Mario Batali is famous for his work as a chef, for his television appearances, and for his signature look.
And now his name goes on the long, long list of powerful men accused of sexual misconduct.
Batali has issued an apology and announced that he is stepping back from his restaurants and television work.
You don’t have to be someone who cares about celebrity chefs to at least vaguely recognize the name Mario Batali.
He’s a chef, a restaurateur, and also a television personality.
He has the sort of classical culinary training that one would expect from a chef.
But he is also considered an expert on the history of Italian cuisine.
Mario Batali owns or co-owns restaurants in major cities across the US and also spanning the globe.
He’s had a Food Network series and has also acted as a guest and cohost on other shows related to his area of expertise.
Batali is perhaps most recognizable for his signature look, which features a fleece vest, shorts, and then either orange crocs or, in more recent appearances, Adidas Yeezy footwear.
Unfortunately, you know the drill, folks: it sounds like there was a side of Batali that the public never saw.
Four women have come forward and accused him of sexual misconduct.
Eater New York reports that they interviewed dozens of people who’ve worked with Mario Batali over the years in order to confirm the accusations against him.
What they found does not paint a pretty picture.
One woman said that Batali “grabbed both of my breasts” while at a party.
Another accused the celebrity chef of “put his hand on half of my butt and he squeezed it.”
These examples are on top of a described pattern of inappropriate behavior, which included frequently using innuendo in the workplace.
The accusations include asking questions about the sex lives of his female employees and also asking about their underwear.
(Gross!)
The list of jobs in which asking about a woman’s underwear or sex life are appropriate is very, very short.
It’s mostly just certain types of modeling and certain types of sex work.
The list of jobs in which it’s okay to grab a woman’s butt or breasts without her permission is even shorter, at exactly zero.
The public expects some bad behavior from chefs — prima donna nonsense, flaring tempers, storming out and breaking dishes. None of that’s acceptable, but some people think that they have to put up with it if they want a “genius” chef.
(Note: if an artistic genius of any kind is acting like that as an adult, they’re a genius and a dickbag; you don’t have to put up with nonsense to get fancy food)
The Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group has announced that Batali has agreed to step away from his businesses — including restaurants and TV appearances (though the TV part had already been decided by ABC and others).
Batali has issued an apology:
“I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt.”
That starts off vague, but he does more or less admit to the allegations.
“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.”
When you compare that to Al Franken’s resignation statement or Matt Lauer’s “apology,” Batali appears to be owning his behavior better than many of those who were named before him.
“That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses.”
Agreed.
“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.”
While no apology magically undoes wrongdoings as serious as Batali’s, a good apology is still nice to hear.
Eater New York reports that they interviewed dozens of people who’ve worked with Mario Batali over the years in order to confirm the accusations against him.
What they found does not paint a pretty picture.