their fields, often leading to desperate and regrettable actions.
