Mario Batali Fired From 'The Chew' Amidst Sex Misconduct Claims

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Celebrity chef Mario Batali has been fired from daytime show “The Chew” — a move that comes days after an Eater report in which four women accused him of inappropriate touching.

“Upon completing its review into the allegations made against Mario Batali, ABC has terminated its relationship with him and he will no longer appear on “The Chew,” read a statement posted to the show’s official Facebook account.

The statement also said no one affiliated with “The Chew” had accused the chef of inappropriate behavior, but added: “ABC takes matters like this very seriously as we are committed to a safe work environment and his past behavior violates our standards of conduct.”

Batali launched to culinary fame after a show on the Food Network, and has since opened several acclaimed restaurants in New York, including Babbo and Del Posto. He is also a majority shareholder in the upscale grocery store Eataly.

In the Eater report, published Monday, four women who spoke on the condition of anonymity accused the chef of inappropriately touching them over the last 20 years.

One of the women told the online news site that Batali fondled her breasts after wine spilled on her shirt at a party about a decade ago.

"He just went to town, and I was so shocked," the woman told Eater. "Jaw on the ground, I just stepped back from him in utter disgust and walked away."

In a statement to Eater, Batali apologized for his behavior.

"I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt," he said in the statement. "Although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stories have not been revealed to me, much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted.

"That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility and am deeply sorry for any pain, humiliation or discomfort I have caused to my peers, employees, customers, friends and family."

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