Eataly Officially Ends Relationship With Embattled Chef Mario Batali

When Mario Batali last captured a flurry of news' cameras attention, he appeared in a Boston municipal court where he pled not guilty to a charge of indecent assault and battery (and revealed a noticeably different figure after significant weight loss). Now, the embattled chef is in the news again as Eataly has officially severed its ties with Batali.

Eataly USA purchased Batali's minority stake in the company, spokesperson Chris Giglio confirmed to the Associated Press on August 16. This officially ends their relationship, although Batali hadn't been directly involved with Eataly since the first allegations against him emerged.

The next court hearing for Batali's case — in which a woman alleges he groped and kissed her at a Boston restaurant, and to which he has pled not guilty — is scheduled for August 30.

Allegations against Batali first emerged on December 11, 2017. The chef followed up with a botched apology letter, but the fallout began swiftly: In addition to traces of him vanishing from Eataly, he was fired from The Chew (which ABC eventually canceled), his restaurants closed, and other chefs stepped back from their associations with his name.

In March, Batali's partners bought out Batali's stake in his restaurant group, formerly known as Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group.

For their part, The Chew's former co-hosts Carla Hall, Michael Symon, and Clinton Kelly have moved on.