Chef Geoff Cole, a rising star in the culinary world, set off a firestorm online last month after posting a video that appeared to show rapper Troy Ave fending off a would-be attacker. The dramatic footage, shared to Cole’s social media, showed the pair stepping out of a vehicle late at night as a lone figure emerged from the shadows.
Cole praised Troy Ave for what he described as a life-saving intervention. According to the chef, the rapper responded to the threat by pulling a gun and firing several shots at the approaching individual. The video was followed by a lengthy caption in which Cole connected the encounter to his recent success. “I came home after celebrating the success of a sold-out Chef Fest with love & support from all over the West Coast! And a hater from the SAME CITY tried to take it all away! This is the second time but it WON’T be a third! Shoutout to my BROTHER Ave for holding it down in a situation where most would have RUN or FOLDED 💪🏽‼️.”
Resilience or ruse? Doubts cloud the chef’s story
Doubling down on his message, Cole positioned himself as a public figure committed to uplifting others despite local hostility. “I’ll never let the hate stop me from showing LOVE! I’m going to keep giving artists OPPORTUNITIES & PLATFORMS, and I’m taking this SHOW ON THE ROAD‼️,” he wrote, drawing support from fans and fellow creatives alike.
But within days, the story began to fall apart. TMZ reported that sources close to both Cole and Troy Ave had confirmed the incident never happened. A statement from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said there was no evidence of a robbery or shooting, and the case had been deemed “not substantiated.”
As questions mounted, Troy Ave distanced himself from Cole’s version of events, claiming he had no knowledge of the chef’s public statements. Still, insiders familiar with the situation suggested the two may have collaborated on the stunt, leaving followers questioning the motives behind the viral moment—and its fallout.
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