Unknown Facts From Behind The Scenes Of The Food Network

The Food Network officially launched in November 1993 and has been a part of our lives ever since. It’s been home to some incredible shows and seen some even bigger names come and go in that time. The best bit? Plenty have made a name - and home - for themselves on the Food Network.

Still, that doesn’t mean that everything has been entirely smooth. The biggest stars of the Food Network have found themselves in and out of the headlines throughout the years - and not always for the right reasons.

Several women accused Mario Batali of behaving inappropriately

It looked as though being on the wrong side of the law was behind Mario Batali. That was until 2017 rolled around, and the chef was back in the headlines. This time, it was because four of his female employees were accusing him of inappropriate behavior. The accusations spanned two decades, and Mario wasn’t denying a thing.

It didn’t take long for the chef to admit “there are no excuses” for his past actions, and he took “full responsibility” for everything. For many, this wasn’t enough. Although Mario spoke about being sorry for the pain and hurt he caused throughout the years, many believed it wasn’t good enough compared to the accusations Mario was facing.

Over 100 workers accused Mario Batali of skimming tips at his restaurant

The idea of any restaurant owner skimming tips will likely be enough to get people talking. After all, plenty of restaurant workers rely on them as a big boost to their income. Learning Food Network star Mario Batali had been accused of taking between 4% and 5% of all tips before handing them to his staff certainly didn’t sit well.

The case hit the headlines in 2010, as 117 workers came forward to accuse the chef of tip skimming. Apparently, those most affected by the alleged theft were the sommeliers who had been left hugely out of pocket. All the accusations were enough to get Mario’s name in the headlines as the chef was eventually taken to court.

The alleged tip skimming cost Mario Batali millions of dollars

Although over 100 people had tales of what happened behind closed doors, pinning anything on Mario Batali was no easy feat. It took two long years and several court appearances before there was any kind of closure. The result? Mario agreed to settle the difference, meaning the chef had to fork out a staggering $5.25 million.

As if that wasn’t enough, it turned out Mario’s supposed tip skimming had affected more than the original 117 workers who took the chef to court. The settlement money was split between all of his workers between July 2004 and February 2012, who missed out on tips due to Mario’s sticky fingers. Apparently, some agreed to opt-out.

Mario Batali’s apology was seemingly the final nail in the coffin

Things continued to get worse for Mario Batali the more he tried to fix any damage he had done. Why? The email stating his apology was signed off with a link to Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls. People were far from impressed with how the chef handled it all, with the Food Network cutting ties with his new show ‘Molto Mario.’

ABC also announced Mario’s time as host on ‘The Chew’ had come to an end, with the police launching a full investigation by 2018. However, this was closed in January 2019. Reportedly, the New York Police Department had little evidence and couldn’t find a probable cause, but the damage was done, and Mario’s career was already over.

Juan-Carlos Cruz attempted to hire two men to end his wife’s life

‘Calorie Commando’ was one of the Food Network’s highest-praised shows in the mid-2000s. The host, none other than former pastry chef Juan-Carlos Cruz, lost 100 pounds before sharing his alternative recipes and meal ideas with the nation. He built a huge reputation on the Food Network before Juan tarnished it all with his off-screen antics and reports.

CBS Los Angeles reports Juan was attested in May 2010 after offering two homeless men $500 to end his wife’s life. CNN later reported the men worked with the police to set up a sting operation. Apparently, he was seen showing the men how to get inside before Juan pleaded no contest and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Bobby Flay dramatically quit Iron Chef in the middle of filming an episode

It didn’t take long for Bobby Flay to become one of the biggest faces of the Food Network. After all, he’s been a part of the network since 1995 and is yet to walk away, but that was almost the case in 2017. The chef was in the middle of filming ‘Iron Chef’ when he tore off his apron.

Underneath was a t-shirt declaring: “This is my last Iron Chef battle ever,” and it didn’t take long for the audience to figure out that even the producers had no idea what was going on. Being in the middle of the episode meant there was no way it could be edited out, which was apparently Bobby's plan all along.

There’s a chance Bobby Flay was unfaithful during his marriage

It’s not completely uncommon for Bobby Flay to give viewers a glimpse at his personal life when working on his many Food Network shows. One of the few people we met was his ex-wife, actress Stephanie March, but things ended in divorce after ten years in 2015. Court documents see Bobby claim the marriage had “broken down irretrievably.”

