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Anne Burrell died by suicide, according to the New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The chief medical examiner listed the cause of death as “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine” (per the New York Times).

Burrell, a former restaurant chef who hosted the Food Network‘s “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and co-hosted “Worst Cooks in America,” was discovered unconscious and unresponsive in her Brooklyn home on June 17. Authorities pronounced her dead at the scene. She was 55.

Beginning on Food Network on “Iron Chef,” Burrell served as sous-chef to Mario Batali from the show’s beginning in 2005. She competed on “The Next Iron Chef Super Chefs” and was a contestant on “Chopped All-Stars Tournament.” Her first headlining act came in 2010 as a co-host and mentor on the first season of the network’s “Worst Cooks in America,” which she led for 27 of its 28 seasons.

Celebrity chef Anne Burrell’s cause of death is now known.

Burrell died by suicide, the New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirms to our sister site Deadline. The exact cause was acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.

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The chef and Food Network star died...

The Food Network has set a premiere date for the new season of Worst Cooks in America after Anne Burrell’s recent death. Burrell was found dead in her Brooklyn home on June 17 at the age of 55.

Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible will premiere on Monday, July 28 and will showcase “recruits who are professional performers and used to stealing the spotlight, but in the kitchen, they are dishing out disasters.” Burrell hosts the season alongside chef Gabe Bertaccini.

Grand Tasting Presented By ShopRite Featuring KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations Presented By | Bryan Bedder/GettyImages

Anne and Gabe will guide the chefs throughout the 29th season as the try to make restaurant classics, fan-favorites and international cuisines in the hopes of becoming the best of the worst. One person is eliminated during each episode until one contestant remains, who receives $25,000 and hopefully some improved skills in the kitchen.

Burrell hosted Worst Cooks in America for 27 seasons,...

Anne Burrell was never just another face on television—she was a whole vibe. That kind of outpouring energy, complete with wild spiky blond hair and a voice you could recognize across the room, made her fully unforgettable. To the loyal fans of Worst Cooks in America, she wasn’t just another TV chef—she was the heart and soul of the show.

So, when the world woke up to the news of her passing on June 17, 2025, at just 55, it didn’t feel real. Like someone had turned down the volume on the Food Network’s most vibrant and joyful presence.

She never really flaunted her lifestyle—no wild flexes, no glitzy headlines—but she’d been doing her thing for over 20 years. From reality show mainstays to bestselling cookbooks and everything in between, it’s no surprise people started asking the quiet question out loud: just how much did...

Anne Burrell, the Food Network chef found dead in her Brooklyn, home June 17 at age 55, was a TV star almost from the moment she first appeared as a sous chef on one of the first episodes of Iron Chef America in 2004, assisting Mario Batali. Her spiky hair and kitchen intensity fascinated viewers so much that she was eventually given her own cooking show, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. When I interviewed her for my 2013 book From Scratch: Inside the Food Network, Burrell told me about her difficult upbringing, and her childhood fantasy that Julia Child was her friend. She spoke of a family member who struggled with drinking. Restaurant work often attracts people looking for surrogate families. I remember her in better times at karaoke singing “Country roads/ take me home…” You could not look away. She gave everything her all, including, as you’ll see below in this excerpt adapted from my book,...

Food-Network staple Anne Burrell died early Tuesday, June 17, at her Brooklyn home; emergency crews pronounced her dead at the scene, and New York police say the cause is still under investigation.

She was 55. In a statement released through her representatives, Burrell’s family called her “a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother and friend—her smile lit up every room she entered”. A Food Network spokesperson praised her as “a remarkable person and culinary talent… always sharing the joy that a delicious meal can bring” and offered condolences to “family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss”.

Burrell, born in Cazenovia, N.Y., on Sept. 21 1969, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and later trained in Italy before returning to New York kitchens such as Lidia Bastianich’s Felidia and Savoy. Television viewers first met her in 2005 as Mario Batali’s sous-chef on Iron Chef America, a turn...

The culinary world is mourning a major loss as Food Network star Anne Burrell has passed away at the age of 55. Known for her spunky personality and platinum blonde spiky hair, Burrell was best known to fans for her abundance of appearances on the network, including co-hosting Worst Cooks in America. She died at her home in Brooklyn, New York on the morning of June 17th. A cause of death has not been announced as of publication.

Representatives for the celebrity chef announced her passing. "Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered," her family said in a statement. "Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal."

Burrell was a rock star on the network, always there when the call came in.

