Controversies Food Network Stars Want You To Forget

The meals world is not all the time sugar, spice, and every little thing good. Behind the glitz of Michelin stars, Instagram-perfect plates, and Meals Community fame lies a buffet of beefs, shady clapbacks, murder-for-hire plots, and a few actually awkward “did-they-just-say-that?” moments. These culinary stars could also be recognized for his or her abilities within the kitchen, however some have stirred up extra drama than a badly edited actuality present finale.

The vary of scandals is as numerous because the dishes a few of these cooks serve. Every part from explosive Twitter rants, public breakups turned social media sagas, and grudges that boiled over in essentially the most public approach doable. There are Food Network stars who padded their résumés and acquired uncovered, cooks who clapped again tougher than a cast-iron skillet, and relationships that crumbled in real-time for all of the web to see.

Whether or not you’re keen on a juicy scandal or simply take pleasure in seeing your favourite culinary icons get somewhat messy, we have rounded up essentially the most unforgettable meals world controversies. So seize your popcorn (or a charcuterie board) and dig into the pettiest, wildest, and most chaotic meals moments that left a foul style in everybody’s mouths.

Ina Garten, beloved host of Barefoot Contessa, discovered herself in scorching water in 2011, however not the sort she normally makes use of for pasta. A younger boy named Enzo, who was battling leukemia, had requested to cook dinner with Garten as a part of the Make-A-Want Basis. However in line with his household, Garten declined twice. 

The controversy boiled over after Enzo’s mom shared their disappointment on a weblog, sparking a wave of public criticism. According to ABC, Pereda’s mom wrote, “I felt horrible for him, he has been unwavering in his need to satisfy her for 3 years, and regardless of many makes an attempt to get him to choose a second want or change his thoughts, he wouldn’t. Final 12 months, Ina gave a ‘comfortable no’ supposedly as a result of she had a 10-month e book tour and so they referred to as and requested him what he wished to do and he mentioned ‘I’ll wait’ and he did.”

Ultimately, Garten supplied to meet the want and invited Enzo to the Meals Community studios. However by that time, his household had moved on, and Enzo had chosen to swim with dolphins as an alternative.

The Barefoot Contessa by no means publicly commented intimately, however her reps mentioned the preliminary rejections have been as a result of scheduling conflicts. Nonetheless, the incident left a smudge on her in any other case spotless popularity.

Joshua Adam Garcia, higher often called Chef JAG, was nicely on his solution to Meals Community fame in 2007 as a standout contestant on “The Subsequent Meals Community Star.” With charisma, confidence, and a self-described “Latino Fusioné” cooking fashion, he shortly grew to become a fan favourite. However simply as his star was rising, it got here crashing down over a résumé riddled with lies.

Throughout his time on the present, Garcia claimed to be a graduate of the New York Restaurant College and a embellished fight veteran who had served in Afghanistan. Seems the most important factor JAG ever cooked was his backstory. Though Garcia did attend the New York Restaurant College, Reality TV World notes that the director of public relations on the college revealed that Garcia by no means graduated. He additionally by no means deployed to Afghanistan. When the reality got here to mild, JAG voluntarily withdrew from the competitors and issued a public apology.

What might have been a launchpad to superstar chef standing changed into a cautionary story about reality, belief, and the perils of padding your bio on nationwide TV.

In 2017, Carla Hall stirred controversy by publicly backing up her embattled bestie, Mario Batali, because the chef confronted a number of allegations of sexual misconduct, resulting in his departure from the ABC present “The Chew” and his restaurant empire. Whereas many distanced themselves from Batali, Corridor maintained her friendship with the disgraced chef, telling The Feast, “Mario by no means displayed these sorts of actions towards me — it was solely respect and really beneficiant by way of his information within the trade.” Her feedback have been met with swift backlash from critics accusing her of downplaying severe allegations and misreading the second.

However that did not shake Corridor’s stance. In 2024, she instructed People, “Once you learn one thing about someone in a newspaper, and you do not know that particular person, that story turns into one hundred pc of what you recognize about that particular person. When you recognize the particular person, that story turns into two % of what you recognize concerning the particular person.”

Darnell Ferguson made a reputation for himself as certainly one of Meals Community’s most dynamic personalities, lighting up reveals like “Match of Champions” and “Man’s Grocery Video games,” co-hosting “Worst Cooks in America,” and ultimately touchdown his personal collection, “SuperChef Grudge Match.” Recognized for his larger-than-life power and a private story of redemption—from homelessness to internet hosting his personal reveals—Ferguson was an inspirational determine within the culinary world. However in early 2024, that narrative took a sudden and unsettling flip.

In January, Ferguson was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, on a collection of significant fees, together with housebreaking, assault, and strangulation. In line with police stories, the costs stemmed from an alleged home dispute. The arrest got here as a shock to followers, particularly those that admired him for his group outreach and candid discussions about overcoming adversity.

The information reverberated throughout social media and trade circles, with many expressing disbelief. On Reddit, followers voiced their reactions, with one user stating, “I think about there is no yet another upset by this than Man [Fieri]. He clearly actually favored Darnell and caught his neck out to place him on numerous reveals.”

Juan-Carlos Cruz went from counting energy to counting years behind bars. The previous Meals Community star, recognized for trimming the fats off your favourite dishes because the “Calorie Commando,” surprised followers in 2010 when he was arrested for allegedly attempting to rent two homeless males to homicide his spouse.

In line with a CNN report, Cruz approached the boys, who glided by the names “Large Dave” and “Little Dave,” in a Santa Monica park and supplied them $500 for the job.

