Food influencer Ertan Bek, known online as NewYorkTurk, is receiving support from the restaurant community he has spent years supporting after health problems affected his ability to work and create content.
Bek has described ongoing health problems and pain in posts about his condition. He has said his health problems have affected his ability to work consistently and produce videos.
Now, restaurants and members of the community he previously supported are rallying around him.
A GoFundMe campaign organised by Plaka Restaurant was launched on 21 September to help Bek with hospital care, ongoing treatment and critical living expenses. Bek later thanked the restaurant for starting the fundraiser, while the campaign highlights his history of using his platform to support others.
The response highlights the community Bek has built through his food platform.
The Community Bek Helped Is Giving Back
Bek's approach to food content has gone beyond conventional restaurant reviews. He has used his platform to bring attention to businesses that were struggling, helping introduce them to a wider audience.
That history has become particularly significant as restaurants and supporters now come together to help him during his own difficult period.
Plaka Restaurant organised the GoFundMe campaign, with Bek later thanking the restaurant family for starting the fundraising effort. The campaign says donations will help cover hospital care, ongoing treatment and critical living expenses as Bek deals with health problems that have affected his ability to work.
One supporter highlighted the irony of Bek now needing assistance after previously helping restaurant owners through his platform.
'There's an irony here... Let us help you, Ertan!'
Bek has expressed gratitude for the assistance and said he hopes to return to creating content.
Health Problems Have Affected His Work
While the food community focuses on supporting Bek, he continues to seek answers about his condition.
Bek has said he is still seeking answers about his condition. His health problems have made it difficult for him to maintain his usual work and content creation.
The cost of hospital visits, doctors' bills and ongoing treatment has added to the financial pressure. The Plaka fundraiser identifies these expenses among the costs supporters hope to help cover as Bek deals with health problems that have affected his ability to work.
A separate GoFundMe campaign organised by Clinton Bang also identifies housing and daily living expenses among the costs supporters hope to help Bek with. The campaign is separate from the fundraiser organised by Plaka Restaurant.
For Bek, finding answers remains important as he hopes to regain his strength and eventually return to creating videos.
The response has placed Bek on the receiving end of the support he has previously offered to businesses. For years, he used his platform to draw attention to businesses that needed support and introduce them to his audience.
For Bek, the community he helped build around food has become a source of support while he works towards recovery, giving him encouragement as he navigates an uncertain period and continues searching for answers.
His story also highlights how relationships built through online platforms can extend beyond content, creating lasting connections between creators, businesses and their audiences.