Anne Burrell, the popular former restaurant chef who hosted the Food Network’s “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and co-hosted “Worst Cooks in America,” died Tuesday in Brooklyn. She was 55.

“Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss,” the Food Network said in a statement.

A co-host of “Worst Cooks in America” from 2010 to 2024, she did not appear on the most recent season.

Burrell was one of the Iron Chefs, serving as sous-chef to Mario Batali from the show’s beginning in 2005, and went on to compete in “The Next Iron Chef Super Chefs.” The former chef at New York restaurants including Felidia, Savoy and Joseph Bastianich and Batali’s wine store Centro Vinoteca,...

Chef and TV personality Anne Burrell, whose many Food Network appearances included hosting Worst Cooks in America, has died at the age of 55.

Burrell died Tuesday at her Brooklyn home, her family confirmed in a statement to People: “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered. Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.” (No cause of death has been announced.)

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This week’s episode of The Simpsons found Homer palling around with a reality TV chef named Thad, played by prolific voice actor John Dimaggio. And come to think of it, Dimaggio does have some experience when it comes to voicing cartoon celebrity chefs.

Thad, the goateed host of Dude vs Food, has spiky bleached blond hair, a wardrobe full of horrifically garish T-shirts and frequently wears his sunglasses on the back of his head. In other words, he’s not exactly the most subtle parody of Guy Fieri.

Although, Fieri never passed out on the set of his own show looking like the world’s tackiest bloated corpse — that we know of.

“Stew Lies” isn’t a very flattering portrayal of Fieri/Thad. While Homer is a huge fan, others aren’t so sure about his brand of “performative gluttony.” And without spoiling too much, the host doesn’t...

Ever since August 2024, fans have gotten a chance to peek behind the curtain of entertainment PR. With Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni caught in a very public and messy legal drama following It Ends With Us, the audience found out more about what happens behind the scenes.

Words like astroturfing, smear campaigns, and crisis PR weren't terms regular people were familiar with if not working in the PR industry. Following the ongoing legal drama, which includes defamation, sexual harassment, and smear campaign claims, everyone got a peek at what publicists and PR specialists deal with. Everyone expects the legal drama to end up becoming a documentary at some point, and Netflix is one step ahead, winning a bid for a drama series about a PR crisis, Deadline reports.

The upcoming drama will star Lizzy Caplan as a crisis PR executive who "helps high-profile clients navigate the worst days of their...

Lizzy Caplan and A24’s new crisis PR drama series has landed at Netflix, TheWrap has learned.

After a competitive bidding situation, Netflix has acquired the rights to the untitled project, and the series is currently in development at the streamer, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.

Based on the viral New York Magazine article “Get Me Risa Heller!” the new series will star Caplan as New York’s premiere crisis PR fixer, who “helps high-profile clients navigate the worst days of their lives while striving to maintain her own image as a happily married mother of three without any crises of her own to hide,” per the official synopsis.

Halley Feiffer, who most recently served as showrunner for “American Horror Story: Delicate,” will write and showrun for the series, which is produced by A24. In “AHS: Delicate,” Kim Kardashian starred as PR maven Siobhan Corbyn, who carefully curated the...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, a drama starring Lizzy Caplan as a crisis PR executive has landed at Netflix for development, Deadline has learned. A rep for the streamer declined comment.

As Deadline previously reported, the untitled project, from American Horror Story: Delicate showrunner Halley Feiffer, A24, Caplan’s Westborn banner, Marti Noxon‘s Tiny Pyro Productions and Vox Media Studios, hit the marketplace last month amid the ongoing Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni legal drama that has put crisis PR in the spotlight. The timely project quickly drew five offers, including inquiries from Hulu, Netflix and Amazon.

The potential series is based on the New York Magazine article “Get Me Risa Heller!” by Shawn McCreesh. The article profiles crisis PR veteran Heller, who has worked with the likes of Jeff Zucker, Mario Batali, Anthony Weiner, Jared Kushner and Jeffrey Toobin.

Written by Feiffer, who will serve as showrunner,...

Exclusive: Crisis PR experts’ job is to be invisible fixers, staying behind the scenes while navigating their clients’ way out of a scandal. The Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni saga changed that, with crisis PR veteran Melissa Nathan front and center in the duo’s legal war. And now a timely drama about a fictional crisis PR executive played by Lizzy Caplan has hit the TV marketplace, sparking interest and landing five offers, with Hulu, Netflix and Amazon among those pursuing, I hear.

