Mario Batali.Photo:David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty
David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty
Mario Bataliappears to be promoting new projects.
On Friday, the chef, who wasaccused of sexual assaultin 2017, posted an Instagram photo of a pasta dish.
“Mario Batali Virtual Events Coming soon… email: mariobat888@gmail.com,” he captioned the post.
This marks his first post on the platform since October of 2017.
In May 2022, Batali was found not guilty on charges of indecent battery and assault in Boston Municipal Court. He settled two more cases in August 2022,according toThe New York Times.
Batali was first accused of sexual harassment and assault in December 2017.Eaterreported the famed chef allegedly groped four different women and engaged in inappropriate touching spanning two decades.
He was divested from restaurants following the allegations.Joe Bastianich and Batali formerly ranthe B&B Hospitality Group together. In astatement to PEOPLEin 2018, B&B Hospitality Group announced their partnership with Batali was ending, citing victim accounts as “chilling and deeply disturbing.” In 2021, the company wasordered to pay$600,000 to 20 people who were sexually assaulted while working at their restaurants.
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According toTheNew York Times, whose reporters contributed to the documentary, Eva DeVirgilis appeared in the film. She was working at Batali’s first restaurant, Babbo, in New York City in 2005 when he invited the staff to the Spotted Pig.
“I thought I would have a drink or two with the group, get on the subway and go home,” she toldNYT, but recalls instead finding Batali waiting alone for her in a limousine. DeVirgilis says she remembers Batali kissing her hard, and standing over her as she vomited, and then woke up the next day on the floor of the restaurant with scratches on her legs.
The New York Timesrevealed DeVirgilis shared a hospital report with the newspaper from later that day that describes her injuries, including bruised ribs and several abrasions. She was administered a rape kit but did not file a police report “because her boss is a powerful person who can blacklist her from the industry,” according to the hospital report shared with theTimes.
A representative for Batali did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the legitimacy of his posts.
source: people.com
