Celebrity chef Mario Batali is the focus of a rape investigation by the New York City police department after a woman claimed he sexually assaulted her at a bar in 2004, according to a report by TMZ. The woman said that she blacked out when she went upstairs to use the bathroom at Batali's restaurant Babbo. When she woke up, she stated that Batali was on top of her, having sex with her.
The latest allegation comes after a 60 Minutes report that detailed a “rape room” on the third floor of The Spotted Pig, a restaurant owned by Ken Friedman, who is a personal friend of Batali's. Former employees of the restaurant claimed that Batali would drug them and bring them upstairs to rape them.
"I woke up by myself on the floor, I don’t know where I am, of an empty room, wooden floor. I see broken bottles. The first thing I think is, ‘I’ve been drugged.’ That was the first thing I thought is, ‘I’ve been — I’ve been assaulted.’”
Batali's actions were well-known by the waitstaff. They called him "The Red Menace" and would warn each other whenever he showed up.
Because it was a warning. The Red Menace is here. You know, like, pull all of your bits in, Mario's in town.
In one instance, Batali grabbed the boobs of one of the waitresses, but when she told Friedman, he brushed it off telling her, "Oh, don't worry about it, it's just Mario."
Photo: Getty Images