CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses sexual misconduct.
Guy Grossi, the restaurateur and celebrity chef most known for his Melbourne venues – including ‘Grossi Florentino’ and ‘Ombra Salumi’ – has apologised after allegations he groped a female journalist at a 2022 industry event came to light.
According to a report published by The Age, Grossi put his arm around the senior journalist, stared at her cleavage, and grabbed her right breast without consent.
The Age chose not to name the woman in order to protect her privacy.
Grossi claimed that he had “a different recollection of the event”, and denied touching her breast in a statement via his lawyers. The Age’s report noted that Grossi did not provide an alternative version of events.
He also said that he did not wish to “discredit” the woman and stated he was “mortified” by the allegations.
“I unreservedly and sincerely apologise… for that,” the statement read.
During the same event, Grossi allegedly touched another female journalist’s breast without consent. The Age reports that the alleged incident was supported by five other people.
“If I could have taken a photo of myself at the time, my jaw would have been on the ground,” one witness, who was not named, said of the second incident.
While he did apologise for his behaviour, Grossi also denied allegations of groping in a statement made via his lawyers.
He said that he “inadvertently bumped [her] from behind and propelled forward”, before he “apologised immediately”.
“I always act with warmth, kindness and positivity, and I am mortified by allegations I would act inappropriately,” he said.
“Such behaviour is simply not within my character.”
(Source: Eamon Gallagher)
After the alleged incidents, the publication both journalists worked for — which The Age also did not name — stopped writing reviews of Grossi’s restaurants, and refused to invite him to future events.
Further to this, an investigation by The Age — which spoke to more than 30 of Grossi’s employees — discovered allegations of non consensual touching and inappropriate comments. Grossi’s response was that these were “vague, without merit and contrived”.
The allegations come after the hospitality industry has come under intense scrutiny for an alleged culture of sexual harassment and abuse, in particular at hospitality groups Merivale and Swillhouse.
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