The famous chef was tried for an incident in 2017 in Boston.
May 10, 2022, 7:33 p.m.
• 5 minutes of reading
Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email this article
Famous chef Mario Batali was found not guilty of indecent assault and beating for an incident in 2017 in Boston.
“It is an understatement to say that Mr Batali did not cover himself on the night in question. His behavior, appearance and demeanor did not suit a public figure of his stature at the time,” said a Boston Municipal Court judge. James Stanton said Tuesday.
But the judge added: “This case is about credibility. And the court’s job is to adapt to assess the credibility of witnesses … The witness who complains has significant credibility issues.”
Natalie Tene, 32, said Batali kissed her forcibly and grabbed her chest, buttocks and groin after meeting him at a Boston bar while having a drink with a friend in March 2017.
During cross-examination, Tene repeatedly said that she did not remember the text messages she sent to friends who described her meeting with Batali as “exciting.” In a message, she suggested to a friend that she could “hopefully” receive $ 10,000 for photos of the meeting.
After two days of testimony and two hours of deliberation, Stanton ruled that the defendant had a financial motive for making the charges. Stanton handed down the verdict directly as the only decision in the case, as Batali waived his right to a trial.
On Monday, at the start of the trial, Tene said she was talking “so she can take control of what happened”, while Batali’s lawyer called her a liar who distorted the truth “about money and fun”. “
Renowned chef Mario Battali reacted after he was acquitted of indecent assault and beating in Boston City Court on the second day of his trial, Tuesday, May 10, 2022 in Boston.
Tene claims that Batali “grabs me in ways I’ve never been touched before, squeezing between my legs … drawing me closer to him.”
Batali says he is not guilty of the charges.
The alleged assault occurred after the prosecutor asked the chef for a selfie. According to her, he smelled of alcohol and looked intoxicated. Tene also filed a civil complaint for unspecified damages based on the same allegations, which will be heard separately in this case.
Although the case was the only one to be prosecuted, four women accused Batali of inappropriate touching in December 2017, prompting him to leave ABC’s daily cooking show “The Chew” and retire from his restaurant business. In a statement at the time, Batali said he was “very sorry” that he had disappointed his friends, family, colleagues and fans.
Marc Guarino of ABC News contributed to this report.
Add Comment