No one would comment but the untitled series, from American Horror Story: Delicate showrunner Halley Feiffer, A24, Caplan’s Westborn banner, Vox Media Studios and Marti Noxon’s Tiny Pyro Productions, is inspired by the New York Magazine article “Get Me Risa Heller!” by Shawn McCreesh, sources said. The article profiles another crisis PR veteran in Heller, who has worked with the likes of Jeff Zucker, Mario Batali, Anthony Weiner,...

Mario Batali is on the Food Bank For New York City's Board of Directors.

He is also on the Board of Governors of Love Our Children USA.

Charities & foundations supported

Mario Batali has supported the following charities:

City HarvestElizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS FoundationEmeril Lagasse FoundationFeeding AmericaFood Bank For New York CityKeep Memory AliveLove Our Children USAMario Batali FoundationPlastic Pollution Coalition(Red)Robin HoodTGR FoundationThe Hollywood CookbookThe Lunchbox FundUNICEFWildAid Read more about Mario Batali's charity work and events. Related articles The Hollywood Cookbook Launch PartyCelebrities Fuel Robin Hood Charity ExcessStars Dish Up Italian For Homeless CharitiesFor Mother's Day, Celebrities Cook For the CureBono Wants You To Clean Up For Charity

Feature your company alongside thousands of celebrities, charities & causes →

Copyright © 2025 Look To The Stars. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this via email or in your news reader, the site you are...

With undeniable classics like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead under its belt, AMC has established itself since the late 2000s as a singular voice in television production. AMC shows cover a wide swath of genres and styles, but it has developed a signature strategy of taking on unique properties that often push the boundaries of what's shown on TV. From solidifying the concept of "prestige" TV with acting heavyweights in Mad Men and Breaking Bad to unflinching genre fare like Moonhaven or Hell on Wheels, AMC has transformed itself from a classic films channel to a major voice in TV in less than two decades.

That's a rapid turn-around in the world of TV, but AMC has continuously reified its status as a destination for original programming throughout the 2000s, 2010s, and now 2020s with frequent attempts at launching new shows. Though its founding shows like Breaking Bad...

The Fund was founded in 2004, after a teacher noticed a group of students who had no food sitting where they didn’t have to watch the other students eat.

Since then the organization has helped to provide food to disadvantaged children in order to help them grow and achieve their goals.

Salman Rushdie and June Sarpong sit on the Advisory Board, while Mario Batali and Joaquin Phoenix sit on the Board of Directors.

Celebrity supporters

The Lunchbox Fund has 37 known supporters, including Elton John, Bill Clinton, and Sting

Areas of work PovertyAt-Risk/Disadvantaged YouthsHunger Read more about The Lunchbox Fund's work and celebrity supporters. Related articles Lunchbox Auction Will Help Feed Hungry ChildrenHave Lunch In Style With New Celebrity AuctionSalman Rushdie And Michael Stipe To Host Charity Book FairUnique Books By Sting, Tutu, Chopra And Others Up For Auction

Feature your company alongside thousands of celebrities, charities & causes →

Copyright © 2024 Look To The Stars.

Striving to end hunger in New York City.

City Harvest collects millions of pounds of excess food from restaurants, manufacturers, wholesalers, greenmarkets, hotels, corporate cafeterias, grocery stores and farms, and delivers it to more than 600 community food programs. Each week, City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.

Celebrity supporters

City Harvest has 17 known supporters, including Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas, and Mario Batali

Areas of work Hunger Read more about City Harvest's work and celebrity supporters. Related articles Photographers Focus On HungerIt's Zootopia Time Again!Dean Cain Spearheads Microsoft Charity Campaign50 Cent Joins Feeding America's Entertainment CouncilStars Step Up For New York Following Hurricane Sandy

Explore celebrities by social reach, cause, location, field and more with Insider Access →

Copyright © 2024 Look To The Stars. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this via email or in your news reader,...

Many celebrity chefs have come along throughout the years. Whether introduced to the public through their popular restaurants or best-selling cookbooks, celebrity chefs and their food build a positive reputation among eaters, leading them to more and more opportunities to teach, inspire, and cook for people worldwide.

