Back in 2015, celebrity chef Bobby Flay took a major hit to his public persona. He and Stephanie March separated and filed for divorce, and it got dirty really fast. Flay was/is a serial adulterer, and March had complicated health issues connected to a bad boob job. March said she made significant contributions to his businesses, he said she was just trying to get more money in the divorce. When Flay got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, someone arranged for a plane to fly overhead with a banner reading “CHEATER.” It was honestly one of the nastiest celebrity divorces I’ve ever seen. It made me look at Flay differently too – I absolutely believe that Flay cheats and he’s a workaholic. So… does any of that have anything to do with this? Flay is exiting The Food Network after 27 years.
Superstar chef Bobby Flay and Food Network are poised to part ways after a 27-year run that has made the restaurateur and businessman one of the country’s most recognizable culinary figures.
Flay and Food Network have been in negotiations on a new contract for some time. His most recent exclusive three-year pact with the Discovery-owned cabler expires at year’s end. Sources close to the situation said that Food Network has ended the negotiations.
Flay representatives at WME declined to comment on the situation, citing the policy of not commenting on active negotiations. That’s an indication that Flay’s team sees some hardball negotiating tactics afoot. But sources close to Food Network say the decision has been made to move on as the sides were far apart on financial terms. Food Network declined to comment for this story.
The parting will come as a shock to longtime Food Network viewers. Flay has been a staple of its programming since 1994, when the cabler was still in its first year on the air.
Flay has done and is still doing a huge number of shows for Food Network – I regularly watch Beat Bobby Flay, and Brunch with Bobby is a very peaceful and enjoyable cooking show. He owns restaurants around the country, he knows a lot about food, and he’s very “good on camera.” I wonder if this was less about Flay and whatever is going on in his personal life and more about how he felt like he’s earned bigger contracts for all of the work he’s done to make Discovery+ and the Food Network into the brands they are. And The Food Network was like “no, it’s time to find younger talent, cheaper talent.” Flay is tight with many of the Food Network’s older on-air talents too, like Michael Symon, Alex Guarnaschelli and Giada de Laurentiis.
Before today, I had no idea he was a cat guy. Damn it, that makes me like him more.
Photos courtesy of Instagram, Avalon Red.
Thank you baby jeebus. Had enough of him years ago.
I can’t stand him. He cheated on all his wives and is a phony. I also cancelled my cable tv and only stream now.
I’ve always thought he was a creep. I think it’s his eyes. He’s got those flat shark eyes. Whether he’s smiling or trying to be friendly, he still looks like a predator.
Yeah, he just reads “dirtbag,” even in these still photos.
Maybe the man’s just done. That’s a long assed time to be on air and the whole network has changed so much since he started. Instead of teaching people to cook, most of the shows are contests now.
As for his personal life? Most likely it is a mess but if that hasn’t slowed down his work before i don’t see how that it would affect his present. That man seems to thrive in chaos.
@watson
I agree. The network isn’t what it use to be. I only watch it for BBF. It’s really moved away from actual cooking shows.
The food network has become very reality show/contest based and the cooking shows they do have like That Pioneer Woman (cannot stand her) are awful.
I wouldn’t be surprised if goes somewhere else.
I would have said he’s Christian Slater’s brother in the header pic, does he look really different now or something? I’ve never seen his shows (although I did follow along with the divorce drama) but recognise him from the gossip stories.
Haha now I can’t unsee it! He absolutely does
Stephanie, you go girl!!! Like any relationship with a narcissist, it may be the most painful breakup, but you always get the last laugh in the end. Maybe she can get a show on the food network in his old time slot… LOL
Those are gorgeous cats.
There were lots of “good riddance” reactions yesterday. I don’t mind him, but many think he’s smug and arrogant. If everyone says it’s about the money, then I believe them. But Food Network isn’t really about fine dining or culinary excellence any more (if it ever was). It’s mostly peacefully chirpy personalities who are self-taught making quick and easy food. And that’s fine, but they don’t need an expensive chef for that.
I love his cats. I used to dislike him due to his smugness and arrogance but, over the last few years, it seems like he mellowed out and takes himself less seriously….even laughing at himself on BBF etc.
I never thought he was such a great cook.
His ingredient choices are always so predictable: honey, molasses, pomegranate seeds, chipotle peppers… dude is a hell of a chef though!!! I do think some of those Beat Bobby comps are rigged though… like you know the competitor did better and should have won!