The reality? Some think Flay was unfaithful. Page Six reports that in 2014, Stephanie learned her husband had been cheating with hostess and later his personal assistant Elyse Tirrell for three years. To make matters worse, Bobby was joined by a plane pulling a banner saying “CHEATER” while receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2015.

Anne Burrell has never addressed rumors she was offensive to female staff members

Appearing on ‘Iron Chef America’ as Mario Batali’s sous chef was enough to put Anne Burrell’s name on the map. It wasn’t long before she had a lengthy Food Network career of her own - and it all came crashing down in 2009. This was after several women accused Anne of being offensive while working for the chef.

It’s said Anne worked at a West Village restaurant in New York when the alleged events took place. Here, the Food Network star reportedly listed remarks about their appearance and often used a long list of derogatory names. To make matters worse, the former employees claim Anne would talk about their love lives and were fired if they spoke out.

The winner of Worst Cooks In America was charged with ending a child’s life

The long-running show ‘Worst Cooks In America’ is one of the Food Network’s most popular series. It sees competitors who have no idea how to cook head to boot camp, where they compete in challenges and perfect their skills. In August 2020, Ariel Robinson was named the champion of season 20, taking home $25,000 and several kitchen gadgets.

Six months later, Greenville News reports Ariel and her husband, Jerry, were arrested and charged with ending a child’s life through abuse. Victoria Smith was three years old and in foster care with the couple before a coroner declared she passed due to “blunt-force injuries.” Although Ariel claimed Victoria had drunk too much water, Food Network pulled her entire season.

Ina Garten rejected a six-year-old’s Make-A-Wish dream

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has done incredible things for children as it works with those living with terminal or long-term illnesses to bring their ultimate dream to life. It seems Enzo Pereda knew precisely what he wanted: to meet his celebrity idol, Ina Garten. Enzo was just six years old and living with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the time.

Apparently, he would pass the time by watching Ina’s show ‘Barefoot Contessa’ whenever he was too sick to get out of bed. Enzo told the Make-A-Wish Foundations he hoped to cook a meal with the Food Network star but was quickly heartbroken when Ina refused. Apparently, she was busy touring for her new book and couldn’t fit Enzo in.

Her chance to redeem the situation saw Ina Garten refuse to meet Enzo Pereda again

A year passed, and Ina Garten had a chance to redeem herself, as once again, Enzo Pereda asked if he could meet his idol. The problem? Ina refused again. According to the TV chef, her schedule was still too busy for her to take time off, leading Enzo’s family to write a blog post about it all.

Here, the world learned the family’s version of events, with Ina rushing to fix the damage. The Food Network star invited Enzo to her cook show, but this time, it was the child’s turn to reject the offer. They added that he had “moved on” from his dream of meeting Ina, with Enzo instead wishing to swim with dolphins.

Martha Stewart was found guilty of selling shares and lying about a tip-off

It’s not every day that Food Network stars end up on the wrong side of the law - or is it? Martha Stewart has built an incredible career for herself as the seemingly perfect housewife who knows a thing or two about cooking up delicious meals in the kitchen. That was until 2004, when she was found guilty of multiple offenses.

The charges stemmed back to December 2001, when Martha used information that wasn’t publicly available to sell off shares she had in ImClone Systems. This came one day before the value of the stocks plunged, meaning Martha avoided losing $45,000. According to the Associated Press, the Food Network star later lied about getting the tip-off.

She was sentenced to five months in prison and has since grown close to Snoop Dogg

In the end, Martha Stewart was found guilty of one count of obstruction of agency proceedings, one count of conspiracy, and two counts of making false statements. All of this was enough to see Martha sent behind bars for five months, a sentence she served in a minimum-security prison. This was followed by an additional five months of house arrest.

Since getting out of prison, Martha has openly spoken about her experience. Apparently, she spent most of her time cleaning, but that’s not the strangest part. That comes in the unexpected friendship she’s formed with rapper Snoop Dogg. They met in 2008 on ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ and allegedly bonded over their shared time in prison.

