Has anyone noticed that most of these abusers are really losers who couldn't attract a partner on their own physical attributes without wielding their positions of power and influence? There is something pathetic about a person who has to force himself on a partner to get sexual satisfaction.
26
My son is a former chef who has worked in high end restaurants. He paints a picture of an extremely toxic environment in kitchens. A temperamental chef is code words for a head chef who screams abuse at the staff, most of the kitchen staff is male and the female wait staff is considered fair game. Working for a known chef can make your career, so young people, women and men, will put up with almost anything to say "I trained under Chef XXXX." Then there is the rampant drug use. Restaurant staff work long hours under stressful conditions and the use of drugs to get them through the night and come down afterwards is very common. Lastly the extensive use of undocumented labor as line cooks, dishwashers, wait staff and others, means there are people who dare not complain no matter what happens.
This is an industry whose working conditions are almost feudal in some respects and is ripe for change.
32
These are ALLEGATIONS, why are these men being forced to step away from their lives? What changes?
Is your life supposed to end because you made a mistake? It's not rape, and instance where it shouldend, but something much less ugly.
What a shame that this is what we are all now focused on.
Article upon article of men who rubbed up against a woman 10 years ago and will now pay the ultimate price.
6
Make crocs great again!
2
Can I sue my mother for making me attend catholic school? The trauma lives with me still to this day. Also, sexual harassment is bad. Don’t do it.
10
“Am I supposed to report rumor and innuendo and suspicion?” he asked. “It’s not my story to tell. This is about the women and it damages the ‘me, too’ movement if we don’t let them speak for themselves.” No! Mr. Coliccho is wrong. Let's face it. Many of the sexual harassment/assault complaints have been made before by these same women and so many came to nothing. Finally they are being heard, it's true. But who is firing or suspending the men who engaged in these behaviors? Mostly other men in positions of power. And they will have to continue to play a big part if the "bro culture" that allows such behaviour is ever going to change. So, yes, Mr. Coliccho. You ARE supposed to report what you see and hear. Saying that "it damages the 'me, too' movement" is just another cop out ("hey, it's not me, eh!")
9
If you are unhappy with Mario and his overpriced and overrated restaurants then just do not go there. This is the best way to express your distaste for his behavior. Actions speak louder than words.
12
As long as women are treated as sex objects to sell, sell, sell products, then this culture will continue.
Women in restaurants are part of the product to sell. Hooters is the extreme but come on, women are entertainment objects.
American culture is steeped in the objectification of women via pornography which is so pervasive that boys cannot avoid it and get addicted as teens. This colors their outlook on women. Pornography has ruined many a life.
Today young women are expected to participate in their own degradation at strip clubs, in music videos, etc.
Stop objectifying women.
12
Molestation of women/men is terrible. But politicizing it undermines efforts to change behavior. Every time I see a comment here with "Trump/Moore," I know it is purely political. Does not help the cause.
4
I've got to imagine that at the next scheduled meeting of the He-Man Woman Abusers Club a bunch of dudes are going to be lining up to punch Harvey Weinstein in the face.
4
What is more stupid than abusing women? Admitting it. "Judge" Moore and trump just deny it and they're fine.
9
The "admitted" ones are bright, because they know that down the road the evidence will destroy them if they do not openly confess. Trump and Moore's consequences will be dragged out in hearings, henceforth magnifying their insane behavior.
11
You know what I'm really tired of? People who comment on someone's looks in the context of sexual harassment. Whether you like or don't like what someone looks like has nothing to do with anything and makes you sound like you're 11 years old. Grow up.
10
If the Times really thinks these "Me Too" anonymous claims are truthful and valid journalism they should toss them all into a newly created section of the paper next to Metro and Arts called "Tabloid Fare". This unending parade of printing lamentations of unidentified accusers is ridiculous and beneath valid journalism. I think I shall call Lupa to book a table to enjoy Mario's incredible spaghetti carbonara to calm my annoyance.
6
It's not tabloid coverage, it's a women's movement whose momentum won't stop!
14
If you've ever worked in the restaurant business, even for a day, you know how sexist it is. Always horrible language and behaviour in the back of the house. One of the worst industries for sexual harassment. Just a notch away from Hollywood.
12
Like Weinstein and other harassers coming to light lately, this is not new news to those who work in the restaurant industry. He's basically the Harvey Weinstein of the food world. He's crude to women he thinks are "hot" and a completely dismissive and mean to those he thinks are not. Everyone knew he's completely disgusting towards women. Those who act shocked at this now are mostly men who are in business with them. They claim that their own policy is to take harassment seriously. But it's not like they didn't know about Mario's behavior. It would sicken me when I'd see little kids dressed like him for Halloween, with a ponytail wig and orange clogs. This entitled disgusting beast is no role model for small children.
18
We are just a few days away from a new section (Or perhaps a new magazine) being added to the New York Times- "Men Behaving Badly" This country is officially insane.
