Food Network star Eric Adjepong can no longer see his daughter for the next 365 days, all because he allegedly abused her.
According to TMZ on Wednesday, court proceedings over the matter involving his daughter, Lennox, whom he shares with ex-wife Janell Mack, began in May and ran until the final hearing on July 10. The details about the alleged abuse are not available at this time, but no criminal charges were ever filed. Still, the proceedings did not end in Eric’s favor. He has been ordered to stay away from Lennox, her residence, her school, and her childcare providers for an entire year – through July 10, 2027, to be exact. He also can’t contact the kid during that time.
Whoa…
Eric, via his attorney, has since addressed the outcome of the legal battle. Despite the allegations, he told TMZ he will not get into what happened to protect his daughter’s privacy:
“Because this matter involves my young daughter, whom I love deeply, I intend to protect her privacy and will not discuss the underlying allegations or other sensitive family matters publicly other than to say that these allegations arose in the context of a long running divorce and custody proceeding, which finally concluded on June 2, 2026.”
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The Top Chef alum said he respects the court and is “strictly complying with every facet of the order,” adding:
“It is my fervent hope that in the future my ex-wife and I can resolve these matters privately and through the proper legal channels, rather than in the press, if only for the well-being of our daughter.”
Meanwhile, Janell’s attorney, Todd Mohink, told TMZ:
“I believe the court did its job to protect the best interest of the child.”
And although the mom didn’t get into the accusations, she praised her daughter for bravely speaking up in a statement posted to social media:
“My daughter has watched me rebuild our life focused on our safety after I divorced her father four years ago. I’ve also taught her about body autonomy, consent, boundaries, and to tell the trusted adults around her when she feels unsafe. My daughter was just granted a protective order against her father because she was brave enough to speak up against who should have been one of the most trusted adults in her life.”
We’re hoping the child is OK and safe following this terrible matter. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Tell us in the comments (below).
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
[Image via Eric Adjepong/Instagram]