Mario Batali Temporary Leaves ‘The Chew’ Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
Celebrity chef and The Chew co-host Mario Batali is the latest high profile television personality to be accused of sexual assault allegations.
The founding member of the ABC's culinary talk show has been advised to temporarily step down from his commitments to the Emmy-winning daytime series. Batali stepped down after a report, that the Food Network veteran has sexually assaulted several women, was published on the Eater New York website.
"We have asked Mario Batali to step away from The Chew while we review the allegations that have just come to our attention," ABC stated in a statement. "ABC takes matters like this very seriously as we are committed to a safe work environment."
The ABC Television Network also added that while it does not know about any additional harassment involving Batali or any other employee associated with The Chew, the network stated that it would quickly and efficiently deal with any harassment matter.
Batali Apologizes To Victims
The Iron Chef issued an apology statement to Eater New York, and the comment was directed towards his alleged victims.
"Although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stores have not been revealed to me, much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted," wrote Batali. "That behavior was wrong, and there are no excuses."
Batali also apologized to his family, friends, employees, and customers and asked them for forgiveness regarding his actions.
"We built these restaurants so that our guests could have fun and indulge, but I took that too far in my own behavior," Batali wrote. "I want any place I am associated with to feel comfortable and safe for the people who work or dine there."
Batali Temporary Leaves Batali And Bastianich
A spokesperson for Batali's culinary company, Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group, has stated that Batali agreed to step away from the day-to-day business operations.
"We take these allegations very seriously," said a Batali and Bastianich representative. "We have strong policies and practices in place that address sexual harassment. We train employees in these policies, and we enforce them, up to and including termination."
Fall From Grace
Batali began his celebrity culinary career when he first joined the Food Network in 1995. His first show, Molto Mario, aired on the culinary cable network from 1996 to 2004. Batali was also an original Iron Chef on the fan-favorite culinary competition show, Iron Chef America. Batali retired from the series at the end of the sixth season.
For the past six years, Batali reached a broader audience as a part of The Chew's Emmy-nominated on-air team. The original line-up of Batali, Carla Hall, Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly, and Daphne Oz, won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host in 2015.
Batali is the second high profile celebrity to leave his positions regarding sexual assault allegations following Russell Simmons, who left his own companies following the revelation of alleged allegations.
