Chef Mario Batali has lost his stake in Eataly, the Italian Marketplace, amidst sexual misconduct allegations that have brought down his career to shambles. The news was announced by Chris Giglio, a spokesman for Eataly USA, to The Associated Press, this past Friday.
The spokesman, Chris Giglio, stated that Batali’s minor interests in the company were purchased and that marked the formal ending of the relationship and ended any direct contact between the two. Batali had been involved with Eataly, since December 2017.
Mario Francesco Batali is an American chef, writer, restaurateur, and media personality, who owned stakes in several restaurants. He is famous for his appearance in Iron Chef America. He was a co-host of the ABC show The Chew until 2017. Batali had his play on the Food Network called Molto Mario.
Chef Batali has since the allegations have come out, severed his relation and financial stakes with all restaurants, including his 20-year long partnership with Joe Bastianich. The chef has pleaded not guilty on his charge of forcibly kissing and groping a woman at a Boston restaurant in 2017. Since then, many other allegations have come forward. Batali has denied all allegations but has stated, “My past behaviour has been deeply inappropriate, and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions.” The next scheduled date for his court hearing on the charges of indecent assault and battery is August 30.