Chef Profiles Navigation 1. Kimbal Musk – $500 Million 2. Gordon Ramsay – $220 Million 3. Jamie Oliver – $200 Million 4. Nobu Matsuhisa – $200 Million 5. Wolfgang Puck – $120 Million 6. Rachael Ray – $100 Million 7. Emeril Lagasse – $70 Million 8. Bobby Flay – $60 Million 9. Ina Garten – $60 Million 10. Guy Fieri – $50 Million 11. Jose Andres – $50 Million 12. Ree Drummond – $50 Million 13. Julia Child – $50 Million 14. Thomas Keller – $50 Million 15. Vikram Vij – $50 Million 16. Levi Roots – $45 Million 17. Marco Pierre White – $40 Million 18. Curtis Stone – $36 Million 19. Giada De Laurentiis – $30 Million 20. Rick Bayless – $30 Million 21. Mario Batali – $25 Million 22. Alice Waters – $20 Million 23. Charlie Ayers – $20 Million 24. Christopher Kimball – $20 Million 25. David Chang – $20 Million

Cooking isn’t always lucrative, but some have broken through the threshold to earn millions during their career.

These chefs are so rich...

The upcoming episode of the streaming cooking-based reality show ‘MasterChef India’ will see the three-time Michelin Star awardee, Chef Marco Pierre White gracing the show’s kitchen as a special guest judge. During the course of the episode, contestantNambieJessicaMarak willinglysurrendershersafetypowercard, a ticket to security in the competition, just for the opportunity topresentherdishtoChefMarco.

The competition will get intense asChefMarcotakes to the judges panel as a guest judge.

ChefMarcoPierre White is a Britishchef, restaurateur, and television personality. In 1995, aged 33, White became the first Britishchefto be awarded three Michelin stars. He has trained notable chefs such as Mario Batali, Heston Blumenthal, Shannon Bennett, Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone.

In the upcoming episode, home cooks are tasked with preparing adishusing only 250 ml of water in all of 90 minutes. For the initial 15 minutes, they won’t have access to gas or electricity. The subsequent 30 minutes will allow only electricity, followed by another 30 minutes with only gas.

The upcoming episode of the streaming cooking-based reality show ‘MasterChef India’ will see the three-time Michelin Star awardee, Chef Marco Pierre White gracing the show’s kitchen as a special guest judge. During the course of the episode, contestantNambieJessicaMarak willinglysurrendershersafetypowercard, a ticket to security in the competition, just for the opportunity topresentherdishtoChefMarco.

The competition will get intense asChefMarcotakes to the judges panel as a guest judge.

ChefMarcoPierre White is a Britishchef, restaurateur, and television personality. In 1995, aged 33, White became the first Britishchefto be awarded three Michelin stars. He has trained notable chefs such as Mario Batali, Heston Blumenthal, Shannon Bennett, Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone.

In the upcoming episode, home cooks are tasked with preparing adishusing only 250 ml of water in all of 90 minutes. For the initial 15 minutes, they won’t have access to gas or electricity. The subsequent 30 minutes will allow only electricity, followed by another 30 minutes with only gas.

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Unless otherwise noted, the accused denied some or all of the allegations against them.

2006 Tarana Burke

Activist Tarana Burke coins “Me Too” on MySpace.

2014

Oct. 17: Comedian Hannibal Buress’ riff about Bill Cosby resurfaces long-ignored rape accusations. An investigation of Cosby follows.

2016

July 21: Fox News chairman Roger Ailes is forced out amid allegations that he sexually harassed several women at the company.

Oct. 7: “When you’re a star, they let you do it” — The Washington Post publishes leaked Access Hollywood footage in which then-presidential candidate Donald Trump boasts of committing sexual assault.

2017 The Woman’s March of Jan. 21, 2017, set the stage for takedowns of alleged abusers like Matt Lauer.

Jan. 21: Millions of Americans take part in the Women’s March a day after President Trump’s inauguration.

March 19: Fox News ousts Bill O’Reilly following multiple harassment claims.

Oct. 5:...

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A woman who previously accused celebrity chef Mario Batali of sexual misconduct anonymously has gone on the record for the first time in an upcoming Discovery+ documentary.

In Batali: The Fall of a Superstar Chef, which premieres on the streaming platform Thursday, a former employee of one of Batali’s restaurants, Eva DeVirgilis, accuses Batali of sexually assaulting her in 2005 after taking her to a business he had invested in, The Spotted Pig. According to the documentary, DeVirgilis — a former hostess at West Village restaurant Babbo — previously told some of her story anonymously to Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes but has not told it on the record before.

The New York Times, which ran a story on DeVirgilis’ claims Wednesday, reported that DeVirgilis was one of more than 20 former employees at Batali and colleague Joe Bastianich’s restaurants who were awarded a 600,000 settlement...

Arcade Fire’s music will not play on some Canadian radio stations after frontman Win Butler was accused of sexual misconduct by four people.