Geoffrey Zakarian declared bankruptcy after former employees filed a million-dollar lawsuit

Some chefs make a name for themselves on the Food Network. Others? They have successful careers before joining the network. It seems Geoffrey Zakarian is one of the latter, as he already had experience as a restaurant owner before signing up for several shows. So how did Geoffrey go from winning ‘Iron Chefs: Super Chefs’ to filing for bankruptcy?

It all started in 2011. It’s alleged Geoffrey owed former employees from his now-closed restaurant a lot of money as he reportedly docked paychecks for meals they didn’t eat, falsified pay records, and refused to pay any overtime. The employees sued for $1 million in damages and $250,000 in penalties. Merely fighting the charges caused Geoffrey to go bankrupt.

Alton Brown offended an audience and several communities at once

Alton Brown seems to be a Food Network star of two halves. Some people think of him as a loveable TV chef who simplifies most tasks. Others? They agree with Alton’s self-description that he’s “evilicious.” It appears the chef often fills his time making insensitive comments about his fellow chefs and fans, but things went too far in Iowa.

Alton was speaking to an audience when he allegedly made anti-LGBTQ comments aimed toward a woman in the crowd alongside insensitive remarks about people of color. Things only got worse when Alton shared a story about him bullying chefs at a restaurant into making a meal that wasn’t served on the menu by threatening to storm into the kitchen.

Allegations made against John Besh saw him edited out of Iron Chef Showdown

The chances are most people would know they’ve done something wrong if they’re edited out of a show. Sadly for John Besh, that became his reality in January 2018 following what was supposed to be his starring moment in ‘Iron Chef Showdown.’ Apparently, the episode had been filmed the year before, but he became a background character after several edits.

Why? Twenty-five employees at John’s restaurant all came forward to accuse the chef of inappropriate behavior. Things got worse when the employees claimed this was common for anyone who worked for the Besh Restaurant Group. Eventually, the Food Network decided it was best to remove John from as much of the show as they could.

An employee’s version of a relationship with John Besh was the final nail

Things continued to get worse for John Besh when someone spoke out about their relationship with the chef. She claimed to be one of his former employees and spoke about being coerced into the relationship, with things getting worse as time went on. The twist? John was married at the time - and was forced to admit he had been unfaithful.

Although John was adamant his relationship with a former employee had been consensual, she had a different version of events. The public apology did nothing to save John’s crumbling reputation. He was scrapped from the Food Network, had deals dropped, and John was even edited out of an episode ‘Top Chef’ on Bravo following the accusations.

Several former employees sued Graham Elliot for lost tips

'Iron Chef' has long been one of the more popular shows on the Food Network and has seen some notable build their names in the industry. Graham Elliot is no exception. That was until several former employees accused Graham of stealing from their wages and how they never got tips. Eventually, 13 employees from the chef's self-named restaurant came forward.

Apparently, they were forced to pool tips which were redistributed by Graham, with one waiter claiming the food runners and cooks were included even though they wouldn't usually receive tips. The servers wanted to reclaim their lost wages, with Graham settling for an undisclosed amount. Fact: pooling tips is illegal if they're distributed to people who don't usually receive them.

Gordon Ramsay once framed his former mentor for bringing down a business

Although he’s now one of the better-known TV chefs, Gordon Ramsay was once like many other up-and-coming stars. In fact, he started out working under other famous chefs, such as his time working alongside Marco Pierre White. Gordon was promoted to the head of restaurant Aubergine after Marco recommended the promotion. The problem? Gordon was worried about the owners.

It’s reported he thought the owners wanted to replace him with Marco, especially after negative newspaper reviews. Gordon was allegedly convinced Marco was behind it all. It culminated with someone grabbing the restaurant’s reservation book and running. The book was everything to the business. Gordon publicly blamed Marco before later admitting he organized the robbery to frame his former mentor.

The chef was caught serving pre-prepared meals at his restaurants

If you’ve ever seen any episode of one of Gordon Ramsay’s shows, you probably know that the chef is completely against pre-prepared meals. Perhaps that’s why his fans were so surprised when it emerged Gordon had been using frozen meals at some of his restaurants? The news broke in 2009 and quickly saw Gordon with egg on his face.

