Johnny Iuzzini was hit with four more accusations of sexual misconduct on Tuesday
ABC has taken The Great American Baking Show off the air over sexual misconduct allegations against judge Johnny Iuzzini.
Iuzzini was first hit with the allegations on November 29, when Mic published the accounts of four women who had worked under Iuzzini at Jean Georges in New York City.
The women described being sexually harassed and even verbally abused by the inappropriate and temperamental executive pastry chef.
Iuzzini partially apologized for some of the behavior recounted in the story, while claiming innocence when it came to some of the other accusations.
In the end, ABC decided to go forward with airing the third season of The Great American Baking Show, which debuted last week. Iuzzini judges the show alongside Paul Hollywood, who also judges the original British show.
But ABC pulled the show off the air on Wednesday, a day after Mic published a second report, citing four more people who had either been personally harassed by Iuzzini or witnessed his misbehavior. The second episode was set to air on Thursday.
In a statement to Variety, the network said that they decided to take the show off the air because of Iuzzini’s reported actions.
On Wednesday, ABC responded to the newest accusations by taking The Great American Baking Show off the air. Iuzzini (second left) was a judge on the show, alongside Paul Hollywood (left). It was hosted by Ayesha Curry (second right) and Anthony Adams (right)
‘In light of allegations that recently came to our attention, ABC has ended its relationship with Johnny Iuzzini and will not be airing the remainder of “The Great American Baking Show” episodes,’ an ABC spokesperson said.
‘ABC takes matters such as those described in the allegations very seriously and has come to the conclusion that they violate our standards of conduct. This season’s winner will be announced at a later date. Episodes of “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and “CMA Country Christmas” will take its place this week and next.’
Iuzzini has yet to respond to his TV show’s effective cancelling.
He did however respond to the latest wave of accusations to Mic, saying they are ‘simply untrue’.
‘I am truly disheartened at the thought of anyone being hurt from my past actions,’ Iuzzini said. ‘However, there is a difference between accepting responsibility for my immaturity and allowing false claims and accusations to be reported.’
The women in the two reports said that Iuzzini was sexually inappropriate in the workplace, including sticking his tongue in one subordinate’s ear on multiple occasions.
He also is accused of asking female staffers for massages and using kitchen tools to suggestively touch them.
One former chef said that he would ‘stand behind you really close and breathe on your neck’.
All of the accusations stemmed form Iuzzini’s time as executive pastry chef at Jean Georges in New York City.
Located in the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Jean Georges is one of the best restaurants in the city.
Iuzzini is just the latest chef to fall in the sexual harassment scandals that have been sweeping every industry.
Just this week, Mario Batali stepped down from his role at The Chew and in his restaurant group over sexual misconduct allegations.
And on Tuesday, disturbing allegations came to light about Spotted Pig restaurateur Ken Friedman, who is said to have had a ‘rape room’ at the former Michelin star restaurant.