Latest news with #IronChefAmerica
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anne Burrell's shocking death probed as possible drug overdose, autopsy results awaited
The culinary world has been shaken by the sudden and heartbreaking death of celebrity chef Anne Burrell, who was found lifeless in her Brooklyn apartment last week. Known for her fierce attitude and iconic spiked hair, the 55-year-old Food Network favourite was reportedly discovered unresponsive in her shower, surrounded by nearly 100 assorted pills, raising suspicions of a possible drug overdose. Anne Burrell's death According to a report obtained by The New York Times, Burrell's death is being treated as 'unconscious and unresponsive, surrounded by numerous pills,' although official confirmation on her cause of death remains on hold. The New York City Medical Examiner has completed an autopsy, but is yet to release findings, citing the need for toxicology results. Authorities were alerted by a concerned individual via a 911 call around 8 a.m., prompting police to enter the residence, where they reportedly found the chef unresponsive. The report also indicates a potential cardiac arrest, although it remains unclear whether it was the cause or a consequence of the suspected overdose. Who is Anne Burrell? Burrell rose to fame as the no-nonsense host of Worst Cooks in America, guiding kitchen disasters through culinary boot camps. Her television career began beside Mario Batali on Iron Chef America, and she quickly earned a name for her bold teaching style and magnetic screen presence. In January, she mysteriously exited her signature show, and when fans pressed her about the change on Instagram, she candidly responded that she honestly did not know why. Tributes have poured in from across the culinary world. Her family described her as a 'beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend,' adding that her light and warmth reached far beyond her personal circle. 'Her spirit and boundless love remain eternal,' they said in a statement. Chef Bobby Flay also paid a heartfelt tribute, crediting Anne for introducing him to Maine Coon cats, especially his own pet Nacho, calling it a lifelong gift. As her final season of Worst Cooks is queued for release, fans are left with a bittersweet farewell, grappling with the loss of a television icon whose legacy was anything but bland.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Anne Burrell's death under investigation as a possible drug overdose
The New York City Police Department is investigating the death of Anne Burrell, the popular Food Network star who was found dead in her Brooklyn home on Tuesday morning, as a possible drug overdose, according to an internal document viewed by The New York Times. The document said Burrell, who was 55, had been 'discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.' Emergency medical workers who responded to a 911 call pronounced her dead at the scene. A spokesperson for the city medical examiner's office said Friday that an autopsy had been completed, but that any findings on the cause and manner of Burrell's death were still pending. Burrell was an accomplished Italian chef who began her television career as a sous-chef to celebrity chef Mario Batali on the Food Network show 'Iron Chef America.' She was best known for hosting 'Worst Cooks in America,' which has run for 28 seasons. With her plume of platinum-blond hair, signature mismatched socks and a way of teaching that included a big helping of unvarnished truth, she became a mainstay for the network, appearing as a guest or judge on several other shows and even once riding on the network's float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In January, fans were surprised to see that Burrell was not hosting the new season of 'Worst Cooks.' Neither she nor the network has explained the change. An indication of a possible conflict came in a Jan. 10 Instagram post when someone asked her why she wasn't on the show and Burrell answered, 'Honestly I don't know.' The night before she died, Burrell had embarked on a new passion: improv. She performed for the first time at Second City New York in Brooklyn after taking classes at the venue's training center. Friends and her food television colleagues said she had also talked about undertaking some new projects. Chef Andrew Zimmern was with her a few months ago for a food festival in Puerto Rico. 'She definitely had something cooking,' he said. 'She was excited about whatever it was she was working on.' On Friday, he delivered a tearful tribute to Burrell at the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, where top names in food media, including Padma Lakshmi, Kristen Kish and Food Network star Tyler Florence, have gathered for the weekend. Zimmern called her a 'brash, bold, loud New Yorker' with 'a tremendous capacity for love.' A week ago, she showed up at a special event that chef Elizabeth Falkner hosted at the Soho House in Manhattan. The two had been fierce competitors on 'The Next Iron Chef' in 2011, and had lost touch but had recently started texting more, Falkner said. 'It was so fun to see her. She seemed really content, like there was a warmer side coming out,' Falkner said. 'She hung out all night. When she was leaving she goes, 'I am so glad we have reconnected. I want to be a better friend.'' This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Anne Burrell's final season of 'Worst Cooks in America' set to air in July