5
"Beef Cheeks" indeed.
2
“I don’t remember specific instances, but that assaulting DOES sound like me!”
What is wrong with a person that this is their response to being accused of sexual harassment? It’s so mundane, all that harassment, that it’s just hard to come up with details, but the stories you hear sound right.
10
My god, they are coming out of the woodwork and that'a good thing. Because of all the Weinstein accusers more women were brave enough to come forth and accuse the men who took advantage of them. All those men have or are stepping down from their respective jobs so I shall presume the person in the oval office will do the same even though the huckabee woman came out and lied for him today......because that's what she is told to do.
5
Sexual misconduct is not sexual harassment. Misconduct is such a vague concept that it can be, and is being, twisted to suit anyone's agenda. Sexual misconduct is being used as a dog whistle to rally the feminist Democratic base in exactly the same way that Trump and the Republicans used irrational fears to rally the male base. This issue is pointing out that both the Republicans and the Democrats are cut from the same cloth. Both want power at all costs while ignoring the basic responsibility of elected officials to serve the people. We have an illusion of choice in this country and this needs to end for everyone's sake.
4
There should be no type of sexual misbehavior in the workplace and politics has nothing to do with it.
9
Watch the "Larry Sanders Show" from the mid 90's. Nothing has changed. The office environment is essentially a petri dish. Get out and take a walk on grass. I feel sorry for the vast majority of people that need to survive in thise places.
3
Why is it that the Paul Newman's and George Clooney's of the world are never - ever - accused of sexual harassment? Maybe because women went to them willingly.
Why is it the Harvey's and Bill Reilly's and Roger Ailes's, and Donald Trump''s and Mario Batali's are? Because - just maybe - they are physically unappealing and the only way they could "get" women was not by seduction -
but by asserting their power - and the women were repulsed - and they object.
And you you what - that is their choice.
6
Lest we forget Frugal Gourmet Jeff Smith.
5
Anything or anyone that moved. Make no mistake. Male. Female. It didn’t matter.
5
In the near future, we will all wear chadors and have our [smart]phones in one hand and a [legal] gun ready to record,comment,and perhaps act on every indignity. For now,I'm wishing that everyone would just slow down and give individual consideration to every one of these cases and how they are handled. Life is feeling awfully toxic right now, starting at the top. Maybe it is the shedding of a skin, but it's a long nasty road ahead...
3
Here's an idea: Let's pass the ERA. Congress and state legislatures have deliberately denied its passage for decades. Perhaps if our country recognized that women are equal, men might finally think of us that way.
13
We were invited to the Aspen Food and Wine event and were so bored we attended a Batali event. It was painful. He feigned assembling a dish while smirking or looking generally disinterested. More than once the staff had to intervene and correct the process or add an ingredient he had forgotten. The room was filled with fans, and I remember feeling awful for them as he treated his audience with detached disinterest. Apparently, when you're a star, you really can do anything.
10
The irony of people commenting about his physical appearance and saying “of course he did this! Look at him! I’m not surprised!”
This may a little bit of a tangent... While I don’t condone the behavior and it certainly needs to be addressed, I’m not sure ruining every man’s career is the answer. I for one, will now avoid any interaction with female colleagues for the remote possibility that i will somehow be accused of inappropriate behavior.
2
On behalf of women everywhere, phew.
Men who treat everyone equally and with respect have nothing to fear. If you're fearful, you need to do some soul searching.
11
I'm not defending Mario, but Italians in general are demonstrative, warm and passionate; it's ingrained in their culture from early childhood. Be it family, friends or new acquaintances, everyone is greeted with an embrace, a warm touch or a kiss on the cheek. Italians are known to be passionate people, unafraid to show affection without dread of misinterpretation, accusations or complaints of inappropriate behavior. In our culture, it would be considered an insult if anyone chose to be stand-offish or cold. Sadly, this spreading epidemic of accusers will likely change what we Italians consider to be normal. So, how do I explain to my 95 year-old Uncle Guido he can't hug anyone he meets from now on?
3
Nope. This is not a cultural thing, or an Italian thing. It's about power differential. He's a boss with an army of employees under him and he acted in ways that made his employees feel embarrassed and uncomfortable to being fearful of losing their jobs if they protested. It is an abuse of power and he knows it. Lots of cultures are 'warm and passionate' and that's great. This is something else. And though it's a painful period for our American society, it is a needed and long overdue cure for abuse in the workplace.
14
I know Italians, have close Italian friends and relatives e parlo l'italiano mica male. Yes they are passionate and full of love.That does not include physical aggression. A hug is not what anyone is talking about here. Neither is a kiss on either or both cheeks. Italians are also good at social cues. Sexual harassment is EXACTLY the same for them as it is for us. They don't do what I recount in my post below. Take a look and see if that is included in being Italian. Your post is a distraction.
