This is just so disturbing.
A former employee of Mario Batali‘s has accused the famed chef of several upsetting crimes. Specifically, the woman has accused the 57-year-old restaurateur of drugging and sexually assaulting her inside a NYC restaurant in 2005. To make matters worse, the alleged assault took place in a third floor space, infamously known by employees as the “rape room.”
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On Sunday, the ex staffer spoke with CBS News‘ 60 Minutes, where she claimed that she woke up with scratches on her legs next to broken bottles. And if that wasn’t troubling enough, Batali’s supposed victim also had semen on her skirt.
The unnamed woman recalled:
“It gets completely foggy for me. And this is ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ part of the messy, scary part for me, there is a part where it ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ it all disappears. I remember a moment where I was on his lap, kissing him. Like, he was kissing me. And then I remember throwing up ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ in a toilet. And that is all.”
Man, oh man. The New York Post first shared this woman’s allegations back in December. At the time, the publication reported that the woman remembered waking up at dawn on the third floor of hotspot The Spotted Pig. This particular restaurant is owned by Ken Friedman, who is also a friend of Batali’s.
The complainant continued:
“I woke up by myself on the floor, I don’t know where I am, of an empty room, wooden floor. I see broken bottles. The first thing I think is, ├óΓé¼╦£I’ve been drugged.’ That was the first thing I thought is, ├óΓé¼╦£I’ve been ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ I’ve been assaulted.'”
How awful. The woman went on to call a crisis hotline, visit a hospital for an examination, and reported the incident to the New York Police Department. She added:
“They tried getting me to file a report. They tried, they tried. But I ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ you know, a young actress, no resources, no money. I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it.”
Intense stuff. We’re sure Harvey Weinstein‘s many alleged victims felt very similarly after their encounters with the Hollywood heavyweight. (Thankfully Time’s Up, motherfuckers!)
Unsurprisingly, this account has had a ripple effect for Mario’s career. Case in point, the restaurant firm B&B Hospitality Group told Fox News:
“The accounts tonight were chilling and deeply disturbing. This was the first we learned of them. Our partnership with Mr. Batali is ending… He has been our partner and close friend, but the actions he has acknowledged required us to separate wholly so that we reinforce our core values for our employees and our guests.”
Hmmm, maybe this call should’ve been made after NINE women accused Batali of sexual misconduct. In addition to this specific accusation, several women accused the former Chew host of “inappropriate touching.”
Not only did the controversial food expert (sort of) apologize for the alleged behavior, but he also shared a cinnamon roll recipe with his statement. *Eye roll*
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Batali has since stepped away from ABC‘s talk show AND has dropped out of all day-to-day operations at his various businesses. His business partners noted on Sunday:
“We had taken a number of steps in the last six months to separate Mr. Batali from the business, including immediately removing him from any operations this past December and asking Ms. (Nancy) Silverton and Ms. (Lidia) Bastianich to take on business-wide leadership roles and responsibilities.”
This estrangement with Batali is certainly a wise business move, as TMZ has reported that Mario is under investigation for an alleged rape at ANOTHER restaurant. A female from Texas has alleged that Batali raped her at Babbo on January 29, 2004. It’s said the woman filed a police report in March of this year.
Supposedly, the woman was drinking at Batali’s West Village eatery when she went to use the bathroom at 2 a.m. Per the report, the next thing the victim remembers is Mario on top of her, forcing her to have sex. Smh.
10 women have also previously accused Friedman of sexual harassment and misconduct — resulting in his departure from his businesses.
Birds of a feather flock together, we guess??
[Image via WENN.]
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