Mario Batali is are video bar sex parties real?the latest man in power to face sexual misconduct allegations.
The celebrity chef was exposed in a lengthy investigation by Eaterpublished Monday morning in which four women come forward with their own stories of sexual assault and harassment against Batali. Because of the accusation, the chef is stepping down from his restaurant business and away from hosting ABC's "The Chew."
SEE ALSO: Celebrity chefs close restaurants in support of #ADayWithoutImmigrantsIn the report by Eater, the allegations include groping and various inappropriate behaviors that have allegedly spanned almost 20 years. Batali, who has currently stepped away from his businesses, did not deny the allegations.
“I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt. 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," he said in a statement to Eater. "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."
Reactions from chefs and those in the food industry have been slowly pouring in since the investigation went live on Monday morning.
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We will update this post accordingly as more chefs react to the news. Unfortunately, this isn't the first celebrity chef to be accused of sexual misconduct: Celebrity chef Johnny Iuzzini was the subject of an investigation led by Micat the end of November.
You can read the entirety of Eater's findings here.
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