On Tuesday (30 August), it was reported that at least three stations have decided not to play the indie rock band’s music amid allegations of “inappropriate” actions by Butler, 42, between 2015 and 2020.

A representative for CBC said the broadcaster will “pause” playing the Montreal-based Arcade Fire’s music on CBC Music FM radio station and the Sirius Xm channel CBC Radio “until we learn more about the situation”, as per Ottawa City News.

Meanwhile, Toronto’s Indie88 made “a quick decision over the weekend to pull the band’s music”, program director Ian March told the publication.

He added that the station has “not yet had a fulsome internal conversation about the permanence of this decision”, in his statement to the outlet.

The decision to stop playing...

Celebrity chef Mario Batali has agreed to settle lawsuits from two women stemming from separate claims of sexual assault in Boston, including one accusation that resulted in Batali being acquitted back in May.

“The matters have been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties,” attorneys Eric Baum and Matthew Fogelman, who represent Natalie Tene and Alexandra Brown said in a joint statement to media. “We cannot comment further due to confidentiality obligations.”

Batali’s attorney Anthony Fuller did not immediately return a request for comment.

Also Read:

Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels and Tracy Morgan Accused of Enabling Horatio Sanz in Amended Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Tene in 2017 accused Batali of groping her breasts, buttocks and crotch area at a Boston Eataly restaurant, a chain that Batali at one point partially owned, as she was trying to take a selfie. He was then formally charged with indecent assault and battery in 2019. In...

Famed former Food Network chef Mario Batali was acquitted on Tuesday after being accused of indecent assault and battery at a Boston restaurant in 2017. Judge James Stanton found Batali not guilty. If he had, he would have been classified as a registered sex offender and faced up to two and a half years behind bars. […]

The post Chef Mario Batali Found Not Guilty In Sexual Misconduct Case appeared first on uInterview.

The verdict is in for Mario Batali's sexual misconduct trial. On May 10, a Boston Municipal Court judge found Batali not guilty on a charge of indecent assault and battery, per a statement from District Attorney Kevin Hayden obtained by E! News. The verdict comes after Batali pleaded not guilty to a charge of allegedly kissing and groping a woman he took a selfie with at a restaurant in Boston in 2017. According to The New York Times, the judge said, "It's an understatement to say that Mr. Batali did not cover himself in glory on the night in question." However, he added that the accuser "has significant credibility issues." In his statement, Hayden noted that the Da's office...

Celebrity chef Mario Batali was found not guilty today on a charge of indecent assault and battery stemming from an alleged 2017 groping incident in a Boston bar. It was the first criminal charge for the former The Chew chef amid a number of sexual assault and harassment allegations.

Batali had waved his right to a jury trial in the case, accepting a judge’s decision instead. The judge determined that the celebrity chef’s accuser had credibility issues and found Batali not guilty. According to The New York Times the judge also made clear, however, that “It’s an understatement to say that Mr. Batali did not cover himself in glory on the night in question.”

At the time of the allegations, the celebrity chef apologized saying, “My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.”

Had he been found guilty, Batali faced two and a half years in jail.

Mario Batali has been cleared of charges that he groped a woman at a Boston bar in 2017, as a judge ruled on Tuesday that the celebrity chef is not guilty of indecent battery and assault.

Batali — the famed TV chef and restauranteur who fell from grace in 2017 following a series of sexual misconduct allegations — was on criminal trial this week in Boston with a woman who accused him of forcible kissing and groping. Batali was facing two and a half years in prison, if found guilty.

The quick trial spanned two days. Batali waived his right to a trial by jury, and he did not take the stand. Boston Municipal Court Judge James Stanton found Batali not guilty, citing credibility issues with the accuser, Natali Tene.

“It’s an understatement to say that Mr. Batali did not cover himself in glory on the night in question,” the judge said in his ruling,...

Former Food Network star Mario Batali was found not guilty of groping a woman at a Boston restaurant at his sexual misconduct trial Tuesday.

According to CNN, Judge James Stanton described Batali’s actions “not befitting of a public person of his stature” back in 2017, noting the accuser’s “significant credibility issues” that supported the defendant’s “contention that her motive was financial gain.”

Natali Tene, the 32-year-old woman who testified yesterday, said Batali’s behavior took place during her attempt to take a selfie at the restaurant in 2017.

In her testimony, Tene described what happened, saying she “felt confused and powerless to do anything to stop the celebrity chef.”