12
Several days ago, a commentator to a different column on this topic posted a link to an article by Judith Levine in the Boston Herald. In it, she makes a case for restorative justice:
"Restorative justice...is a philosophy and a repertoire of practices that seeks to make whole both the harmed person or people and the community whose values have been transgressed. In a restorative conference or “circle,” the victim communicates to the offender the emotional and material impact of the crime, he is compelled to hear and understand, and participants, including family or volunteers as well as the parties to the offense, together craft ways to make it right—apology, work, training. Critical in this process is the community, which, when it is ready, takes the transgressor back free of stigma."
I have no doubt that every woman who calls out a man who harassed her feels wronged by what happened and has the right to come forward and name her abuser. Only, will this really solve the problem, a problem which, as it becomes more and more clear, is not one of a few, or even many, individuals, but is really a systemic problem?
If you have the time and interest, Ms. Levine's ideas are worth considering as an approach that may in the end result in real change, and real healing.
http://bostonreview.net/gender-sexuality/judith-levine-will-feminisms-pa...
31
Where will the 10,000 required volunteers be found to deal with the daily revelations? Perhaps every Starbucks could add a Restorative Justice kiosk?
2
Restorative justice is an amazing process, widely used in schools. I am noticing in in NYT comment section for first time, in connection with rehabilitating a white man accused of sexual aggression. Just noticing.
2
I'll go out on a limb and say Mr. Batali without question must be the ONLY celebrity chef who ever committed such behavior.
16
@BP - You need to stay off the limb. There are already credible allegations of sexual misconduct by other famous chefs, including John Besh, Todd English and Johnny Iuzzini.
17
And, so what?
1
He was being facetious
3
Good heavens, Another one? Where and when will this end? These days, even openly gay men, once thought to be 'safer,' are not immune. Do zippers need to have padlocks on them? This is Horrible and such behavior must stop. My heart goes out to the women (and men) so abused and yes guys, it IS time to learn how to behave. OMG!!
14
Cedargien: in 1984-85 I was persistenly sexually harassed by the first chef I worked for in NYC after graduating restaurant school.
He was married, which got him a green card, and had a girlfriend who worked in the kitchen. He had had an ongoing relationship with the (male) F&B director in the hotel. And he liked grabbing my crotch, my rear end, and my chest. I eventually. Lost patience and punched him.
I don’t know any female chefs who acted that way...never worked with a single one. But male horndogs? As common as pigeons in the park.
5
Not padlocks, chastity belts ...
2
I believe all women coming forward because groping happened/happens to daily in the workplace. But what should the punishment getting grabbed on the butt (as I was in 2002 in a corporate NYC office) be? Weinstein is a rapist and should be in jail. Other men being "brought down"? I don't know. With Batali it sounds like typical restaurant kitchens with lewd, juvenile, disgusting behavior on the part of the chefs and others that was/is allowed. That just needs to change. Instead of him stepping down how about him changing the workplace in his restaurants? I just read about Ryan Lizza, fantastic journalist/writer, being fired from the New Yorker. No investigation. Women should be believed. But how about women coming forward to HR, being taken seriously, having the accuser answer to his charges; if they are criminal then having a criminal complaint made? And if an investigation shows inappropriate conduct that goes against the sexual harassment policies which the New Yorker must have, THEN he is fired or he has to change his ways. Taking away all sources of income and for man after man is going to backfire and is getting ridiculous. If someone is raped in the office of an early morning personality or a movie mogul, call the police, press charges. Be believed. If someone is accused of unwanted touching, file complaints with HR and take appropriate measures as opposed to taking away the livelihoods of them and those who work for them.
73
It seems you have limited experience in dealing with HR departments. They exist to defend the management structure (that's who they work for, who hired them, who gives them their raises), not the workers.
Much of this is a he said/she said situation, hard if even possible to prove. "Due process" very difficult to execute. Much like the Black lives Matter movement, no one seems to believe anything unless a video exists. This probably won't happen in the case of sexual harassment - unfortunately, even an audio tape (see Trump's) doesn't get us anywhere (and he is now even denying it was him on that tape).
Much of this is not "criminal" - but this is not a reason not to take it seriously and do something. Child bullying is not "criminal" - but can lead to life long horrors and even suicide. Applying criminal justice standards to eliminating discriminatory, denigrating, insulting behavior in the workplace is not appropriate. This is a cultural phenomenon. People get fired all the time for many reasonsl. So firing someone for behavior that creates a bad work environment and deters certain classes of people from working there is a perfectly reasonable action, no matter the other good things that person may bring to the table.
I worked on Wall street with traders and the zeitgeist there drove away not only talented women (See Sally Krawcheck op-ed recently) but talented men who just did not fit into that culture. Big losses as a result to society.
7
You mean like talking to the HR department Charlie Rose didn’t have? He ran his own fiefdom as many powerful people do. Judging the victims is not a solution. We need a cultural sea change so that people are willing and able to come forward without consequences. And we need to have HR departments in place and trained to provide appropriate response. I’m really OK with harassers experiencing consequences as society sorts this out.