Food Network fans haven't seen the last of Anne Burrell. The network is set to air a new season of "Worst Cooks in America," which features the late chef's final appearance as mentor, beginning on Monday, July 28. It will be available to stream the following day on HBO Max. Burrell died on June 17 at her home in New York, the Food Network previously said. A cause of death has not been released. According to a June 23 announcement from the network, in the premiere episode of "Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible," Burrell is joined by fellow chef Gabe Bertaccini as they "attempt to turn a bunch of culinary train wrecks into kitchen stars, but first, they need to know what they are up against." "Across the season, with guidance from Anne and Gabe, the recruits will tackle restaurant classics, try to master global cuisines, and compete in the fan-favorite Remote Control Chef challenge, in their bid to be the best of the worst," the network said. The Food Network also announced it will honor Burrell by re-airing a selection of episodes highlighting her "extraordinary talent as a chef, competitor and teacher" on Wednesday, June 25th. The programming block will include episodes of "Worst Cooks in America" and "Guy's Grocery Games." Anne Burrell, chef and Food Network star, dies at 55 "Anne Burrell was a one-of-a-kind talent whose loss is being deeply felt by family, friends and fans," said Betsy Ayala, head of food content for Warner Bros. Discovery. "With these special programming events, we hope to honor Anne and celebrate her impact on Food Network and beyond, and to offer fans a way to remember her passion and culinary prowess that ran through everything she did." Burrell was a beloved fixture on the Food Network, serving as host of "Worst Cooks in America" and making appearances on shows like "Iron Chef America" and "Chopped." Numerous Food Network personalities have been paying tribute to the late chef in recent days, with Bobby Flay saying in an Instagram story that "Worst Cooks in America" was "the funnest show on TV" and that "all of your co-hosts (me included) were just alongside for the Anne Burrell ride." Tyler Florence, who co-starred with Burrell on "Worst Cooks in America," also wrote on Instagram that she was a "very special person who shared her love of cooking with a generation," adding that he was "lucky to have a front row seat to watch her gift." Anne Burrell remembered by Gigi Hadid, Food Network colleagues: 'A beautiful soul' After the "Worst Cooks in America" new season's premiere date was announced on June 23, Bertaccini said in an Instagram story that it's "difficult to say anything but thank you" to Burrell "for carrying me along this journey."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anne Burrell's death investigated as possible drug overdose: Report
(NewsNation) — Anne Burrell, the 55-year-old Food Network star who was found dead last week in her home in Brooklyn, could have died from a possible drug overdose, according to reports. A document obtained by the New York Times claimed that she was 'discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive, surrounded by approximately [100] assorted pills.' The medical examiner's office said on Friday that an autopsy had been completed but that the results were pending. Lynn Hamilton, actress best known for 'Sanford and Son,' dies at 95 Burrell was best known for hosting Food Network's 'Worst Cooks in America,' but started her television career as a sous-chef to Mario Batali on 'Iron Chef America.' In January, it was revealed that Burrell was no longer the host of 'Worst Cooks in America,' and when asked about the change on Instagram, she reportedly replied, 'Honestly I don't know.' A 911 call report in the investigation of Burrell's death was obtained by People. According to the report, someone called just before 8 a.m., concerned about Burrell's well-being. When officers arrived, they found Burrell unresponsive. Despite claims of a potential drug overdose, the spokesperson for New York City's Chief Medical Examiner told Nexstar that her cause and manner of death were still pending. The report also shows that Burrell could have suffered from cardiac arrest. In a statement following her death, her family wrote, 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered. Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.' Some celebrities also spoke out after her death. Chef Bobby Flay said in his Instagram story, 'The greatest gift I got from AB was turning me on to a world of Maine Coon Cats (including Nacho)… a gift that I'll have forever.' Flay has a pet cat named Nacho. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anne Burrell's loved ones gathered at private wake after death
Anne Burrell's loved ones have gathered at a private wake on New York City's Upper East Side. The 55‑year‑old celebrity chef known for Worst Cooks in America and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, was found "unconscious and unresponsive" in her Brooklyn home on Tuesday (17.06.25) morning, reportedly surrounded by up to 100 pills. It emerged on Saturday (21.06.25) the wake took place the day before at the Frank E Campbell Funeral Home, and was attended by over 100 guests, including her husband Stuart Claxton, celebrity chefs Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag and Marc Murphy, as well as television personalities Kelly Bensimon and Carson Kressley. A source told Page Six about the event: 'The mood was somber, though friends whispered… that Anne would want them to be smiling and laughing'. It's been reported a New York City Fire Department spokesperson reported the 911 caller believed she had suffered cardiac arrest. Stuart is though to have found Anne on the shower floor earlier this week, having last seen her alive at about 1 am, with emergency responders pronouncing her dead at the scene. Despite the location and presence of pills, authorities have not ruled out foul play but say it is "premature to speculate" about their role in her death. Anne's family released a statement saying: 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world… her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal'. Iron Chef America host Duff Goldman, 50, reflected on his 20‑year friendship with Anne, describing it as 'complex' and recalling a recent reunion at a charity gala that 'left (his) heart lifted and full of light'. Anne, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, built a high‑profile career on the Food Network with appearances on Iron Chef America, Chopped, Chef Wanted, and her shows Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America. Her improvisation performance at The Second City in Brooklyn the night before her death surprised friends who said she was 'in great spirits'. Along with her husband Stuart, who she married in October 2021, she is also survived by his 20‑year‑old son Javier, her mother Marlene, sister Jane and brother Ben. Investigations by the NYPD and medical examiner's office continue, with toxicology results still pending as the cause of death remains undetermined.