The chef claimed the dishes were all “freshly made,” but people weren’t buying it. Things only got worse when it emerged all of the meals had come from one supplier before they were heated up and served on the menu. The problem? In some cases, the price was marked up as much as 600% from the retail price.

Rumors emerged that Gordon Ramsay was reportedly seeing a “professional mistress”

One thing that’s followed Gordon Ramsay for years is his reputation for being a family man. That was until 2008, when the former newspaper The News of the World published headlines about Gordon having an affair with Sarah Symonds. According to the report, Sarah was a “professional mistress,” and the pair had been seeing each other for seven years.

Sarah claimed she met Gordon in London hotels and other places throughout his marriage. Of course, Gordon denied all the accusations, but that was far from the end of the story. Instead, Sarah continued to accuse the chef of being unfaithful to his wife with at least two more women, but neither has ever come forward.

Giada De Laurentiis has been accused of being unfaithful with several famous names

Giada De Laurentiis seemed to tap into a market that hadn’t been seen on the Food Network until the Italian chef came along and made it her own. However, one thing people weren’t expecting to hear was that she was divorcing her husband, Todd Thompson, in 2014. The couple had been married for 11 years before the split.

Although the divorce was a surprise to many, it was news that Giada was allegedly unfaithful that got so many people talking. Some claimed it started with John Mayer in 2010 before Giada allegedly moved into Bobby Flay. The relationship with the latter was hotly discussed as both announced their divorces at similar times, but Giada denies all the stories.

There are rumors Giada De Laurentiis spits out the food she eats on camera

One thing that’s got plenty of people talking throughout the years is how Giada De Laurentiis stays in such good shape despite the food she makes on her shows. Does she follow a strict workout regime? Is there some secret diet? Sadly, it appears there could be a lot more to it than meets the eye.

It’s said Giada often preaches portion control to anyone she meets. Plus, there are rumors that the Food Network star will only ever put the food in her mouth during her shows and uses a particular bucket to spit out the food once the cameras cut. According to Giada, she allegedly thinks portion control is the only way forward.

The Food Network Star might use a stunt double for some shots of her eating

It seems spitting out the food is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Giada De Laurentiis. At least, that’s if the rumors are true. It’s said the TV chef also has a special trick for some scenes. Perhaps you’re used to seeing the close-up shots of Giada putting food in her mouth?

That’s right; they might not be the Food Network star. Instead, it’s rumored Giada uses a body double or one of her assistants if they’re close for some of these shots. The reports state Giada merely grabs an empty fork and pulls that out her mouth to make it look like she was the one who really ate her cooking.

An investigation by Wolfgang Puck revealed the BBB takes bribes for high scores

One of the many stars who’s made a name for himself on the Food Network is none other than Wolfgang Puck. However, it’s time away from the network that gained him so much attention. It all came when he spoke about the Better Business Bureau - aka the ones who rate top restaurants, including the B- they face Wolfgang’s place.

Many wondered how Wolfgang had such a low score when he had no complaints. The chef allegedly started investigating and uncovered similar situations with other high-profile restaurants. Wolfgang quickly assumed he needed to pay for a high score, with a later investigation showing the BBB only offers an A+ if someone pays a fee to their club.

Former assistants accused Nigella Lawson of taking illegal substances

Having a host of cookbooks to her name and selling millions of copies to her fans means Nigella Lawson is one of the best-known female chefs on the planet. After all, she has a unique way of selling her food and teaching people how to cook. Sadly, things were far from great when Nigella was accused of taking illegal substances.

That came in 2013 when the Food Network star’s former assistants - Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo - claimed illegal substances were a part of Nigella’s weekly life. The sisters even went as far as saying the chef would make them hide substances from Nigella’s ex-husband, Charles Saatchi. Photos in the headlines only seemed to back up the claims.

Nigella Lawson’s ex-husband took the assistants to court over the claims

It seemed the claims about Nigella Lawson’s supposed substance use were too much for Charles Saatchi, who took the Grillo siblings to court. That was the start of it all. Francesca and Elisabetta claimed they were allegedly allowed to spend as much of Nigella’s money as they liked so long as they kept her secrets.