1
I urge you to read the NYT article "Sexual Harassment Cases Show the Ineffectiveness of Going to H.R." by Scheiber and Creswell. Human Resources departments can be part of the problem when they put the interests of the company over that of the employee. If the offender is considered to be a high value employee i.e. management, that is more likely to happen.
5
I guess he got tired of stealing his server's tips and needed another distraction.
He's always been a smug punk in orange clogs.
31
Great grandfathers, grandfathers, fathers, brothers, male cousins, and male friends need to stand together with females, stand together by speaking out against abuse of females, molestation of females, and sexual stereotyping of females !
16
Begin by not using the word "females" unless you are describing zoo animals, Lenny. We are women or girls.
4
Batali and co. also settled a class action lawsuit several years ago where the employees sued because they allege that management were stealing their tips. The settlement was in the several million dollar range. From grabbing the cash from the tip jar, to grabbing the you-know-what of female employees. Way to go Mario!
46
I have reported on this before in various fora so here goes another. I lived above Mario Batali's first restaurant, Po, for several years. one early afternoon I was taken aback by the sight of him chasing his sous chef up Cornelia Street, both of them wearing their restaurant whites. More astonishing was that Mr. Batali was shouting at the top of his lungs, "I've told you never to give out that number. Never! I told you not to give out that number! I've told you!" Over and over as he physically and literally chased the man in circles and then down the streetin full public view.
Any relevance? Maybe little except it shows the man is physically aggressive, has little regard for subordinates and maybe more depending what your take is on what I describe.
29
My take is that Mario was screaming, I told you to never give out that number 555-5555, and the other guy screaming back, but I didn’t give out that 555-5555 number.
1
Another unattractive man using money and power to coerce otherwise unattainable women. Trump, Moore, Weinstein, Batali. Yes, that's the way its always been, the question is - will we let it continue?
30
They are not great and talented if they are behaving in unprofessional, slobby, perhaps even criminal ways. The restaurants at the Top, the people at the very Top, are very well-mannered, they are Brilliant. Perhaps all of the restaurants need to be managed by The Top Level Restaurants. People are not getting First Class, when they are paying for First Class. ---- Probably Countries too... It is important for Students to see what The Top Level looks like, so they know what is required. Lets get people who are the "real deal" highlighted on the TV Shows and in the Newspapers.
2
when this has all played out,, the only 2 people left standing will be Trump and Roy Moore.
Trump has won bigly. Sad.
25
This insanity has to stop. People's life are ruined after 10 or 20 years of an incident of "sexual abuse" nothing specific, no investigation, just fire the guy and ruin him, especially if he is a Democrat.
Let the first really "abused " woman get a financial settlement and watch the feeding frenzy.
We need to get rid of Trump and his cohorts and maybe sanity will return.
16
He resigned from his positions, he wasn't fired or pushed. I wonder why he resigned?
5
You have no idea what you're talking about. How many women's professional lives have been impacted because they had to leave jobs where men were abusing them without consequences? He's lucky he got as far as he did before he was disciplined.
7
Given all of these accounts of prominent, talented men who have now been fired or resigned, an important question is what do they do now? Are they permanently unemployable? Do they go on welfare? Do they became farm workers as we are told that not enough Americans wish go into that line of work (farm workers might have higher standards)? American is a nation of second acts. Will these men have a second act? Or has the curtain come down on them?
7
Why do you not ask what happens to the women who are, to various degrees, traumatized? These men have millions.
1
Beautiful comment. If only the Phoenix that rises from the ashes of this latest American meltdown were the wisdom of Oscar Wilde and F Scott Fitzgerald, that would be enough.
What do these men do? They live off their savings and investments or sell their expensive cars and houses and live slightly more modestly on the proceeds.
5
Everyone of the men "apologizing" and stepping away is doing so because PROOF EXISTS of their behavior and they don't want it publicized.
Every man refusing to admit guilt is doing that because no proof exists.
It has nothing to do with the man's moral compass. If there's proof, he buckles quickly. If there's not, he doesn't.
16
[[Honeybee Dallas
Everyone of the men "apologizing" and stepping away is doing so because PROOF EXISTS of their behavior and they don't want it publicized.
Every man refusing to admit guilt is doing that because no proof exists.
It has nothing to do with the man's moral compass. If there's proof, he buckles quickly. If there's not, he doesn't.]]
You couldn't be more wrong.
Bil Cosby is an admitted abuser and yet will fight the claims against him until the day he dies.
3
The best proof that can possibly exist is audio and video evidence. The ONE person we all know of where this evidence exists is the Groper-in-Chief. Take him down before ANY of these others!!
5
A willingness to apologize does not necessarily imply guilt, nor does an unwillingness to apologize imply innocence. Guilty people often lie. Guilty people cover things up. Guilty people counter with false accusations. Sometimes apologizing, acknowledging another person’s pain, even if you know you did not directly cause that pain, or that you unintentionally caused that pain, is the decent thing to do.