Whereas Cruz did not publicly clarify his motives, sources near the couple pointed to years of emotional pressure as a result of fertility struggles as a doable backdrop to the surprising scheme. Cruz pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 9 years in jail, with parole eligibility after 4 and a half years. For the report, the Meals Community distanced itself from Cruz, saying he hadn’t been affiliated with the community “for a variety of years.”

Across the similar time Buddy Valastro grew to become a family title on “Cake Boss” over at TLC, he appeared on “Meals Community Problem” and later “Beat Bobby Flay.” His cake abilities set him aside and helped launch his actuality TV empire, however in 2012, his actuality TV reign hit a bitter observe after a “Cake Boss” episode featured a transphobic phase.

The controversy unfolded after producers instructed transgender mannequin Carmen Carrera she’d be showcased as a job mannequin for the trans group. As an alternative, she was used because the punchline of a merciless prank. Within the episode, Carrera waited at a bar for Valastro’s cousin, Anthony “Cousin Anthony” Bellifemine. The 2 flirted, and Carrera kissed him on the cheek. Buddy then revealed, “That is a person, child!” adopted by a shot of Cousin Anthony bolting from the bar.

Carrera publicly referred to as out the present, posting on Fb, “I SPECIFICALLY requested the producers of ‘Cake Boss’ NOT to disrespect me or trans individuals,” mentioned Carrera in a Fb put up, in line with L.A. Times. “CALLING A TRANSGENDER WOMAN A MAN IS WRONG. Interval. Its degrading, its impolite, and its very hurtful.”

Following the backlash, the episode was pulled from the air, and Valastro issued a public apology on Fb to Carrera and the LGBTQ+ group. “It was completely not my intention to upset or offend her, or anybody throughout the group, and I used to be unsuitable to make use of the phrases I did,” Valastro mentioned in his assertion. Nevertheless, the controversy left a long-lasting stain on Valastro’s popularity.

Alton Brown, celebrated for his quirky, food-science persona on reveals like “Good Eats,” shocked followers in November 2020 with a collection of controversial tweets, as reported by Deadline. Amid political tensions surrounding the presidential election, Brown posted: “Do you suppose camp uniforms shall be striped, like those at Auschwitz, or will plaid be in vogue?” The tweet, referencing Holocaust imagery, was met with swift and widespread condemnation.

The backlash was fast. Many followers expressed their dismay, with some urging Brown to rethink his on-line presence. In response, Brown deleted the tweet and issued an apology, stating, “I apologize for the flippant reference I made to the Holocaust in my tweet final night time. It was not a reference I made for humorous impact, however slightly to replicate how deeply frightened I’m for our nation. It was a really poor use of judgment and in poor style.”

Alton Brown’s tweet marked a departure from his regular on-line persona. For a lot of followers, it served as a stark reminder that even admired figures could make missteps on social media by posting impulsively, notably when addressing delicate subjects.

In Could 2018, comic and former host of Food Network’s “Ginormous Foods,” Josh Denny tweeted that the time period “straight white male” had turn out to be “this century’s N-word,” suggesting it was used to “offend and diminish the recipient based mostly on assumption and bias.” The tweet was broadly criticized as tone-deaf and offensive, leading to vital backlash on-line, with many calling for Denny’s dismissal from any platform tied to his model.​

The controversy intensified when Denny appeared on Van Lathan’s podcast, “The Pink Tablet,” the place he defended his tweet and used the N-word a number of occasions, regardless of Lathan clearly expressing discomfort. On the podcast, Denny said, “I take duty for it. I mentioned these issues,” however stopped in need of issuing an actual apology.​

The remark drew widespread condemnation, and even Dictionary.com weighed in, tweeting, “The n-word is taken into account essentially the most offensive phrase within the English language. ‘Straight white male’ is … not.”

Anthony Bourdain was no stranger to beef — and never simply the sort you sear to an ideal medium-rare. The late culinary icon was recognized for throwing shade prefer it was seasoning, calling out everybody from Man Fieri to Rachael Ray. However in 2010, it was Tyler Florence who discovered himself within the crosshairs.

As reported by the Houston Press in 2010, an viewers member requested Bourdain what he considered Florence. His reply? “Hey, I really like what he is accomplished with Applebee’s,” a jab at Florence’s much-criticized partnership with the informal eating chain.

Florence additionally took a shot on Twitter and questioned Bourdain’s credibility: “In case you check out Anthony Bourdain, have you ever ever seen that man put something on a plate? What offers him the proper to say something about anyone?”

However when Bourdain handed away in 2018, Florence took a distinct tone and posted a photo on Instagram of Bourdain with the caption “Heartbreaking… @anthonybourdain lifeless at 61. The meals world misplaced it is greatest fan.” It regarded just like the grudge had cooled, and Florence was simply certainly one of many cooks deeply affected by the lack of a larger-than-life determine who modified the meals world ceaselessly.

Earlier in 2025, Meals Community star, actress and cookbook author, Valerie Bertinelli posted a throwback photo from 1979, posing in black underwear from an outdated CBS photoshoot. Whereas she captioned it with a lighthearted nod embracing her previous, some individuals learn extra into it. Among the many loudest voices? Her latest ex-boyfriend, Mike Goodnough, who had publicly accused Bertinelli of utilizing social media to ship him hidden messages and take delicate swipes at him. 

In line with the New York Post, Goodnough aired out grievances in a prolonged social media put up, claiming he was unfairly portrayed and repeatedly focused. “Whereas I’m upset within the array of hostile, dishonest, and uncalled for backhanded swipes she continues to take at me, there isn’t any battle between us,” mentioned the put up. “She simply will not cease capturing. Valerie is in a battle together with her ghosts. I am simply the man who catches the bullets. And that is not new.” Although Bertinelli by no means confirmed whether or not the put up had something to do with him, the timing added one other twist to their already very public break up.