Mario Batali, once the culinary industry’s golden boy, his fame resting on the shoulders of his boisterous flambé. Serious allegations of sexual misconduct have ended his career with little to no controversy. Accusations from multiple women have prompted a series of legal and professional repercussions, marking a dramatic downfall for the chef known for his contributions to Italian cuisine and his role on the television show “The Chew.”
In 2017, four women alleged that Batali had groped them. Courtesy photo As a result, he drew back from his restaurant enterprise and the daily grind of “The Chew.” He resigned from his position, only to be hit with allegations of sexual assault from many other women. New York City Police Department via Wikimedia Commons In 2018, the New York City Police Department finally acknowledged that it had opened criminal investigations. This was a result of the growing sexual assault claims against him.
One of these allegations was famously profiled on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” exposing national audiences to the claims made against Batali. In reaction to the growing outrage, ABC responded rather quickly by firing Batali from “The Chew.” These consequences compounded, and the show was eventually canceled in June 2018. By 2019, he had liquidated his restaurant interests, thus cutting off return to a choice made decades before.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Batali maintained his innocence, stating, “I vehemently deny any allegations of sexual assault. My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions.” He acknowledged that his behavior was wrong and took full responsibility, saying, “My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses.”
Batali was acquitted of indecent assault and battery in 2022 over a 2017 incident in Boston. This legal victory occurred against a backdrop of unyielding public scrutiny and ongoing debates about his previous actions. Many in the culinary world have taken to the Twitterverse to share their anger over his actions.
One emerging culinary star was Giada De Laurentiis – she famously pursued Batali’s blessing and quote on the cover of her debut cookbook, “Everyday Italian.” In a recent interview, De Laurentiis reflected on her relationship with Batali and the impact of his actions on her career. She remembered how important Batali’s participation seemed at the time.
“I remember from my first cookbook, ‘Everyday Italian,’ asking Mario Batali for a foreword. Because he’s really the main guy I had worked with, he’s a legend in the Italian space. Of course we know what happened afterwards, but in that time, he was. And I felt like his stamp of approval would have been huge for me.” – Giada De Laurentiis
De Laurentiis continued to explain her emotional reaction to reading Batali’s foreword which she said brought her to tears. To her, his comments felt like a condemnation of all of her hard work and success. He suggested that her success was due largely to her appearance and not her abilities.
“And when I read it, I cried, because I realized, ah, he’s basically saying that I’ve gotten to where I’ve gotten and had this little bit of success that I had because I have big boobs,” she recounted. “That’s basically what a lot of people figured. Cute girl with big boobs, and so that’s why they’re watching her. And that’s why she’s successful.” – Giada De Laurentiis
Given this context, it is understandable that De Laurentiis would feel conflicted about using Batali’s foreword for her book.
“I was like, ‘Clearly I can’t use this, so now what do I do?’” – Giada De Laurentiis
While Batali’s behavior no doubt ruined his life and career, that had nothing to do with his actions. They have sparked wider discussions around sexism and inappropriate behavior within the culinary field. His legacy as a great American chef is quickly being eclipsed by the might, misdirection and menace of the allegations that have recently surfaced.
