The Tsunami of bad touching in our post Weinstein world has hit the culinary industry. Not even the realm of delicious foods is safe from wandering hands. A fresh-baked report indicates Mario Batali has stepped down from his restaurant empire amid allegations from FOUR different women. The accusations? He couldn't keep his meat claws to himself.

This exclusive from Eater is pretty explosive.

[A] chef is one of four women who allege that Batali touched them inappropriately in a pattern of behavior that appears to span at least two decades. Three of the women worked for Batali in some capacity during their careers. One former employee alleges that over the course of two years, he repeatedly grabbed her from behind and held her tightly against his body. Another former employee alleges that he groped her and that, in a separate incident, he compelled her to straddle him; another alleges that he grabbed her breasts at a party, though she no longer worked for him at the time. The woman whose allegations are described above has never worked for Batali, though she works in the restaurant industry.

So while you were admiring Mario on Iron Chef, he was kneading more than just dough in the kitchen. Lovely. First we learned sexual misconduct slithered its way into the family friendly film business (see WTF: Pixar Head Peaces Out Before Sexual Accusations Can Touch Him…), now the sacred culinary arts. Can nothing remain pure?!

While this report is brand-spankin' new, the celebrity chef was actually reprimanded for inappropriate behavior in the workplace as recently as two months ago. Apparently he issued an apologetic statement 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 behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted. That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses...I have work to do to try to regain the trust of those I have hurt and disappointed. For this reason, I am going to step away from day-to-day operations of my businesses....I know my actions have disappointed many people. The successes I have enjoyed are owned by everyone on my team. The failures are mine alone.”

Gross. But hey, at least he didn't blame Donald Trump. Amirite Al Franken (see Al Franken Gets Grilled by Accuser After Shameless Non-Apology and Roseanne Calls Out Al Franken for Blaming His Pervertedness on Trump)?

Just another example of celebrity rape culture.

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