Celebrity Chef Trial — Mario Batali (Part 3)

In 2017, world renown chef Mario Batali had it all — multiple restaurants, TV hosting gigs, and most importantly, respect. It all came crashing down for Mario in 2017, when a popular food blog, Eater, published an article accusing him of sexually assaulting multiple women. When Natali Tene, a then 28-year-old woman from Massachusetts, saw the article, she decided to step forward and tell her story. Natali alleges that Batali groped her when they took selfies together in April 2017. Batali's lawyers argue that Tene was never assaulted. They say she's just another woman hoping to cash in on the #Metoo movement by falsely accusing a rich and powerful man. The state denies any financial motives. They say that Tene spoke up against Mr. Batali "not for sympathy, but because this happened to her." But did this happen to her? Ultimately, this "case is about credibility" and will hinge on who Justice James Stanton, the sole arbiter in this judge-only trial, chooses to believe. ———————————————— This is the third episode in a four-part series on the case of Mario Batali, a chef who was tried for charges of indecent assault and battery. In this episode, I discuss the defense's closing argument. ———————————————— The alleged assault occurred on April 1st, 2017, in Newton, Massachusetts, and the case was heard on May 9th and 10th, 2022. The alleged victim, Natali Tene, has filed a civil suit against Mario Batali that is still pending (as of May, 2022). ———————————————— Murder in the court is a weekly podcast where I analyze and dissect high profile crime cases. Thanks for checking out the show! ————————————————