Chef who faced multiple sexual misconduct accusations is charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly groping a woman

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The celebrity chef Mario Batali is facing criminal charges for allegedly groping and forcibly kissing a woman at a restaurant in Boston.

Batali, who has faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, is charged with indecent assault and battery and set to be arraigned on Friday, according to the Suffolk county district attorney’s office.

A criminal complaint filed in April charges that the woman spotted Batali at Towne Stove and Spirits in March of 2017 and took a photo of him, the Boston Globe reported.

Mario Batali gives up his restaurants a year after sexual assault allegations Read more

When Batali saw her taking a photo, he offered to take a selfie with her, and then put his arm around her and grabbed her chest, the complaint charges. He then allegedly started kissing her face and touching her groin.

Batali gave up all his restaurants earlier this year after he was accused of sexual assault or harassment by several women, including accusations he drugged and sexually assaulted an employee in 2005.

The Boston case is the first time he has been charged criminally. The New York police department also investigated accusations against him, but that inquiry was closed with no charges.

A lawyer for Batali said the chef denies the charges, which match allegations in a civil lawsuit filed against him in August.

“The charges, brought by the same individual without any new basis, are without merit,” attorney Anthony Fuller said. “He intends to fight the allegations vigorously and we expect the outcome to fully vindicate Mr Batali.”

Batali has previously admitted other instances of sexual misconduct. After four women accused him of inappropriate touching in 2017, he said the allegations “match up” with ways he has acted.

“I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team,” Batali said in an email newsletter at the time.

At the height of its success, Batali’s food empire included dozens of eateries in the US, Italy, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The chef and restaurateur stepped away from day-to-day operations of his restaurant empire and his cooking TV show at the time, but only formally relinquished his financial shares in the restaurants this March.