On Tuesday, the celebrity chef , Mario Batali; was acquitted of sexual misconduct after a two day trial. The restaurateur and author was accused of groping a woman in 2019; only two years later from being accused of the same from another victim. In the height of the #MeToo movement, Eater published an exposé; in which four women accused the celebrity chef of inappropriate touching. Multiple additional women subsequently came forward and accused Batali of misconduct; while the New York Police Department investigated sexual assault allegations against him.
Overall, there were several allegations from various women accusing the chef of sexual misconduct.
However he was cleared of them on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, New York police closed their investigation into Batali without bringing charges against him in 2019. But later that year; he was charged with indecent assault and battery in Boston; in connection with a woman who alleged he forcibly kissed and groped her at a bar; while they were taking photos together.
The alleged victim, Natali Tene; also filed a lawsuit against Batali from an alleged assault in 2017; accusing Batali of of indecent assault and battery for kissing and groping her against her will.
However, his trial on the criminal charges began in May 2022; while he faced the possibility of over two years in prison; if convicted. Regardless, he waived his right to a jury trial; allowing the judge to decide his fate. Clearly, that decision worked out in his favor.