Mario Batali is facing another round of sexual misconduct claims.
In a recent report by the Eater, seven women came forward to detail their unsettling encounters with the disgraced celebrity chef. The women, some of whom described themselves as former Batali fans, claim the famed restaurateur had acted inappropriately upon meeting them. The allegations against Batali include unwanted sexual advances, such as forced kissing and groping while posing for photos.
One of the alleged victims was 28-year-old Natali Tene, a Boston resident who was introduced to Batali at bar in April 2017. Tene told the Eater that the seemingly intoxicated chef suggested they take a selfie together, before he went on to rub her breasts, grab her backside, and forcibly kiss her.
“I was just in total disbelief when he touched me like that; I couldn’t believe it when it was happening,” Tene said. “In the moment it was just so crazy, it was humiliating. The more I thought about it later, the angrier I got. But I thought maybe I was alone, maybe it was an isolated incident. When I saw the news, I had this feeling like, ‘Yes, he’s being exposed as a creep’—but also sadness and lots of anger that he got away with this behavior for so long.”
Another alleged victim was Jenny McCoy, a pastry chef and cookbook author who accused Batali of groping her in a 2017 story by the Eater. McCoy initially spoke the publication on the condition of anonymity, but has since decided to go on the record after hearing reports of Batali’s planned comeback.
“These men, men like Batali, who are powerful and delusional, won’t back down, obviously,” she said. “So we need to keep using our voices, women and men, to make a real change, a real cultural shift—and no longer tolerate this behavior.”
The other accusers are 31-year-old Sara Watson, 60-year-old Rebecca Marshall, 48-year-old Sharelle Klaus, as well as three of Batali’s former employees.
These new allegations surfaced about a week after the NYPD confirmed it is investigating Batali for sexual assault. Though he has publicly denied one of the rape accusations, the chef has admitted to acting inappropriately throughout his career.
“I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt,” Batali said in a statement to Eater last year. “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.”
Batali has since stepped away from many of his business ventures, including his hosting gig on The Chew. Last week, it was reported that his Las Vegas restaurants would shut down in wake of mounting sexual assault claims.