Charles stated the sisters supposedly tried to fraudulently take thousands of dollars from him and Nigella. The chef? She had no choice but to admit she had taken illegal substances on more than one occasion. Still, Nigella said it was only once or twice, and she wasn’t addicted. Eventually, the Grillo sisters were acquitted of everything.

Robert Irvine allegedly faked many claims on his resume

Many people have been told to fake it until they make it, but not many pull it off. That was until Robert Irvine came along. The TV chef shot to fame as the host of ‘Dinner: Impossible’ and already had an impressive resume before signing up to the Food Network. It seemed Robert was more than happy to boast.

Some of the many things he allegedly did were cook for at least four former US presidents, help make Princess Diana’s wedding cake, earn a British knighthood, and was supposedly friends with King Charles III. Unfortunately, the truth emerged in 2008 when a report claimed most of Robert’s resume was faked, and he was replaced with Michael Symon.

An apology saw Robert Irvine back as host of Dinner: Impossible

Although he was axed from ‘Dinner: Impossible,’ it seems it wasn’t a decision that was set in stone. Many were happy to see how well Michael Symon had stepped into the role. That was until Robert Irvine was suddenly back on everyone’s screens as host of the show once more. So, what changed behind the scenes?

It seems an apology was all that was needed. Robert apologized to the Food Network for trying to deceive them and was reinstated as host, and it appears things have been swept under the rug as Robert continues to host the show. Thankfully, Michael admitted he knew his days were numbered and didn’t take the switch back too personally.

Sandra Lee and a food stylist were in hot water after making a Kwanzaa cake

If there's one thing most people don't want to do, it's offend a host of people. That moment came in Sandra Lee's career back in 2009. The Food Network Star wanted to make a Kwanzaa cake but settled on an angel food cake that was topped with "acorns" made from corn nuts, store-bought frosting, and pumpkin seeds.

The entire version of the cake was also filled with apple pie, but many noted how typically un-Kwanzaa the result ended up. Eventually, Sandra's food stylist - Denise Vivaldo - took responsibility. Denise claimed she'd done little research, which angered many as they thought neither should be making something they know nothing about in the first place.

One of Jamie Oliver’s products was accused of being culturally insensitive

Being dubbed “The Naked Chef” could have been enough to land Jamie Oliver in hot water, but his lack of stripping down on his show wasn’t what saw him in the headlines. Instead, it was Jamie’s release of “punchy jerk rice” that offended a host of members of a particular community in a marketing ploy gone wrong.

The name and flavor were both inspired by meals cooked across Jamaica. However, people quickly pointed out a host of issues: Jamie isn’t Jamaican, “jerk rice” isn’t found on any other menu, and the rice wasn’t particularly Jamaican in the first place. Instead, jerk flavoring refers to a spice rub traditionally used to flavor meat.

Several people spoke out against Jamie Oliver’s alleged cultural appropriation

It didn’t take long for a host of prominent people to speak out against Jamie Oliver’s “punchy jerk rice.” One Jamaican chef who had met Jamie when teaching the chef how to make authentic Jamaican jerk chicken was less than impressed with the recipe. Dawn Butler, a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, also spoke out against the chef.

Dawn claimed the Food Network star was at the center of cultural appropriation, and Jamie should have paid more respect to the origin of the flavors and food. Jamie attempted to explain he thought it was an honest mistake and merely wanted to honor the flavors. Sadly for him, many members of the Jamaican community refused to accept the apology.

Anthony Bourdain took aim at many Food Network stars, particularly Guy Fieri

What happens when you take aim at several Food Network stars at once when you’re one yourself? If you’re anything like Anthony Bourdain, then you find yourself in the headlines. The chef was never shy to share his thoughts about other chefs and cuisines with the world throughout his career. Still, some believe Anthony took things too far.

It seems Guy Fieri bore the brunt of most of Anthony’s distaste, with the latter telling Atlanta Magazine he “[wonders] about him.” Anthony added that Guy was “52 years old” and “still rolling around in the flame outfit.” Anthony didn’t stop there, taking aim at the likes of Sandra Lee and Racheal Ray at various points throughout the years.

The chef spent years battling addictions to illegal substances

Even though Anthony Bourdain was always open about his personal life, not everyone knows what he went through before making it as a famous chef. It seems Anthony hit rock bottom and quickly had to turn his life around if he stood a chance of surviving. It all started while working as a chef in New York.

