Mario Batali Fired From The Chew Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
The famous chef has been canned from his role on the talk show.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, 2017, a spokesperson for ABC posted a message on The Chew's Facebook announcing the firing of Mario Batali, who'd co-hosted the show since 2011. "Upon completing its review into the allegations made against Mario Batali, ABC has terminated its relationship with him and he will no longer appear on 'The Chew,'" the post read.
The statement continued, "While we remain unaware of any type of inappropriate behavior involving him and anyone affiliated with our show, ABC takes matters like this very seriously as we are committed to a safe work environment and his past behavior violates our standards of conduct."
As Nicki Swift previously reported, Batali was accused of sexual harassment by three women in an exposé published by New York Eater. The women claimed that Batali had inappropriately touched them, groping their breasts or holding them "tightly against his body."
A fourth woman, actress Siobhan Thompson, later came forward with her own story, alleging that Batali had "inappropriately touched her breasts" when she worked as a hostess for his New York City restaurant Del Posto (via CBS This Morning).
In response to the original New York Eater article, Batali released a statement, admitting that the allegations "match up" with his previous behavior. "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," he shared. "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."
At the time, he also announced that he would be stepping away from "day-to-day operations of my businesses."
Following the sexual misconduct allegations, ABC revealed that Batali had been asked to leave The Chew while they investigated the claims. "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 spokesperson told E! News. "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."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Batali has been accused by a total of eight women as of the morning of Dec. 15.
While we wait to see how Batali reacts to his termination from The Chew, read up on the double life of the once-popular chef.