Anthony Fuller, Batali’s lawyer, said the assault did not happen, and said the accuser has financial incentive to lie about it. Fuller also detailed that the woman seeks more than 50,000 in damages in a separate suit against Batali that...

Exclusive: Iron Chef is back in the kitchen after Netflix cooked up a deal to bring back the classic food format.

The streamer has ordered Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, a reboot of the series that had a couple of incarnations in the U.S. including a Food Network series that featured the likes of Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Wolfgang Puck.

Netflix has had previous success rebooting linear formats – arguably its biggest non-scripted hit has been Queer Eye, which is based on the Bravo series.

The series, which is expected to be dished up later this year, is based on a Japanese format from Fuji Television Network. It has been handed an eight-episode order.

The culinary competition, considered one of the toughest gastronomic challenges that chefs can face, will feature five new Iron Chefs, who will welcome Challenger Chefs to the reimagined Kitchen Stadium, where they’ll...

Celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich have made a deal to pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees, following complaints about workplace culture. Batali (The Chew) and Bastianich (MasterChef) engaged in "unlawful sex discrimination and retaliation" at their restaurant companies, which violates state and city human rights laws, according to a July 23 press release from New York Attorney General Letitia James.  The chefs, their management company B&b Hospitality and their restaurants made an agreement with the Attorney General for allegedly fostering a "hostile work environment" at their restaurants in New York City, which...

Celebrity chef Mario Batali and his business partners have agreed to pay $600,000 to accusers in order to settle an investigation of sexual harassment claims stemming from 2017. The New York State Attorney General's office announced the agreement with Batali and his associates on Friday.

As a result of the four-year investigation, Batali -- along with his company B&b Hospitality and partner and restaurateur Joseph Bastianich -- must pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees. They must also revise training materials in all B&b restaurants and submit biannual reports to the office of the attorney general to certify compliance with the agreement.

The money will be divided among employees at restaurants that Batali owned until 2019, including Babbo, Lupa and the now-closed Del Posto. The announcement said the settlement is for "fostering a hostile work environment that permitted a sexualized culture of misconduct and harassment at their restaurants in New York City."

In...

Mario Batali, his former partner Joe Bastianich and the company they used to run together will pay $600,000 to at least 20 women and men who were sexually harassed while working at Batali and Bastianich’s Manhattan restaurants, The New York Times reports.

The settlement was announced Friday, July 23rd, by New York State attorney general Letitia James. It followed an investigation that was launched in 2017 after #MeToo allegations surfaced against Batali. Along digging into the claims against Batali, the investigation focused on the broader culture of harassment that flourished at Batali and Bastianich’s restaurants,...

Why did he do it? That’s the question that anyone who’s ever been touched by the hungry, life-force spirit of Anthony Bourdain will have at the top of his or her head going into “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.” Directed by the award-winning Morgan Neville, the documentary, which premiered tonight at the Tribeca Festival, is an intimate and fascinating portrait of the beloved celebrity chef and television globe-trotter. It is also, inevitably, a spiritual investigation into why his life ended. On June 8, 2018, Bourdain hung himself in his hotel room. Three years later, it’s still shocking to think that his name could be included in the same sentence with the word “suicide.”

We all know that suicide, too often, is a cruel mystery, that it has a way of mocking our need for “why.” (Bourdain was a brilliant writer who left no note.) We also know that...

GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke, the third hour of ABC’s Good Morning America, has been sidelined since mid-March and replaced with coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. There has been speculation that the segment has been canceled permanently and now co-host Keke Palmer has confirmed it won’t be returning.

Palmer talked about why she was not surprised that it had ended in an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Sunday night.

“Here’s the thing, when the pandemic hit, that’s what became all on our minds, was the pandemic, corona — understanding Covid. So I kind of knew that if our show did come back, it would have to be much, much, much later, because our show was really about an audience.”

ABC replaced the segment in March with “Pandemic: What You Need to Know,” a new health-focused series hosted by ABC News anchor Amy Robach,...

Samantha Bee marked the second anniversary of the #MeToo movement with a special “Food Day of Gratitude” meal — definitely not a Thanksgiving feast — on Full Frontal Wednesday. The segment featured an interview with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke, as well as a roundtable with various journalists and activists fighting on behalf of sexual assault.

While Burke began using the phrase “Me Too” to discuss sexual harassment and assault on social media in 2006, the hashtag took off in 2017 after the revelation of the numerous allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Two years later, Burke...