And I am going to miss him! He is a huge presence on that network and I love his beautiful kitties 🐱🐱
He’s very basic but I agree that most of the times the opposing cook made a better dish than him on Beat Bobby Flay.
And tangerine juice.
He didn’t “make” the food network as much as the food network made him. He had one decent restaurant, the rest are kind of of meh. Most of his money was made through his cooking shows and personal appearances. It will be interesting to see how he fares without the spotlight of his shows. Maybe if he lands something like Rachael Ray did…
I’ve worked with and had relationships with many chefs in my twenties. I have never met one who didn’t have a huge ego and wasn’t an arrogant ahole. He’s on point. I like him. He seems more happy and settled lately. Good luck to him.
This is very true. Lololol
Right?? He just has that face! Haha
TRUTH. I dated a chef who I loved dearly, but holy cow he could be insufferable.
I like Bobby. I agree that he seems settled. I would eat 95% of what he made in a heartbeat, but I love Mexican/Latin-inspired food.
You can follow his Maine Coon cats (Nacho and Stella) on Instagram (@nachoflay).
Don’t worry, they will still air his shows on a loop. It’s be like he never left.
If Alex Guarnaschelli goes, I will be actually concerned.
I love her too.
Food Network is really more the Guy Fieri Network lately than the Bobby Flay Network anyway.
What’s Flay gonna do without TV shows to tape though? I wonder.
And I f-cking love Guy Fieri.
I’m sure he’s gonna land somewhere else.
Sounds like Food Network called his bluff. He might be surprised by how fast he fades from the public consciousness without his shows. I actually enjoy Beat Bobby Flay because you get to see new chefs you wouldn’t know about otherwise.
I have to be gossipy and ask is he the father of January Jones’ son???
The orange cat, Nacho, has his own Instagram account: @NachoFlay. Its a must for cat-lovers! The other cat is Stella. She has an account that is more of a placeholder and directs you to Nacho’s. I think one of Bobby’s daughters is the one who runs the account.
I remember when he was on The Iron Chef and lost. There must have been a lot of tantrums, whining and recriminations, so the show asked him back and he won the second time. Wow, he really was the best! Big, fucking, arrogant baby.
I have zero feels about Bobby but his cats Nacho and Stella are adorable. I’ve followed them on Instagram for ages and they are obviously well loved, well cared for, and photogenic as hell. My foster fail elderly maine coon kitteh died last year so I’m probably biased. As a former TNR, current cat rescue, foster & volunteer, I’m all about the cats and not so much on him or his recipes.
Love Maine Coons! If I fostered one, it would likely be a happy fail as well. Nacho is my favourite and I enjoy how he’s become somewhat of a celebrity. I have to admit though, I have a little crush on Bobby Flay, even if he is a sort bag in real life. My fantasy chef, cat loving thoughts are purely fun and irrationale.
I wonder if something is going to come out about him, like a sexual harassment accusation (or worse)
On a side note, one of my local chefs was on Beat Bobby Flay and beat him. She has a wonderful little Moroccan restaurant (3 locations now!) that is just incredible and a line of sauces in our local grocery stores, Aneesa Waheed. I think she was on Guy’s Grocery Games too but I didn’t catch that episode.
My only experience with Bobby Flay’s cooking was a miserable visit to Bar Ameracain a few years ago. It was terrible – the meat was over cooked and the salad was so salty, I sent it back – twice. I have avoided anything associated with him ever since. I don’t care what is going on with his personal life (though I was a fan of Stephanie March from endless hours of L&O reruns), but from what little I experienced, he sucks as a chef.
He’s got a huge case of resting douche face, which reflects his personality. Sure he’s tight with Giada, they had an affair while they both were still married (Giada’s no better BTW…she also had a fling with John Mayer while she was married). Maybe he’s in a better place now but he sure was a raging egomaniac/philanderer at his high point.
If a guy is a serial cheater and works a lot, he’s probably having affairs — or trying to — with work colleagues, and given Flay’s star power, some of them may have felt professionally pressured into it.
If that’s the case, this parting-of-ways may just be the public face of HR saying, “THAT’S IT; THIS GUY GOES NOW, OR WE’LL BE SETTLING LAWSUITS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.”