Former ‘Iron Chef’, ‘The Chew’ Host Mario Batali Trial Begins

Former ‘Iron Chef’ star and host of ‘The Chew’, Mario Batali’s sexual misconduct trial began today in Boston.

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Batali’s accuser alleges that he touched her without her consent and then forcibly kissed her after she took photos of him at a Boston restaurant in 2017 and he invited her over to get a photo together.

The Massachusetts woman accusing Batali of kissing and groping her while attempting to take a selfie at a Boston restaurant testified Monday that she felt confused and powerless to do anything.

“It was all happening so quickly and it was happening essentially the whole time,” she testified. “Just a lot of touching.”

She further testified that Batali was grabbing her private areas, touching her face and even sticking his tongue in her ear. The 32-year-old woman said Batali appeared drunk and invited her up to his hotel room afterward, which she said she declined. She said she felt embarrassed by the 2017 incident until she saw other women step forward to share similar encounters with Batali.

Batali was subsequently charged with indecent assault and battery, he pled not guilty to the charges in 2019,  and his legal representation previously said the allegation is “without merit.”

Today he sang a different tune. 

He acknowledging the alleged actions “match up” with his behavior at the time, and he owned it.

“I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team,” he said at the time, the Associated Press reported. “My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.”

Batali stepped down from actively managing his restaurants and left his cooking shows immediately after the allegations were made in 2017.

He faces up to 2.5 years in jail if he is convicted. A guilty conviction would also require Batali to register as a sex offender.

“This happened to me and this is my life,” the woman said while being questioned by prosecutors at the outset of Batali’s the trial. “I want to be able to take control of what happened, come forward, say my piece and have everyone be accountable for their actions.”

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