Mario Batali Leaves "The Chew" Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

[JamesG]

Mario Batali Steps Off ABC’s "The Chew" Following Sexual Harassment Allegations
by Greg Evans
December 11, 2017


Restaurateur Mario Batali is stepping down from both his company and ABC’s "The Chew" for an indefinite period, the result of a lengthy expose on foodie blog Eater New York that accuses the famous chef of sexual harassment of four women.

“We have asked Mario Batali to step away from The Chew while we review the allegations that have just recently come to our attention,” a spokeswoman for ABC said in a statement.

“ABC takes matters like this very seriously as we are committed to a safe work environment. While we are unaware of any type of inappropriate behavior involving him and anyone affiliated with the show, we will swiftly address any alleged violations of our standards of conduct.”





The Eater article accuses the celebrity chef of “inappropriate touching” over “at least two decades.”

“Three of the women worked for Batali in some capacity during their careers,” the article states. “One former employee alleges that over the course of two years, he repeatedly grabbed her from behind and held her tightly against his body. Another former employee alleges that he groped her and that, in a separate incident, he compelled her to straddle him; another alleges that he grabbed her breasts at a party, though she no longer worked for him at the time.”







Batali told the website:

I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt. Although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stories have not been revealed to me, much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted. That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility and am deeply sorry for any pain, humiliation or discomfort I have caused to my peers, employees, customers, friends and family.

I have work to do to try to regain the trust of those I have hurt and disappointed. For this reason, I am going to step away from day-to-day operations of my businesses. We built these restaurants so that our guests could have fun and indulge, but I took that too far in my own behavior. I won’t make that mistake again. I want any place I am associated with to feel comfortable and safe for the people who work or dine there.

I know my actions have disappointed many people. The successes I have enjoyed are owned by everyone on my team. The failures are mine alone. To the people who have been at my side during this time — my family, my partners, my employees, my friends, my fans — I am grateful for your support and hopeful that I can regain your respect and trust. I will spend the next period of time trying to do that.

http://deadline.com/2017/12/mario-ba...ns-1202224130/

[tlc38tlc38]

I guess he stuck his crocs in his mouth this time. Lol I never have liked this guy.

[MA]

I hope he will still do what he likes which is cooking.

[Ryan Chamberlain]

Cancel the Chew and bring back All My Children!!!

[JamesG]

Disgraced Chef Mario Batali Apologizes with Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls
by Greg Evans
December 16, 2017


Mario Batali, fired this week from ABC’s "The Chew" after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, apologized to fans and followers of his email subscriber list yesterday, blasting out a “no excuses” statement that, bizarrely concluded with a recipe for a “holiday-inspired breakfast”: Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls.

As many of you know, this week there has been some news coverage about some of my past behavior. I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team. My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.

Sharing the joys of Italian food, tradition and hospitality with all of you, each week, is an honor and privilege. Without the support of all of you – my fans – I would never have a forum in which to expound on this. I will work every day to regain your respect and trust. – mb

ps. in case you’re searching for a holiday-inspired breakfast, these Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls are a fan favorite.

His tip did not win over the masses, with many taking to Twitter to slam him for including the recipe.

One Twitter user wrote, “‘Sorry for being a serial sexual predator. Here’s a recipe for cinnamon rolls.’ You can’t make this s—t up.”

Another tweeted, “You know @MarioBatali is very serious about changing his behavior because he included a recipe for pizza dough cinnamon rolls along with his apology for sexually assaulting women.”

Whitney Cummings also tweeted, “Mario Batali ‘apologized’ for sexually harassing women then provided a cinnamon roll recipe. ‘Women, sorry I degraded you, now get back in the kitchen and cook bitch,’” before quipping, “If you make the cinnamon rolls Mario Batali included in his “apology”, I am interested in making a documentary about you.”

http://deadline.com/2017/12/mario-ba...il-1202228608/

[JamesG]

Mario Batali's Company To Cut all Ties with him After Allegations Lead to Police Investigation
by Sonia Moghe, CNN
May 22, 2018


Mario Batali's own restaurant group has decided to end its partnership with him, after allegations of sexual misconduct against the celebrity chef led to a police investigation.

Women who worked at restaurants associated with Batali told CNN that inappropriate behavior was commonplace.



Anderson Cooper, reporting for CBS's "60 Minutes", first sat down with several of the women in a segment that aired on Sunday.

The NYPD confirmed to CNN that it "is investigating allegations raised in the '60 Minutes' report." Investigators have spoken with about a half dozen women, an NYPD source says.



One accuser told CNN that authorities questioned her in February, indicating that an investigation has been going on for months.

Batali released a statement to CNN later Monday: "I vehemently deny any allegations of sexual assault. My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions."







A spokeswoman with the Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group, in which Batali is part owner, told CNN in a written statement that the company has been "actively negotiating with Mr. Batali to buy his interests in the restaurants."

The group said it hopes to reach an agreement by July 1. The group's restaurants include Babbo, OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria and La Sirena.



The company said it has taken steps in the last six months to separate Batali from the business, and he was removed from operations starting in December.

"We have worked for years with Mr. Batali to bring true, innovative, Italian cuisine to our guests," the statement read. "He has been our partner and our close friend, but the actions he has acknowledged require us to separate wholly so that we reinforce our core values for our employees and our guests."

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/21/celeb...ali/index.html