ABC has renamed Good Morning America’s third-hour show, “Strahan & Sara,” to “GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke,” the show’s hosts announced on Monday.

This is the third name change for the show, which first premiered last September as “Gma Day” as a replacement to “The Chew,” which was cancelled last year over sexual misconduct allegations against one of its hosts, Mario Batali, and a number of other problems. In January, “Gma Day” — hosted by Michael Strahan and Sara Haines –was rebranded as “Strahan & Sara.” And now, with this third new name, the actress Keke Palmer joins the hourlong daytime show as a co-host alongside Strahan and Haines.

Palmer had been hosting the show with Strahan over the summer as Haines was out on maternity leave, and the new name officially incorporates her into the show’s branding.

Also Read: Keke Palmer to Become Third Co-Host on 'Strahan and...

Keke Palmer made her debut Monday as co-host of the third hour of Good Morning America, joining Michael Strahan and Sara Haines. (See video below.)

The actress and TV personality, who is set to star with Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B in the September film release Hustlers, had already been taking a significant role on the ABC morning show in recent months. In July, she was reported to be near a deal to officially come aboard.

Palmer demonstrated chemistry in multiple appearances with the two current hosts of Strahan and Sara, including during Haines’ maternity leave. Palmer’s interview with Bella Thorne, in which Thorne described her complicated relationship with her mother, made news earlier this summer.

The block will now be renamed GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke.

Bringing the 25-year-old aboard is seen as a move aimed at widening the appeal of the show and potentially catching the interest of younger viewers.

Chef Mario Batali no longer holds a stake in Italian marketplace Eataly, a venue he once heavily promoted.

Chris Giglio, a spokesman for Eataly USA, told The Associated Press on Friday that the company has purchased Batali’s minority interest. Batali had no direct involvement with Eataly since December 2017, Giglio said.

The move is the latest career downturn for Batali, who stands accused of numerous counts of sexual misconduct.

Eataly USA has several locations, including one in Century City and a Manhattan outlet. Batali also has given up financial stakes in all of his restaurants.

The former The Chew star is facing a criminal assault charge over a 2017 incident in which he allegedly groped and forcibly kissed a woman at a restaurant in Boston. It marked the first criminal charge for the disgraced and once-popular chef amid a number of sexual assault and harassment allegations. Batali, who also appeared on Iron Chef America,...

Keke Palmer, an actress best known for her turn on Scream Queens, is closing in on a deal to join Michael Strahan and Sara Haines on ABC’s talk-show spinoff of Good Morning America, according to a source close to the show.

Palmer has demonstrated chemistry in multiple appearances with the two current hosts of Strahan and Sara. Bringing the 25-year-old aboard could widen the appeal of the show and potentially catch the interest of younger viewers.

The show started out as Gma Day, a replacement in 2018 for The Chew after that food-accented show left the airwaves due to the multiple sexual misconduct allegations against co-host Mario Batali.

The New York Post‘s Page Six, which had the first report of Palmer’s advanced discussions, noted she filled in for Haines during her maternity leave.

“She’s got tons of energy, she’s fun and super spontaneous,” the show source tells Deadline.

Keke Palmer is close to finalizing a deal to become the third co-host alongside Michael Strahan and Sara Haines on ABC’s hourlong daytime talk show “Strahan and Sara,” according to a person with knowledge of the negotiation.

The “Scream Queens” and “Akeelah and the Bee” star has become a frequent presence on the show, and was most recently seen on Monday’s episode. She turns 26 next month, and will likely help ratings by attracting younger viewers to the show alongside co-hosts Strahan, 47, and Haines, 41.

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This will be the latest rebrands for the talk show, which launched in September of 2018 as “Gma Day” but was changed to “Strahan and Sara” in January. No word yet on a new title for the show.

The afternoon program was originally intended to act as a third hour of “Good Morning America...

Updated, 8:10 Am: Celebrity chef Mario Batali pleaded not guilty Friday to an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from an alleged 2017 incident in Boston.

Batali was released on his own recognizance and was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim unless he is called for a deposition in her civil lawsuit against him.

Previous, May 23, 9:41 Am: Former The Chew star Mario Batali is facing a criminal assault charge over a 2017 incident in which he allegedly groped and forcibly kissed a woman at a restaurant in Boston. It marks the first criminal charge for the disgraced once-popular chef amid a number of sexual assault and harassment allegations. He will be arraigned Friday.

Batali, who also appeared on Iron Chef America, already has been sued in civil court over the incident, and Suffolk County Da Rachael Rollins said he now faces a charge of indecent assault and battery in the case.