Here, Anthony admitted he was addicted to a host of illegal substances and would have “robbed your medicine cabinet” if needed. The chef also confessed to “[combing] the shag carpet for paint chips” as he searched for fallen substances. Thankfully, Anthony eventually kicked his addictions and went on to become a star by his early 40s.

Eddie Huang fought offensive comments with his own offensive comments

Attorney, clothing designer, stand-up comedian. It seems Eddie Huang had quite the resume before he hit the Food Network as a part of ‘Cheap Bites.’ The star even made waves when he released his autobiography ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ before it was turned into a sitcom, but it was his activism speech that got so many people talking.

Eddie wanted to speak out against offensive language toward Asian men. Still, his op-ed in the New York Times didn’t sit well with everyone. Here, Eddie said he believes Asian men have been “emasculated so much in America that we’re basically treated like Black women.” His response to the backlash on social media didn’t help matters.

Cat Cora was handed several punishments for driving under the influence

It’s not entirely uncommon for celebrities to find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Still, not many expected Cat Cora to end up getting arrested for driving under the influence back in 2012. It’s believed the Food Network star had been in a low-speed traffic accident, with a breathalyzer backing up claims she’d been drinking.

Although Cat confessed to being under the influence, the other driver had another version of events. They stated the chef had been behaving erratically and driving all over the place. The result? Cat was handed a suspended jail sentence, three years probation, nine months of DUI school, and a fine. She’s since admitted she “learned a very important lesson.”

Down Home with the Neelys was the only thing keeping their marriage together

Running for 11 seasons is no easy task. Amazingly, that's what Patrick and Gina Neely achieved when 'Down Home with the Neelys' hit the Food Network and dominated the small screen. Here, the husband-wife duo spent their time cooking home recipes in a relaxed show that calmed plenty of people and earned the couple several fans over the years.

It was the highest-rated show at the time and continues to do well today, even though there haven't been new episodes of 'Down Home with the Neelys' in years. The problem? Gina later confessed she planned on leaving her husband before the Food Network offered them the show, stating the series was the only thing keeping them together.

Gina Neely eventually opened up about their marriage

Even though 'Down Home with the Neelys' ended, it took years for their relationship truths to hit the headlines. That moment didn't come until Gina spoke to People magazine in 2018, where she admitted things were stale at home. Gina added she thought things had naturally come to an end, and she never planned to be on TV.

Apparently, the show was enough to strain their relationship even further, with things eventually ending when Gina packed her bags in 2014. The worst part? Patrick and Gina only spoke through their lawyers from that moment forward. Thankfully, Patrick has since appeared on a reality TV dating show and built a new life for himself with his new family.

Joshua Adam Garcia was sent packing from The Next Food Network Star

Being such a large network means several people want to get in on the action. ‘The Next Food Network Star’ has helped plenty get their careers off the ground, including Joshua Adam Garcia - better known as JAG. He appeared in the third season before he was given the boot. However, many were confused to see Joshua sent packing.

It turned out he had lied about several aspects of his resume, such as his time at the New York Restaurant School. While he attended, Joshua never graduated. The former contestant also had his military career cut short and never served in a war zone. To top everything off, Joshua was a formal corporal, not a corporal like he claimed.

People got Rachael Ray confused with Becky with the good hair

If you were around in 2016, there’s a good chance you might remember the iconic “Becky with the good hair” line taken from Beyoncé’s album ‘Lemonade.’ Fans from the Beyhive everywhere wanted to know just who Becky could be, with many landing on the ex-wife of Jay-Z’s former business partner. Don’t worry; it gets more confusing.

Her name isn’t actually Becky and is instead Rachel Roy. The connection started when Rachel uploaded the status “Good hair don’t care,” and people were quick to put two and two together. The added problem? Many got Rachel Roy and Rachael Ray confused, with both women sending each other gifts to apologize for the mix-up.

Several accused Rachael Ray of using chemicals in her dog food

Did you know Rachael Ray has far more under her belt than her time as a Food Network star? That’s right; she’s also branched into the world of dog food. She is known to be a huge animal lover, and Rachael wanted to donate a portion of the profits to her own animal foundation to help four-legged friends in need.

