Mario Batali, once a prominent figure in the culinary world, faces serious allegations of sexual misconduct that have marred his reputation. Four women alleged that Batali inappropriately touched them, and they were all part of a major investigative story that laid the groundwork for #MeToo. As a result, he suspended his restaurant ventures and television series “The Chew.” As the accusations persisted, he has since been accused of sexual assault by at least a dozen other women.
In 2018, the New York City Police Department acted. Just two days later, they went on the record stating that they had opened criminal investigations into two different sexual assault allegations against Batali. In fact, one of those allegations first made its way onto that year’s Pew award-winning investigative program “60 Minutes.” This revelation could have increased the claims’ cumulative impact dramatically. Even through such serious allegations, Batali continued to protest his innocence.
In response to the growing scandal, Batali was first removed from “The Chew,” with the show itself being canceled in June 2018. In the wake of these first charges, he came out publicly and apologized for failing his friends, family and fans. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.”
In 2022, Batali went on trial for multiple counts of indecent assault and battery stemming from a 2017 Boston arrival. He was eventually acquitted of the charges against him. Even with this legal victory, the career damage was considerable. In 2019, Batali sold his restaurant holdings, a move that represented him distancing himself from the culinary empire he’d built.
Experience as a woman in the culinary world—Chef and television personality Giada De Laurentiis opened up about her own experiences with Batali. At Intuitive Eating, she remembered their former working relationship while remembering, “I remember asking Mario Batali to write a foreword for my first cookbook, ‘Everyday Italian.’ Because he’s really the main guy I had worked with, he’s a legend in the Italian space.” She wrote about what a difference his endorsement would have made for her nascent career.
De Laurentiis, who shared a creepy story about an unsolicited foreword she’d penned for her book. “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 shared. The impact of his comments made her feel like an object rather than a human being and made her reflect on her own achievements.
“This is a person we’re not supposed to talk about, but we’re going to,” De Laurentiis stated, highlighting the uncomfortable reality of discussing Batali amidst ongoing allegations. Her reflections reveal the complexities of their personal and professional relationship. They call attention to the larger cultural issues of gender and power at play within the culinary world.
Despite the controversies, Batali’s legacy remains complicated. He was a celebrity as a legend of Italian cooking. To Americans of a certain generation, he’s as much beloved for his role in popularizing Italian cooking throughout the United States. All of those accomplishments have been lost under the weight of the serious allegations against him.
