A convicted murderer has gone viral after starting his own TikTok cooking show while serving time in prison using preserved ingredients and a DIY hot plate he created.
Jeron Combs, from Paramount, California, is serving 70 years in prison for first-degree murder and attempted murder. He has been locked up behind bars since he was 18.
Now, Combs records himself cooking up different meals while inside his jail cell and shares the step-by-step clips on his TikTok account @blockboyjmomey.
Combs makes his meals from scratch using pre-packaged food items and a DIY grilling device which he created with a hot plate from a broken oven that is placed underneath his metal bed.
In the TikTok videos, Combs has grilled burritos and made cake layers complete with icing and sprinkles.
The inmate said that he started making his own dishes as an alternative to the food that is being offered in prison. He explained that he believed the food he makes is a lot better than the meals being served to him.
“I decided to cook because it’s better than what they feed us,” Combs told the Daily Mail. “We get food packages from the canteen, so we can order packaged food in.”
“I broke a hot pot down and took the plate out of it and sanded my bunk down to the metal to cook from it,” he explained. “I cook Burritos, tacos, quesadillas, rice bowls, stir fry, burgers, tostadas, and bacon, but burritos are my favorite because I been cooking them for so long.”
“I make food for my cellmate and some friends at times for special occasions,” Combs added. “I have a passion for cooking. I have been in jail since 18 and this is where I learned all my cooking from.”
“I make the best of all the ingredients that I have, and if I don’t have what I need I just get it from a friend, and we compile all our food together and make it work,” he said. “At first I decided to post the video on TikTok for fun, but I never thought the whole world would see it.”
Combs hoped that through his cooking channel on TikTok, people can see what life really is like in jail and that it is not truly what has been portrayed in movies and TV shows.
“I don’t want people to look down on us because of the mistakes we made and see that jail is a different place for some people,” Combs said.
“Some people think that it’s all about violence and what they hear or see on TV, but it’s so much more to what people don’t see. I want to be able to enlighten them on what’s going on behind these walls.”
As of this writing, Comb’s videos have racked up millions of views, with the viewers left in shock at the inmate’s ability to make different meals despite the limited equipment and ingredients.
“That grilling spot is clean too!” one follower commented. “You’ll take care of your stuff. Respect.”
“You could be a chef,” another one added. “Your ability to adapt is inspiring.”
“Can’t wait to see what you guys cook next!” another follower commented. “Honestly this helps me when I’m feeling down.”