Nutrish was meant to be “natural” and rely on healthy ingredients. Sadly, many dogs started to get ill after ingesting chemicals from Rachael’s food. In the end, a $5 million lawsuit accused Rachael of using chemicals while growing her ingredients, something the chef denied. Eventually, the case was dropped, but it seemed the damage was done.

It’s alleged David Burtka gets jealous of the attention his husband receives

It can be tough when someone in a relationship gets a lot of attention. After all, being a famous actor means that Neil Patrick Harris often has all eyes his way. It turns out his husband, David Burtka, has a claim to fame all of his own, thanks to his career as a celebrity chef.

However, there are rumors David struggles with the attention his husband receives, resulting in an ultimatum. Neil was offered a part to star in ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ back in 2014. Apparently, David said Neil could perform for six months on Broadway, or he was out - something Neil agreed to, ultimately winning an Emmy for his limited performance.

There’s a chance Marcela Valladolid and Paul Hollywood grew a little too close

Being a part of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ has seen Paul Hollywood go from a star across the pond to an international name. Marcela Valladolid has also made a name for herself during shows such as ‘Mexican Made Easy’ and ‘The Kitchen.’ The two powerhouses came together in 2013 as they both judged the show ‘The American Baking Competition.’

It was alleged that during their time working on the series, Paul and Marcela got a little too close for comfort and shared a brief romance. While the show was canceled, the drama continued. Marcela and her husband ultimately split and filed for a divorce before Paul’s wife joined in and filed for a divorce of her own.

Paul Hollywood’s wife took him back before filing for another divorce

It seems the drama and divorce were enough to see Marcela Valladolid take a step back from the world of cooking and focus on life with her new partner and their children. On the other hand, Paul Hollywood powered through and continues to work on ‘The Great British Bake Off’ as well as his collection of cookbooks.

It looked for a time like Paul’s divorce was just a passing blip, as his wife ultimately rekindled their relationship. Sadly, once the rumors are there, it can be tough to move on. Things took another turn when Paul was accused of having another affair with a contestant from his show, resulting in another - and final - divorce.

Paula Deen admitted to using offensive language toward a former employee

There was once a time that Paula Deen was just about everywhere we turned. While that was still the case in 2013, it was for all the wrong reasons. Paula joined the list of Food Network stars who managed to offend an entire group of people by using offensive language aimed at someone of color.

The report came from a former employee from a restaurant Paula once co-owned. It might be easy to think Paula denied the accusations. Oh no, she said, “of course” she used the word, but she hadn’t in a long time, so there was no harm. That apparently wasn’t for Paula to decide, leading to her releasing a lengthy apology video.

Her company undid any work Paula Deen did to repair the damage

Although Paula Deen tried to backtrack from her comments - and later deleted the apology video - any hard work she did to fix her reputation was undone when her company got involved. They decided to release another statement, stating Paula was raised in a different time period and the language was from “quite a different time.”

The company continued to add Paula was born “60 years ago,” and therefore, comments like hers were more acceptable. According to the statement, people used “different restaurants” and “schools were segregated.” It might come as little surprise that people weren’t quick to excuse Paula’s behavior or her company’s statement trying to defend her, stating she knew it was unacceptable now.

Many believed there was more to the timing of Paula Deen’s health announcement

If there’s one thing many people know about Paula Deen, it’s that taste comes above health when it comes to her food. Paula is a big fan of using plenty of sugar and butter in her meals, as well as other fattening ingredients. Many weren’t surprised to learn that Paula was eventually diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Still, not everyone was convinced by the timing of the announcement. The news broke in 2012, but Paula had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years before. Many wondered why she waited so long to break the news. Paula? She claimed it was because she wanted to wait until she “had something to bring to the table.”

A new contract seemingly explained why Paula Deen had remained quiet

It didn’t take long to find out what Paula Deen had been working on behind the scenes. It turned out the TV chef had been working with Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company that uses alternative methods to treat Type 2 diabetes. Apparently, they wanted Paula and her two sons to be the faces of the campaign.

Food Network was among the many surprised by the news, saying they had no idea about her new contract. ABC News added the chef was irresponsible for promoting her unhealthy food while living with Type 2 diabetes and keeping the diagnosis a secret. They were quickly joined by several other celebrities who expressed how disappointed they were by Paula’s actions.

