Giada De Laurentiis Alleges Mario Batali Commented on Her Appearance
Giada De Laurentiis shared a poignant experience involving Mario Batali that influenced her view of him and his perception of her as a chef.
“This is someone we aren’t supposed to discuss, but I will,” De Laurentiis, 54, stated during a July episode of Samah Dada‘s On the Menu YouTube Show, a segment that was shared on TikTok recently.
De Laurentiis recounted the time she was writing her debut cookbook, Everyday Italian, in 2005, and asked Batali, 64, for a foreword.
“He was the primary person I’d worked with. He’s a legend in the Italian culinary world,” the former Food Network host remarked. “His endorsement would have been a significant achievement for me.”
After Batali agreed to pen something, De Laurentiis felt exhilarated until she read what he allegedly wrote.
“Reading it brought me to tears,” De Laurentiis confessed. “I realized he was implying that my success is due to my appearance, and that if he had my physique, he would have achieved even more.”
The renowned chef was taken aback as she reflected on the incident, recognizing that it indicated Batali’s lack of professional respect for her.
“It felt like a punchline to him, right? It was as if he viewed me as a joke,” De Laurentiis claimed.
She refrained from disclosing the specific content of Batali’s alleged inscription, revealing that the passage was ultimately never published.
“I called my editor in tears,” De Laurentiis recounted. “I realized I couldn’t use this. So what should I do now?”
The author of Super Italian described how her editor suggested she rewrite the foreword and submit it to Batali for approval.
“We did rewrite it, but I will never forget that moment,” De Laurentiis admitted, adding, “That’s how many perceive me: just a pretty girl with a nice figure, and that’s why they watch her.”
When the cookbook was released, the foreword stated that De Laurentiis was not merely on television for her looks; she is a genuine Italian woman who can cook.
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives of both De Laurentiis and Batali for comment.
Since the release of Everyday Italian, De Laurentiis has enjoyed an impressive career. She has hosted several cooking shows, including Giada at Home 2.0, which aired from 2008 to 2020, and has authored 10 additional cookbooks exploring her Italian heritage and culinary experiences.
Though Batali was a prominent figure in celebrity cooking and the restaurant industry for years, his reputation faced significant deterioration in 2017. He was dismissed in December from The Chew following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct that reportedly occurred years earlier.
“I apologize to those I have mistreated and hurt. Although most identities mentioned in these accounts have not been disclosed to me, much of the behavior described aligns with how I have acted,” Batali stated at the time, stepping away from his business ventures. “Such behavior was unacceptable, and I take full accountability, deeply regretting any pain, humiliation, or discomfort I have caused my peers, employees, clients, friends, and family.”
In May 2022, Batali was acquitted of a charge of indecent assault and battery. Three months later, he settled two lawsuits related to sexual misconduct with women who accused him of inappropriate conduct in Boston.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
