Charity said homlessness is not entertainment
An infamous Glasgow TikTok food reviewer has been criticised for being “tone deaf” and insentitive after reviewing food in a charity’s homeless shelter.
Govan-resident Tracy Cahill has gained notoriety for her critiques of fast-food eateries, restaurants and takeaways – summarising them to her 45,000 followers with patter such as "10 out of 10 banging" or "10 out of 10 stinking".
However many think her latest take video was on step too far as she visited Glasgow Homeless Project, eating food from a container with a plastic fork, saying: "This is 10/10 banging here and we are in the homeless place getting scran."
Bosses at the project reacted after the video was downloaded onto Cahill’s TikTok account, saying it was exploitative.
A spokesperson said: “Our services exist to provide dignity, warmth, and a hot meal to those in genuine need often people who have gone days without food or shelter.
"They are not here to be used as backdrops for online content or personal publicity. We find it deeply disappointing when anyone treats the reality of homelessness as entertainment.
"Every meal served at our shelter is prepared by volunteers and funded entirely by donations from the public.
"These meals are intended for individuals experiencing real hardship. Using them for self-promotion not only disrespects the people we serve, but undermines the purpose of our work.
"We urge members of the public to respect these spaces, the volunteers who keep them running, and most importantly, the dignity of those who rely on them.
"Homelessness is not a trend, it is a serious crisis that demands compassion, not exploitation.”
TikToker Chloe Walker, posted an angry response in which she said: “She has walked into a soup kitchen and thought she was funny taking food from people who haven’t had a hot meal in days.
"I don’t know how you can take a meal from someone in need."
Another TikToker, Shawbag, also weighed in: “You have gone into a space for vulnerable people that is supposed to be safe. This is food being given to folk with nothing and you are treating like content.”
Responding, Cahill defended her actions in a follow-up TikTok video saying she had been homeless for five years previously.
She claims also to have donated to the charity, despite saying the video she ate for free.
She said: "I went with my sister who is homeless and stays in a homeless centre. I sat with her and had food but I donated money because I am a TikToker and people know me.
"Take some time out of your lives from criticising people. All because I’m a big TikToker you are criticising me.
"I have had to do a lot of homeless stuff. That’s why I started TikTok - to make a wee bit of money and make a better life for me. So, me sitting and having some food with the homeless in a shelter is not disgusting and I’m not mocking them.”