Bobby Deen was accused of being offensive with a Transformation Tuesday upload

It seems Paula Deen is far from the only one who’s caused offense throughout the years. Her son, fellow chef Bobby Deen, has also been in a host of trouble. In 2015, Paula decided to join in on the Transformation Tuesday trend and upload a flashback to the family dressed as characters from the sitcom ‘I Love Lucy.’

The problem? Bobby was dressed as Ricky Ricardo - and decided to recreate the character’s Cuban skin tone. The photo was quickly deleted from Paula’s account, but there was no hiding from the new damage. Many were also quick to add how they felt about Bobby and Paula dressing up as a married couple despite being mother and son.

Guy Fieri is allegedly inappropriate when working with women

There is the Food Network, and then there's what Guy Fieri has done for the network. The celebrity chef has been the face of the Food Network since the mid-2010s and has a huge number of shows under his belt. In fact, Guy even has several awards for his time with the network, but it's not all been easy.

'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives' is one of Guy's many shows. Sadly, the creator of the series has spoken about how many times Guy lives to mention the word "cream" around women and how he often acts inappropriately. To make matters worse, the creator says he has to tell editors to edit out Guy constantly looking at women's chests.

There's a chance Guy Fieri has offended the LGBTQ community

It seems several people have spoken out against Guy Fieri over the years, including many people from the LGBTQ community. One of those moments came when the TV chef went to a restaurant run by two men. It's said Guy assumed the pair were in a relationship and demanded that those around him should warn him first.

It's said the demands were enough to see a huge change in 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.' Apparently, the show now has to allegedly look for any "indications" that someone might be from the LGBTQ community before filming, so Guy can be warned during the pre-interviews. The supposed rumors haven't impressed several people across the world.

A joke about Asian hot wings from Ree Drummond caused a lot of offense

‘The Pioneer Woman’ was such a success that it wasn’t long before Ree Drummond was back for season two. Sadly, that’s where it started to go downhill. The host made an offensive joke which hurt several communities - and it was over hot wings. Ree pulled Asian hot wings from the oven, much to the disgust of her friends and family.

That was all before Ree announced she was “kidding” and “wouldn’t do that to you,” only to pull buffalo wings from the oven instead. A blog soon spoke about the lack of Asian representation across the Food Network. It added the only time Asian cuisine is used; it’s mocked. Five years later, the Food Network agreed to pull Ree’s episode.

Her teenage daughter getting arrested saw Ree Drummond in headlines

Getting dragged into family drama is something most want to avoid, especially when they’re a TV personality. Sadly for Ree Drummond, she didn’t have a choice when her 19-year-old daughter was arrested. People magazine states the incident happened in 2019 and saw Paige Drummond charged with possessing a drink while under the age of 21 and being intoxicated in public.

Things took another turn when the report claimed Paige was spotted under the influence at a party in Oklahoma, prompting someone to call the police. Several media outlets got hold of the story, with Radar Online becoming the first to report on it all. All in all, Ree was forced back into the headlines against her will.

Paige Drummond was facing some hefty charges for the crimes

Things could have been simple if it was just one charge against Paige Drummond, but multiple charges saw things go from bad to worse. Being caught with an adult beverage while under the age of 21 years old was one thing, as it came with charges of up to 30 days in jail, a $100 fine, or both.

Plus, being under the influence in public came with charges of up to one year in prison and a $500 fine. Court records suggest the Drummonds merely swept things under the rug by paying $400 in court fees, with the district attorney agreeing to have the charges dismissed. This means they’ve been expunged from Paige’s criminal record.

Seeing her teenage daughter in trouble with the law didn’t slow down Ree Drummond’s career

Many wondered if Ree Drummond would take some time away from work to focus on her family during the court case. However, it was her opposite reaction that got people talking the most. Instead, Ree continued to post updates on her social media accounts and shared personal photos with her fans as though nothing was happening behind the scenes.

Apparently, Ree thinks that being a mom means she needs to “embrace the chaos and the funny parts” - not that many people were laughing at Paige’s charges. The Food Network star also added she’s learned to go with the flow, even when it meant her teenage daughter was facing time in jail for various crimes.