Mario Batali Found Not Guilty Of Sexual Misconduct Charges By Judge

BOSTON — Celebrity chef Mario Batali was found not guilty by a Boston judge on the charge of indecent assault and battery against him in a sexual misconduct trial.

Judge James Stanton came to this decision just a few hours after the defense and prosecution rested on day two of the highly publicized trial in Boston Municipal Court.

"This case is about credibility, and it's the court's job today to assess the credibility of the witnesses," Stanton said. "It's the court's job to determine how much weight to give the testimony of the witnesses."

Batali was expected to take the stand in his own defense but did not, and no witnesses were called.

"Mr. Batali did not cover himself in glory on the night in question," Stanton said in the ruling. "His conduct and his appearance and his demeanor were not befitting of a public person of his stature at that time."

Batali's sexual misconduct trial opened Monday in Boston Municipal Court — first with Batali waiving his right to a jury trial, then hearing his accuser's testimony about an encounter in 2017 in which she claims he groped her during a selfie at a Back Bay restaurant.

The 61-year-old former "Iron Chef" star from Seattle had been charged with indecent assault and battery, stemming back to accusations from 2017.

Natali Tene, 31, claimed she was "shocked, surprised, and alarmed" that a celebrity would use his status to kiss and grope her while intoxicated, adding that she felt confused and powerless during the interaction.

Tene continued, saying she posed for photos with Batali, and when the camera wasn't taking pictures, he took advantage of her, touching her inappropriately.

"His right hand is all over my breasts, all over my rear end, all between my legs," Tene said. "I've never been grabbed like that before ... squeezing my vagina and pulling me closer to him. As if that's a normal way to pull someone in."

Tene also testified that she felt "embarrassed" by the incident, adding that it took until other women stepped forward about allegations against Batali for her to speak up.

Batali's lawyer, Anthony Fuller, argued the assault never happened and that the accuser isn't a credible witness, and has financial incentives to lie.

"She's not being truthful," Fuller said. "This is being fabricated for money and for fun," Fuller said, referring to text messages shared between her and her friends, joking about the matter.

Tuesday began with Rachel Buckley, the accuser's friend, taking the stand and testifying that Tene told her about the alleged assault a few days after it happened.

"At least you could get a fat paycheck," Fuller read off of text messages Buckley sent to Tene regarding the incident.

Tene has filed a lawsuit against Batali, seeking unspecified damages for "severe emotional distress," that is still pending in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston.

Once a beloved fixture on the Food Network who donned a ponytail and neon Crocs, Batali slipped away from the culinary scene and was reportedly kicked off ABC's show "The Chew" after four women accused Batali of sexual harassment and sexual assault in 2017.

In March 2019, Batali sold all his restaurant holdings.

"He's paid a high cost in terms of diminished reputation and financial loss," Stanton said in closing arguments.

In May 2018, a woman told Anderson Cooper on "60 Minutes" she was drugged and assaulted at The Spotted Pig, where, per the Times, Batali was an investor and a regular customer. Batali denied these accusations, but said that "much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted."

"The kissing, the pulling, the groping — she never asked for it," prosecutor Nina Bonelli said. "She never wanted it. She never consented to it — all she wanted was a selfie."