MARIO BATALI

Legal experts and victims’ advocates say celebrity chef Mario Batali’s acquittal on sexual assault charges underscores the inherent difficulties of prosecuting such cases nearly five years into the #MeToo era.

Bill Cosby was released from prison when his conviction that he drugged and assaulted a woman was overturned. Quarterback Deshaun Watson landed a record-setting $230 million contract, despite an investigation into allegations he assaulted 22 women. Celebrity chef Mario Batali was acquitted this week on just the second day of his sexual assault trial in Boston.

The case was heard and decided by a judge after the celebrity chef waived his right to a jury trial, and he didn't take the stand in his defense.

The decision follows a swift trial in which the celebrity chef waived his right to have a jury decide his fate.

The case was centered on a woman who said Batali kissed and groped her while she attempted to take a selfie at a Boston bar in 2017.

The case was centered on a woman who said Batali kissed and groped her while she attempted to take a selfie at a Boston bar in 2017.

Trainer April Mayberry of Mayberry Farm, took Rich Strike in as a yearling and broke and trained him before he became a Kentucky Derby Winner at 80-1 odds.

Celebrity chef Mario Batali has been cleared of sexual misconduct following a criminal trial in Boston.

The celebrity chef is facing charges of assaulting a woman while she took selfies in 2017 at a Boston restaurant.

Batali's accuser recounts how she'd been "shocked, surprised and alarmed" as the celebrity chef aggressively kissed and groped her while taking selfies at a restaurant in 2017.

The celebrity chef is accused of groping a woman at a restaurant in 2017.

A woman who accused Mario Batali of kissing and groping her while attempting to take a selfie has testified in the celebrity chef’s sexual misconduct trial in Boston.

Batali faces a maximum sentence of 2.5 years in the Suffolk County House of Correction.

Celebrity chef Mario Batali’s trial on a sexual misconduct charge in Boston has been set for April.

Celebrity chef Mario Batali's trial on sexual misconduct charge in Boston has been set for April. The trial will take place April 11 in Boston Municipal Court, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office said Tuesday after a hearing. Batali pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery on allegations that he forcibly kissed and groped a woman after taking a selfie with her at a Boston restaurant in 2017.

Celeb chef known for his orange Crocs and ponytail settles charges that he and his restaurant company degraded women.

Chef Mario Batali and his former partner Joe Bastianich will pay $600,000 to sexual harassment and discrimination survivors at their NYC restaurants.

Three years after workplace misconduct allegations cost veteran TV and radio talk-show host Tavis Smiley his job and a national forum, he’s ending his silence.

Mired in years of scandal over claims of sexual harassment, famed New York City restaurant the Spotted Pig has closed. The restaurant's last meal was Sunday, according to Spotted Pig employees' social media posts. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images"I think Mario Batali's a monster," former Spotted Pig waitress Trish Nelson told Cooper in 2018. Spotted Pig co-owners Friedman and chef April Bloomfield, who had owned seven restaurants together and employed hundreds of people, didn't have a full-time human resources department until 2017. In a statement to the Times, Friedman said he had tried to keep the restaurant open: "For over two years I have done everything possible to keep the Spotted Pig open.

Batali is one of the most recognized and respected chefs in the world with 25 restaurants, 10 cookbooks, three “Eataly” markets and several TV shows. He joins "CBS This Morning" to talk about joining the (RED) Campaign to fight AIDS.