For example, when President Trump offended Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sergeant La David Johnson, who was killed in Niger, he could have done the decent thing by saying something along the lines of, “I apologize for causing you additional pain in your time of loss. My condolences didn’t come out the way I intended. I am truly sorry.” The fact that President Trump did not say anything along those lines only fed negative narratives about his true intentions and leanings.
2
This is all very, very serious if we ever want women to be treated as equals of men and we should all want that. The time to change behavior is now.
21
I am afraid that the "me too" movement and related press may backlash. Not because I condone this behavior, but because the publicity that the accusations receive are equalizing the events of blatantly distinct severity. It appears that cat calls, unwelcome flirtation, sexual suggestions, touching different private parts, with adults or minors are being treated equally.
With this we should not be surprised when
1. Overtly aggressive sexual behavior is seen as normal or as being acceptable a few decades ago (which was not, by the way).
2. Women are excluded from business meetings for fear of misrepresentation. For example, a business meeting may be perceived as a sexual proposal.
27
Mario’s sincere and acknowledging apology is appreciated when so many like Trump their patently false denials.
63
It was written by his publicist.
28
No, it was not.
See how that works?
8
This guy had to pay back money he stole from his waiters a few years ago. That was “sincere”too, I’m sure.
3
I've been saying for weeks that Batali is next. I am in an industry that deals directly with the restaurant business and this has been know about him for a long time. I became aware in the mid 2000s. More to come I'm sure.
Trump needs to do his part and admit to his groping and harassment and resign as well like the senator today called for. We can only hope but who is he to set and example? He's the worst of them all without a doubt. So sad.
73
The worst? Hardly. Not by a long shot. There are many who are actual rapists. Interesting that we're all ignoring professional sports here....
5
and you might want to ask his employees how they are treated financially. Not good I'm told.
8
From Donald to Mario, the axe just continues to fall. But definitely get it. Trying to figure out what the "next" hot neighborhood in New York was going be just got boring. After Bushwick, it was just time to move on to other topics.
2
Let’s consider punishment of some kind.
Like locked in a 98 degree kitchen for 48 hours with his partners Mom, Lydia. Might be the perfect cure.
20
All women must be believed, and all accused must enter the shadows of oblivion. And this should also go for accusations long ago that, when made, were swept under the rug.
Therefore, send Bill Clinton off to the gallows of public shunning. And Hillary too. She did nothing to stop it at the time it was taking place. She was an empoweror and co-conspirator.
It will be worth it, just to put these two as distant dots in the rear view mirror.
14
I assume that you also believe the women accusing trump and that he should also be swept under the rug as well? Remember good for the goose is good for the gander. The Clintons are a distant dot on the rearview mirror, why isn't trump?
19
Apply the same standards to all, with the same consequences.
6
Therefore, send Roy Moore and Donald Trump off to the gallows of public shunning. And Melania and Kayla too. Their wives did nothing to stop it at the time it was taking place. They are empowerors [sic] and co-conspirators.
29
At this point, I am beginning to ask, "Is this is even newsworthy for the "All the news fit to print" NYT to report". And if so, why? Donald Trump, yes, definitely. Roy Moore, yes, definitely.
But I am beginning to feel like I am in a supermarket checkout line and perusing the latest headlines in the impulse tabloids on Brad Pitt, Pamela Anderson (?) et al. I actually bothered to read the Eater link to the article. I was not impressed. Mario should take a long vacation in Europe because the atmosphere in America is definitely toxic. C'mon guys, give me a break.
19
Sorry that women who have been physically and mentally abused by men who have usually financial power over them is upsetting your day. I'll tell them to keep it down and check with you to see if it is truly newsworthy.
32
Because abuse against women by men in positions of power is frivolous? Yes, the atmosphere is toxic in America, to perverts and their apologists.
24
Fifty three percent of white American women voted for Donald Trump, but I am expected to focus, focus as in national coversationalize, on the touchy feely transgressions of some guy that owns a few popular restaurants that I can’t even afford to eat in. Sorry ladies, but it doesn’t work that way.
1
Why are so many of the men accused, so significantly, physically unappealing? Think that has anything to do with it?
They impose themselves on women who would otherwise have nothing to do with them - be repulsed by them, Harvey and Roger and Donald and Mario. Do you guys not get it yet? The men that force themselves on women do so because most women would not willingly allow then to come anywhere near them. That's the only ones they have access to.. And the only reason they have access is because of their power.
Do you men not know how great sex is with willing women? Instead of the coerced?
100
Great point. As opposed to Elvis, Mick and Marlon.
9
No
4
Nancy, I bow down to your wisdom. Seriously.
3
The ultimate dog bites person story. I have worked in restaurant and other commercial kitchens for more than twenty years and I am shocked --SHOCKED -- to learn that there is sexual misconduct in the restaurant business.
26
Round up the usual suspects - Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, and anybody who has ever worked in a restaurant or hotel kitchen, from executive chef to busboy.