Update: In a Boston courtroom today, Mario Batali pleaded not guilty to a charge that he allegedly kissed and groped a woman at a Boston restaurant in 2017. He was released without bail and is not required to appear at the next court hearing, which is scheduled for July 12. ______ A 28-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against Mario Batali on Wednesday and accused the 57-year-old celebrity chef of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress following the alleged sexual assault and violation of Massachusetts general law chapter 12 section 11I.  The lawsuit was brought forth by Natali Tene of Middlesex County, Mass. and is in regards to an incident that allegedly took...

5/24 9:30 Am Pt -- Batali appeared in court and pled not guilty. He was released on his own recognizance but ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victim. His next court date's in July, but he does not have to be there. Mario Batali allegedly forced himself on a woman in a Boston restaurant -- kissing and groping her without consent -- and now prosecutors are charging him. The disgraced...

Mario Batali, the celebrity chef who faced a #MeToo scandal in 2017, will be arraigned in Boston on Friday on a single count of indecent assault and battery, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed. Batali, 58, is accused of groping a female fan during a meet-and-greet two and a half years ago while she took a selfie.

Since 2017, Batali has faced multiple sexual misconduct charges spanning nearly two decades, with women accusing him of everything from unwanted touching to sexual harassment. After initial sexual misconduct allegations surfaced, Batali issued...

Mario Batali has been charged with indecent assault and battery based on an accusation that he groped and kissed a woman in a restaurant in Boston in 2017. The celebrity chef is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Friday, the office’s criminal case division tells TheWrap.

Batali’s accuser’s name, in this case, was redacted from court documents, but the account described matches one made by a Massachusetts woman who filed a civil lawsuit against Batali in August 2018, according to the Boston Globe.

“Mr. Batali denies the allegations in both this criminal complaint and the civil complaint filed last August,” Anthony Fuller, an attorney for Batali, said in a statement to TheWrap on Thursday. “The charges, brought by the same individual without any new basis, are without merit. He intends to fight the allegations vigorously and we expect the outcome to fully vindicate Mr. Batali.”

Also...

No Alec Baldwin Donald Trump impression in this week’s “SNL” cold open, but the show did trot out former “SNL” regular Jason Sudeikis to play former vice president Joe Biden.

The sketch saw Biden meeting with a “sensitivity consultant,” played by “SNL” cast member Kate McKinnon, who tried to teach Biden to not touch women so much when he greets them — basically, Biden was trying to learn how to be normal when meeting people.

Sudeikis as Biden tried to brush off the idea that he needed sensitivity training, but did express a willingness to try. “I’m a hugger, a kisser, and a little bit of a sniffer. The last thing I ever want to do is offend anyone,” Biden said.

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But when McKinnon came on stage as the consultant, Biden immediately...

It seems like Saturday Night Live wanted to take a break from Donald Trump fare in the cold open and decided to focus on the recent news of Joe Biden’s allegations of making women feel uncomfortable for being, well, too touchy-feely. This called for the return of SNL alum Jason Sudeikis as the former Vice President and possible 2020 presidential candidate.

Sudeikis came in guns blazing and with a receding hairline in full effect as Cecily Strong and Kenan Thompson portrayed aides who are trying to tone down his inappropriate habits of getting too close to people ahead of his potential presidential bid.

“I’m a hugger, I’m a kisser and I’m a little bit of a sniffer,” said Sudeikis as Biden. “The last thing I want to do is offend anyone!”

Enter Kate McKinnon as Gwen, a sensitivity consultant, who looks to help defuse Biden’s too-close-for-comfort ways.

At the 10th anniversary 4-h Legacy Awards nearly 450 business leaders, philanthropists, celebrities, prominent alumni, special guests and dignitaries joined National 4-h Council at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., to recognize the accomplishments of our nation’s youth and those individuals that make it possible for millions of young people to learn important life and leadership skills through 4-h youth development programs.

Carla Hall kicks off the 2019 4-h Legacy Awards with Jennifer Nettles

Emceed by TV personality, author and chef, Carla Hall, the evening recognized notable attendees including, Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter, Jennifer Nettles, who received the 4-h Brand Champion Award; Triple crown winning race horse trainer, Bob Baffert, IndyCar Race winner, Charlie Kimball, Colonel Ericka Flanigan of the U.S. Air Force, and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers who all received the Distinguished 4-h Alumni Medallion. During the event, each honoree shared personal reflections on how 4-h provided life-changing experiences...