Chew ignores absence of Mario Batali

Harassment claims got chef kicked off show

Monday’s episode of The Chew, the food-oriented daytime talk show on ABC, had a notable absence: Mario Batali, the co-host who was removed from his duties after four women accused him of sexual harassment. Batali also stepped back from operations of the 26 restaurants he co-owns around the world after the website Eater published a story about the allegations.

When other notable television hosts, such as Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose, were forced to step down after sexual harassment allegations, their co-hosts grappled with their colleague’s alleged behaviour on air.

“This is a sad morning here at Today and at NBC News,” Today show host Savannah Guthrie said, holding co-host Hoda Kotb’s hand as they opened the show on which they announced Lauer’s departure.

“Let me be very clear: There is no excuse for this alleged behaviour. It is systematic and pervasive,” said CBS This Morning co-host Norah O’Donnell, reporting on the departure of Charlie Rose after The Washington Post published a story detailing his harassment of several women.

But over on The Chew, remaining hosts Carla Hall, Michael Symon and Clinton Kelly did not mention the absence of their colleague. Instead, they were dressed in leis and Hawaiian shirts for a Christmas luau-themed show. An ABC spokeswoman told The Post the show was recorded last week. Batali has not been on the show since Monday, Dec. 4.

“It’s all over the internet,” said co-host Clinton Kelly, but he wasn’t talking about Batali. Instead, it was “A Christmas pineapple!” he said, telling his colleagues about a party trend. “Do you want to decorate one right now?”

Symon and Hall tested out a pair of hand-holding mittens. The trio made crafts and giggled. The authors of Trap Kitchen showed up to cook some salmon and pineapple. It progressed into a pig roast. There was no indication that anything was amiss at The Chew.

Batali apologized for the harassment in a statement to The Post, the same statement he provided to Eater.

“I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt. Although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stories have not been revealed to me, much of the behaviour described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted. That behaviour was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility and am deeply sorry for any pain, humiliation or discomfort I have caused.”

Mario Batali