Former Arsenal Staff Member Bernice Kariuki Opens Up About Difficult Relationship With Striker Alexandre Lacazette

Former Arsenal chef Bernice Kariuki has explained why she never enjoyed being around French footballer Alexandre Armand Lacazette during her time at the north London club.

Bernice Kariuki served as the private chef for the Arsenal Football Club first-team players for two years. She joined the English Premier League club in mid-2021 and concluded her tenure in mid-2023, announcing her resignation following Arsenal's final match of the 2022/2023 season.

During her time at Arsenal, Bernice Kariuki was based at the London Colney training ground, where she cooked exclusively for the first-team players, the management team, and members of the technical bench.

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Alexandre Lacazette spent five years at Arsenal, joining the club in July 2017 and departing upon the expiry of his contract in June 2022. During her time at the club, Bernice Kariuki interacted with him and later revealed that he was among the players who treated her poorly.

Bernice Kariuki spoke candidly about her experience with Alexandre Lacazette, saying she had a particularly difficult relationship with him during her time at Arsenal.

She explained that he often came across as dismissive and distant, noting that he never once greeted her. Kariuki added that despite her efforts to remain professional, there was no sense of connection between them.

She admitted that she chose not to dwell on his attitude, instead matching the level of respect and energy he showed her, emphasising that she believes in treating people exactly as they treat her.

“I never liked the guy. He was so not in a bad way. Have you seen a black person who is a racist? Yes, there is. Because they're married to white people and they think they're better than you. And yes, of course, they are better than you because they are footballers,” Bernice Kariuki said on the Dr Ofweneke TV.

“There's not a single day that guy said good morning to me. And I didn't hide. I used to say when I'm doing an omelette, ‘What do you want?’ There's no chemistry. He never complained about it, either.

“And I didn't give a f**k about it because if you don't acknowledge me as a person, I'm not going to beg you or kneel. I'll give you the same energy, and this is what I do in life. The energy you give me is the same energy I'll give back.”

Kariuki stated that she always strived to perform her job to the best of her ability, ensuring that those she served enjoyed the results of her work.

However, she emphasised that she would not go out of her way to placate or ‘worship’ anyone, describing herself as unwilling to be a people-pleaser.

Bernice Kariuki added that, in contrast, many of her colleagues at the training camp were respectful and treated others well.

“I will do my best in my job to the best. I will cook whatever you like, and I will see you eating spoon by spoon, fork by spoke, and I know you will enjoy it because then there's nothing left on the plate, but I will never give you that energy you want me to worship you,” she added.

“No, I will not do that. I'm that rebellious. I'm not a people pleaser. I will tell you in your face. And in the training camp, there are good people. Our brothers, all of them, they're good. They respect you as a person.”

Despite the challenges she faced with Lacazette, Bernice Kariuki remained steadfast in her professionalism.