Mario Batali Takes Leave Of Absence From Restaurant Empire Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Batali is not denying the allegations
By Marilyn Nelson on December 11, 2017
The sexual-misconduct tide has turned on Mario Batali.
The celebrity TV chef is stepping down from his restaurant company after several women told Eater that Batali had a pattern of harassment towards them including inappropriate touching.
Batali released the following apology:
“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.”
ABC has also asked Batali to take a leave of absence from his co-hosting role on ABC’s The Chew while they review the allegations.
