/bs/ - backstory

The video is titled The Depressing Downfall Of Rate My Takeaway and comes from a guy named Phat Memer (a total badass when it comes to internet drama documentaries).

It’s a well crafted recap of the rise and nosedive of the British food review channel *Rate My Takeaway* (RMT), fronted by Danny Malin, a charismatic, chubby guy from Yorkshire.

The guy starts by explaining how Danny was a butcher from Leeds who went viral during COVID (2020) with a silly video mocking people who were panic buying toilet paper.

Then he met a guy who ran a “Rate My Takeaway” Facebook page (which just featured food photos) and made him an offer: “Tell you what, I’ll buy you a kebab; you eat it and rate it.”

Danny being a Yorkshireman and a junk food lover said, “Fuck yeah!”

They posted their first video on YouTube in November 2020 (a 5,000 calorie “munchie box”), and BANG, it blew up: the first three videos racked up 9 million views. The format was simple and addictive: Danny sitting outside the shop with his camping chair and folding table, sporting a thick Yorkshire accent and the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning, just rating takeout food.

Then came the personal tragedy: in February 2021, his long term partner, Carrie, died of a heart attack. Danny fell apart mentally, but the channel helped pull him through; the fame and public support gave him a focus for the sake of his kids.

The channel grew to over 700,000 subscribers and more than 125 million views. They toured the US (New York, Vegas, LA), Danny became a silent partner in a burger joint, and they even opened the *Rate My Takeaway Kitchen* (a food court in Huddersfield).

But in 2024, Danny suffered two strokes in two weeks (blood clots in the brain) and nearly kicked the bucket. Even so, he kept working. The real drama kicked off in 2025: allegations of paid reviews within the British food YouTuber scene (specifically targeting the "Food Review Club" run by a guy named Matt, who apparently charged £750–£1,500 per visit). Danny stepped up to defend ethical standards ("I’ve never charged for a rating"), a back and forth ensued, and the atmosphere turned toxic.

The climax: behind the scenes, Danny claimed that the cameraman (Tom) and the editor (Josh) controlled *everything*—, ccount access, money, and decision making. He was merely "the face and the character."

He had signed a management contract while sedated on antidepressants following Carrie’s death. In September 2025 (after an argument that allegedly nearly turned physical), he quit. Within hours, he was locked out of the email account, the bank account was emptied and split (he received his 33% share), and the channel’s van, which he claimed to co-own was hidden from him.

The final RMT video dropped in late August 2025. "The Kitchen" closed in November 2025. Danny moved on to his own channels (*Mr and Mrs Yorkshire* with his new wife Sophie, followed by *Danny vs Food* and collaborations with Gary Eats).

The Phat Memer video tells the story using clips and a timeline, capturing a mood of "what a damn shame, going from takeaway hero to business drama."