They opposed giving out free meals or paying their employees when the restaurants closed.

Source: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net

The two celebrities, forced to be silent partners because of their atrocious #MeToo behavior, in a restaurant group opposed giving out free meals or paying their employees when the restaurants closed.

Every Chef and Restaurant Owner Accused of Sexual Misconduct in the #MeToo Era

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, nearly a dozen prominent men in the food and beverage industry have been accused of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. But many aspects of the stories have come in fits and starts as more victims speak up and the accused negotiate ownership of their companies, take on legal battles, and, in some cases, deny the charges against them.

With the news that Mario Batali has been bought out of his ownership stake in B&B Hospitality, we’re reminded that the constantly moving parts of his story and other men’s have made it difficult to paint a comprehensive picture of whether any real change is being affected within an industry where sexual harassment and assault remains rampant. In an effort to bring an iota of clarity to the situation, Grub has compiled a detailed list of the accused chefs and business owners, the allegations against them, and the aftermath. Unsurprisingly, while many of these men’s reputations have taken a serious hit, their wallets and their businesses haven’t.

That said, women within the industry aren’t staying quiet. Groups like Women in Hospitality United and the New York Women’s Culinary Alliance have made fighting sexual assault and harassment in the industry a part of their bottom lines, while tools like the National Sexual Assault Hotline remain as vital as ever. Whatever the fate of these men, there’s certainly no going back now.

Mario Batali
Restaurant Group: Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group

Accusations

On December 11, four women accused the celebrity chef of inappropriate touching dating back some two decades. Batali admitted that the accusations “match up” with his behavior, issued an apology, and stepped away from the day-to-day operations of his company. In the days after, further accusations from five more victims came out and Batali was linked for the first time with sexual misconduct at the Spotted Pig, co-owned by restaurateur Ken Friedman, who had also been accused of sexual assault and harassment.

Aftermath

Batali was fired from ABC’s The Chew (which was canceled soon after) while the Food Network discontinued efforts to revive Molto Mario. Eleven days later, Eater published a follow-up report in which several staffers claimed that harassment and abuse were rampant within the entire B&B empire. In response, the company announced that it would rename the group, create a new leadership structure that would put chefs Lidia Bastianich and Nancy Silverton in greater positions of power, and focus on bettering the company’s work environment. A 60 Minutes segment on Batali and Friedman later confirmed that the NYPD was actively investigating Batali for rape. After the segment aired, B&B issued a statement that Batali would fully divestfrom the company by July 1. – Read more here