12
Although his behavior was dead-wrong, Mr. Batali is to be commended for owning up to it at once, when confronted. The Harasser-in-Chief should take a page from his book.
32
While I agree with you about the Harasser-in-Chief, I can't help noticing that all these touching mea culpas are appearing AFTER the men in question have been caught.
16
It would have been more commendable if he didn't act like life was a breast buffet.
2
His restaurants in Eataly, Boston seem so overpriced. His collection of crocs is so extravagant, why do people need so many pairs of shoes?
12
I love this comment. Love the interior monologue quality of it. Purest thing I've read all day.
20
Well that is just not fair. The product placement for Crocs, I mean.
1
I want to be friends with you
5
The first job I had outside of babysitting was as a 16 year old waitress in a famous old-fashioned diner in Scarsdale. The owner sent me in to the walk-in fridge to fill souffle cups with butter. Within two minutes he had come in, locked the door behind him and started groping me. Despite the fact that I was scared, young and freezing I screamed. A big voice was one of my assets. He opened the door and it was never spoken about again.
I worked in restaurants all over the city, as a lot of aspiring actors do and incidents of harassment happened in every single one, either with the owner, the chef or special customers.
My dream was about to be realized when I won a spot in a talent program and left New York for Hollywood.
The same thing happened there only the stakes were higher and the fall was steeper.
Men misbehave in every field. High profile men seem to believe it is their right.
Nowadays my voice is only used via this keyboard. It is no less loud and ultimately might be heard beyond the inside of that massive fridge.
196
I worked in a variety of restaurants in the 80s and 90s. At that time harassment was an every day thing for women workers; it was the culture and few thought to report the disrespect of wolf whistles, suggestions of a sexual nature or the casual brushing up against a woman's body with a wiggle of the eyebrows and a smirk on the face of the males. If you needed your job, as so many of us did, you ignored it and moved on. If the culture has not changed since then it is more than time for it to do so.
119
Your comment - especially the part about the "eyebrows and a smirk on the face of males" - reminds me of construction workers. While they've mostly stopped cat calling and whistling (from societal and management pressure, I assume) their enforced group silence while watching a woman walk by is just as disrespectful and intimidating as their verbal assaults.
7
I was persistently sexually harassed by the married male chef in the first kitchen I worked in in NYC after graduating from restaurant school from 1984-85.
There was a lot of drinking, drugging and casual sex back then. It was the wild west...I’m not exactly nostalgic for those days.
6
I too have worked in restaurants and other "service" related companies and i can tell you, it's not just the women who are at the receiving end. Things like that happened to me many times, all done by young women. The stories i can tell you....
3
How unfortunately different this is from a case like Al Franken's. Batali will "step away from daily operations" from his businesses but none of the income they generate him will be altered AND he has ADMITTED to his conduct whereas Franken has disputed his and should be considered "innocent until proven guilty" and should have been allowed to keep is Senate seat, VITAL to Democrats who are fighting against the tyranny of the GOP. So he's going to step away from daily operations. OK, same immense income with less work, that's a punishment anyone would gladly accept, isn't it?
36
7 stages of mourning
1
And Trump?
3
@ManhattanWilliam - Al Franken chose to resign at year's end, it was his decision. He could have waited until the ethics committee held a hearing, but as he said, he thought it wouldn't be in the best interests of Minnesota constituents.
Further, as Minnesota has a Democratic governor, the person appointed to fill the spot until the next scheduled election will be a Democrat.
3
If every male who has, at one time or another, done something that would now be considered "sexual harassment" go to prison, there wouldn't be enough prison cells in the whole world to house them. I keep thinking of the famous photo of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square upon the announcement of the Japanese surrender. They were total strangers. No permission was given. He just did it on impulse. It happens! It's time to stop imposing the norms of today on actions that took place decades ago. This whole movement has gone a bit too far. Except, of course, Trump. Lock him up and throw away the key.
24
Death and taxes happen. Does this make them right?
1
These guys are not going to prison. But women shouldn't have to shut up and take it so that men, no matter how popular or "important," can keep their jobs. What our current group of grabbers and gropers did was not the norm of yesterday or merely boorish behavior. The actions were those of particular entitled men who knew that they were in a position to impose their will on women and get away with it. Well, the chickens have come home to roost. If enough of these jerks get taken to task for such behavior then maybe others will learn the lesson and behave so we can attend to other business.
62
So, "it happens!" is your response to everyone but Trump.
And liberals wonder why Trump won.
4
Read Restaurant Man by Joe Bastianich, Batali's partner. It is a road map for sexual harassment in the restaurant business. Batali wrote the forward.
37
Also Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.
3
Is it raining men... or are they just dropping like flies?
32
In other news he's painful to watch although his food is tasty.
