One contestant claimed ‘everybody was scared.’

Former contestants of the popular cooking reality TV competition series Hell’s Kitchen recalled their experiences on the show in a new docuseries—including some strong accusations about host Gordon Ramsay‘s behavior.

In Vice TV’s Dark Side of Reality TV series, which airs an episode all about Hell’s Kitchen on Oct. 8, contestants on the show’s past seasons, including a couple of past winners, recalled a challenging environment.

In an exclusive preview clip shared with People, Elsie Ramos, who finished fourth in the show’s 2005 debut season, described the tense atmosphere, claiming, “Everybody was scared. Let’s just put it that way,” before calling Ramsay a “fiery bully.”

Another past contestant, Tek Moore, equated Ramsay’s behavior with that of chefs in general, declaring, “Chefs know how to verbally disembowel people.”

Michael Wray, who won the first season, seemed to think similarly, noting that contestants who didn’t have a lot of experience in a kitchen before going on the show “took it personal.”

He added, “Gordon, he told me, ‘You never tell your employees that they’re doing a good job. The instant you tell them that is when they stop trying.'”

Another season winner, Ariel Malone, appeared the see the intense attitude from Ramsay as constructive, saying in the docuseries, “When you’re in karate class, is your sansei a bully or is he your teacher? It’s the same thing.”

The 23rd season of Hell’s Kitchen just started, and some fans feel like Ramsay has gotten nicer over the years. In response to a new clip showing the celebrity chef criticizing a contestant’s cooked salmon, one fan wrote, “These contestants are so lucky they’re getting 2024 Gordon. Because boy 2014 Gordon would not have been so nice loll.”

Another joked in the replies, “hahaa 2005 gordon would of eaten them alive haha.”

In a 2009 interview with Bon Appétit, Ramsay said of the kitchen atmosphere, “When you’re trying to get a full restaurant served with the quality of food they expect, the smallest issue can throw your whole system into a spin.”

“The customers don’t need to know about what it takes to ensure they have a great experience, so you just get on with it, and the pressure builds and builds,” he concluded.

Ramsay has not publicly responded to The Dark Side of Reality TV and former contestants’ comments, and fans can catch the full episode on Vice TV on Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. EST.