Photo: Craig Barritt/Getty
Nearly a year afterMario Bataliwas first accused of sexual misconduct, the chef has relocated to northern Michigan to stay out of the spotlight.
In a new article inNew York Magazine, writer Eric Konigsberg details the current state of Batali’s restaurants and traveled to the Leelanau Peninsula to interview theformerThe Chewco-hosthimself.
When Konigsberg tracked Batali down and talked with him at the town’s farmers’ market, he asked how long he plans to stay in the Midwest. “At least until the end of the year,” Batali said.
After Konigsberg acknowledged why it’d be a good place to live, Batali replied: “I’m a lucky man. Well, it’s been a bad year,” he said, “a bad year.”
The Sands Casino shut down five of his restaurants on their properties, three in Las Vegas and two in Singapore, according toNew York Magazine.
“I’m dealing with a lot of negativity, these closings, to go tell 300 people we’re doing away with their jobs and shutting down their workplace,” Bastianich says. “We used to have 2,000 employees, and now we have 1,500. That’s how many families whose well-being we can no longer provide.”
Bataliresponded to the60 Minutesallegation: “I vehemently deny the allegation that I sexually assaulted this woman. My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions.” According toNew York Magazine, the investigation is still ongoing.
In astatement toEaterfollowing the initial accusations of misconduct,Batali said: “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. 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.”
source: people.com