6
There are people who have behaved unethically in an employment setting, just like there are people who have cheated on their wives or lovers. With a few exceptions, i.e. Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby...it does not define who they are or how they should be judged. While sexual harassment is real and should be prevented, I am concerned about the atmosphere of demonization and the extremely broad brush that all offenders, ranging from Weinstein to Al Franken, have been painted with, with no regard to the severity of the offense, context, the ambiguity of the situation, , genuinely contrasting recollections, or the flawed humanity we all share. Unfortunately, this paper as well as several other headline grabbing organizations share some responsibility for this atmosphere. It has and will continue to create a backlash. The election of Donald Trump and the enduring popularity of Roy Moore, both despicable human beings, are part of this backlash. Come on!! Look at yourselves in the mirror!! Look at what you have wrought. Don't scream "racism", "misogyny", "insensitive brute", after every potentially inappropriate statement. Don't be your own worst enemy
36
Shocker! NOT. Absolutely repulsive guy too.
After film and theater, the restaurant industry has to be the most hostile work environments for a woman to be employed in.
56
Yeah right. Apart from undocumented immigrants.
2
I don't think that anyone who has worked at a Batali establishment is in shock over this...
79
... and here I thought the next celebrity chef to be outed for this sort of thing would be Bobby Flay ....
22
Another rich guy who will never actually suffer any consequences for his misbehavior/potentially criminal actions. He has billions to walk off with.
44
Billions? I don't think so.
9
Hey - he won't have to worry about being homeless or without healthcare while he grows old and gray, unlike many others whose careers were derailed by men who made life miserable at their jobs.
53
His Eataly venture grosses hundreds of millions. In the end, his net worth could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
4
Mario, yours is the best mea culpa to date. I certainly am willing to forgive you. My wife suggests cutting back tasting the cooking wine might help you regain your perspective and balance. Worth a try anyway, can’t hurt.
9
Interesting point-Mario did not deny or minimize what the women said, and acknowledged behavior that should not be tolerated. He has stepped away from the Chew and his restaurants, one which just opened in Century City. He says he is trying to figure out how to go from here. I know a lot of the feminists #metoo people would like him to set himself on fire, or kill himself.(That is what they are saying on various websites today) So what would be his next step? Shut down all his ventures and put people out of work? Just give the women $$? Really- he is not the president,or even a Senator. What should he do?
7
Why so many all or nothing options? There are many avenues to make amends to women that men have harmed, unique to their situations and resources. Perhaps they could start by being honest with their co-workers, educate the men in their businesses, and asking how it can be made right? Is that so hard?
4
Donate the money he’ll still be getting as income when he “steps away” to organizations that support women.
1
Not very surprising in the restaurant industry. Just ask Anthony Bourdain.
22
Bourdsin is probably never sober enough to even recall what he does! His show is very entertaining but in any other industry, he’d be thought of as just another drunk!
4
Ouch! This shouldn’t be free for all-leave Anthony Bourdain out of it.
4
Thank you, Mario Batali, for the wonderful recipe for rosemary coffee cake, which with integrity you credited to your pastry chef.
6
@Over 80 - What has that to do with the article, which is about Mr. Batali's admitted sexual assault issues?
10
Mario isn't the first and, certainly, won't be the last man in the food service industry who has treated women as a piece of meat to salivate over and sample without asking. I ran into this abuse as a college student trying to earn tuition. My father, as part of food service management, was mocked by male peers because he wouldn't participate in such behavior. He was labeled a prude and he believed such a perception of him held him back on promotions. A good cleaning out of the filth is a long time coming.
83
I say Amen to that! My mom was a in the food service business for over a decade, and she constantly had to deal with this same behavior... but I also think that it is society because it really is everywhere a woman can work... I have had jobs from roofing to oil changing to construction to teaching and cleaning houses... it's everywhere you go... if there are men, then the odds of this kind of behavior is so very likely. Like drugs... it's everywhere.
31
It's good that Batali and the others that have accused of sexual misconduct have taken responsibility for their actions, now we have to push D.C. to do do the same thing all the way to the top.
Then maybe 20 years down the road we will be a different country where men and women are treated equally and this type of social change needs to continue in so many directions.
21
Not a surprise to me. I felt that he greeted female guests on "The Chew" with a little too much enthusiasm and a hug with a little extra hint of "spice'.
6
When will #MeToo work it's way up to Donald Trump? There are dozens of women who have accused and sued him for sexual harassment. He is supposed to be the moral compass and upholder of our values as a Democracy.
142
Isn't this the same guy who stiffed his waiters and waitresses at Del Posto on tips a few years old? That was enough to show me that for all his talent as a chef, marketer and business manager, he's at least a bit of a sleaze as a human being. The incidents of sexual misconduct only reinforce and magnify that.
71
Well, at the very least, the point is now being made that sexual harassment/misconduct is bad for business. It's hard to tell how sincere these apologies are. That may even be besides the point. The wrath of financial misfortune probably counts for more and determines, in the end, whether or not people feel they should try to get away with their self-indulgent abusive behavior
I would like to think that people would naturally like to behave responsibly in the absence of consequences but, for now, that's an idle dream. So... let the consequences keep on coming.
I also think that everybody is increasingly aware of the fact (the literal elephant in the room) that not until they (consequences) finally reach the Oval Office we will have turned a serious corner on this - Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the other laughable toadies notwithstanding.
I don't know which one of them came up with the stupid throwaway phrase "it was litigated in the election" but only a fool would agree that an election is the equivalent of a court of law. I suspect that they will soon find that out.
51
I have worked in restaurants in many different capacities going back to the 80s. Most of the kitchen staff (cooks, chefs) I have ever worked with could be outed for what some would perceive as sexuality inappropriate behavior, as well as a number of bartenders, servers, and other staff. Maybe the places I worked were not typical of the industry but I do not believe that to be the case. The industry culture was very loose and casual. My only point is that we can probably assume that more than half of these famous chefs (as well as the non celebrity ones) are guilty of contributing to a sexuality hostile work environment. The question is how we come to terms with the past and move forward in a productive way?
54
The question is why Mr. Batali among others in similarly powerful position thought so little of others as to be selectively abusive when feeling self-indulgent. I am not pleased, not even a little, with these abusers.
55
I commend Mr. Batali on a thorough and sincere apology. Our society will have to come to grips with the reality of sexual abuse in its many forms and degrees. There are clearly so many people involved (almost all men ) who still have much to offer society in return for their various offenses, and we need to allow for a period of sanction and atonement, and hopefully feel justified in welcoming people like this back into society and normal life. Some offenders have more serious moral and psychological deficiencies, are unrepentant, or may be liable to answer for criminal offenses, but I am not sensing this regarding Mr. Batali in your story, or in his apology. Ultimately it is up to his victims to forgive him, but it is up to society to figure out a way to reintroduce sexual offenders back into useful roles for their benefit and the benefit of our society.
112
Your first words in your comment about Mario Batali are to commend him?! You should be condemning him. You have no idea if his apology was thorough because we have no idea whether all of his victims have come forward and whether his predation extended beyond the acts to which he has admitted. And why is your concern focused on reintegrating these predators into society? It should be on making sure their victims’ losses are being addressed. These men can cool their heels while we turn our attention first and foremost to their victims.
52
@Sarah, didn't read the comment you are addressing, so I may be getting this wrong. But it sounds like you are talking about serial rapists and Balkan war criminals, instead of people whose mis-conduct does even not cross over the line of chargeable offenses. "And why is your concern focused on reintegrating these predators into society?" Apart from Anthony Weiner if whether you mentioned him, I don't see that there is an issue say with reintergrating Mario Batali back into society. Me thinkst that you are being a tad ridiculous.
6
malabar
Your comment to the article is one of the best, most intelligent and well thought out I've read on this, what is now, an out-of-control phenomenon (I chose not to use hunt).
Punishment is not equalling the crime and everybody is getting thrown out with the bath water.
There is a difference in the degree of the alleged misconduct, but the penalty is the same.
Seriously, ruining peoples family and lives for a pinch on the butt years ago?
Your solution is on point, forgiveness is the key. Alas, that seems to be gone too.
Next we'll have to hear about the guilt associated with revenge.
PS Why is it OK for Hoda and KLG to call Hugh Jackman and Armie Hammer sweetie and honey live on national TV. That happened today.
I have worked at Babbo restaurant as a bartender for almost 9 years. There has always been a lot of good and bad publicity about Mario. As a women ( I do believe I am an attractive one as well) I have never been mistreated in any way!! I am sick and tired always reading negative comments. My time with the company only showed respect, strong training, great benefits, the growth opportunity, learning how to work as a team. I feel sad that great and talented people get to be pick on like that.
70
Tereza...Its appears that you are saying because you, as an attractive woman, were not harassed by Mario Batali, that these woman who did come forward to complain either are liars or over-sensitive whiners/complainers. Just because Mr. Batali did not molest you in any fashion, that hardly means that these women's complaints should not be taken seriously. After all, Batali basically confirmed the allegations that were made and they were deemed sufficiently egregious to cause him to have to 'step away'.
Yes, everyone is tired with hearing these type of allegations, not because these abusers/predators are being "picked on" unfairly, but because they serve to again chagrin and disappoint us as we continue to learn that there are so many powerful men who apparently feel free to abuse women. Hopefully, because of the courage of these 'complainers', such conduct will now be greatly diminished everywhere, and you yourself may very well benefit from that result.
162
Perhaps you should check in with your colleagues. It would be terrible to be accused of sexual harassment if one were not engaged in such behavior. Mr. Batali, in his statement, admits what he did. Attractive or unattractive (by whoever's standards), no one should have to remain silent if they were harassed or assaulted in the workplace (or anywhere else).
18
Your experience does not represent the experiences of all who have worked under Mario. Saying "I was not harassed" does little for those who were not as fortunate as you to work for this person.
107