Latest news with #WorstCooksinAmerica
Time of India
4 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.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘RIP my friend': SoBe food fest founder shares sweet story about chef Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell's sudden death at 55 on Tuesday came to a shock to all who knew her — or felt like they knew her. On social media, celebrities as well as fans posted tributes to the chef famous for such Food Network shows as 'Worst Cooks in America.' 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' her family said in a statement. '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.' Burrell was also a fixture at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival for a number of years, hosting various events and dinners. On Instagram, SOBEWFF's founder Lee Schrager posted a picture of the two posing together, her spiky blond hair on full display, in an undated photo. The local businessman/foodie wrote that he was 'beyond saddened' by the news, and shared a serendipitous story about Burrell, before she hit it big on TV. Schrager recounted introducing Burrell to Food Network's then-president Brooke Johnson at West Village hotspot Centro Vinoteca, where the rising star briefly ran the kitchen from 2007 to 2008. 'She was already on the map on 'Iron Chef,' on Mario Batali's team, but kind of in the background,' Schrager told the Miami Herald Wednesday. 'I raved about her to Brooke. Anne was bigger than life and the food was extraordinary. From there, things really took off for her and deservedly so.' Soon after that fateful meeting, Burrell left Vinoteca due to 'numerous career commitments and a very busy schedule.' The Upstate New York native went on to host of 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef' for nine seasons and appeared on multiple hit shows including 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate,' 'Beat Bobby Flay,' 'Chopped' and most recently, 'House of Knives.' 'She was a cooks' cook, a guys' gal, competitive like I have never seen before, a real talented broad, who is gone way way too soon,' Schrager's post continued. 'RIP my friend.' The comments section was full of people who had the pleasure of interacting with Burrell at his annual fest that began in 1997 as the Florida Extravaganza at FIU, to raise funds for the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. 'I'm so shook to my core. I loved chef Anne from the early days. I watched her as sous chef [on] Iron Chef and met her for the first time behind the demo stage at SOBEWFF. I'm truly saddened by this great loss.' 'She was what I looked forward to at SOBE!' And, from the SOBEWFF account: 'Her presence on the sand and beyond will never be forgotten.' Burrell was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' at her Brooklyn home at about 7:50 a.m., according to the New York City Police Department, and pronounced deceased on the scene. A cause of death is pending an autopsy.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Anne Burrell's inner circle ‘shocked and confused' after chef is found dead surrounded by pills
Anne Burrell's inner circle is in deep mourning after her tragic death. 'We're all shocked and confused,' a source close to the late Food Network star told People on Tuesday. Burrell passed away on the morning of June 17 at her home in Brooklyn. She reportedly suffered a 'cardiac arrest' and was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the shower floor by her husband, Stuart Claxton, and pronounced dead at the scene. 9 Anne Burrell poses during the Food Network and Cooking Channel New York City Wine and Food Festival in Oct. 2019. Getty Images for NYCWFF A source told The Post that Burrell's body was discovered next to dozens of pills. The New York Times later reported that the NYPD was investigating her death as a possible overdose. The night before her death, the celebrity chef performed an improv comedy show in Brooklyn. 'She was having the best night,' actress Jane Margolis, a member of Burrell's improv troupe, told People. 9 Anne Burrell on 'Good Morning America' in 2016. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images 'She'd come up with these one-liners out of the blue that were just hysterical,' added Margolis. 'She really was so into it.' During the improv show, Burrell 'was in great spirits' during and after the event, a source who was with her that night previously told People. Many of Burrell's friends and colleagues have remembered her fondly since her passing. 9 Anne Burrell and Craig Melvin on 'Today' in Aug. 2023. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images 9 Pastry chef Duff Goldman and Anne Burrell. duffgoldman/Instagram 'She gave constant encouragement to invite other women into the field of cooking,' Chef Alex Guarnaschelli said to People, noting that Burrell was special because of her 'girl chef's sensibility.' Chef Sunny Anderson added that the 'Worst Cooks in America' host 'didn't shrink for TV. TV kind of had to contain her.' Meanwhile, chef Tyler Florence called Burrell 'a force of nature.' 9 Anne Burrell cooking at the 2019 Food Network and Cooking Channel New York City Wine and Food Festival. Getty Images for NYCWFF 'That 'it factor' people talk about with celebrities? She had it in spades,' Florence, 54, told People. 'She was so big people would just fall all over her.' Elizabeth Eaton Rosenthal, the influencer who appeared in Burrell's final Instagram post, told the Daily Mail on Monday that Burrell was 'very happy' when they ran into each other just days before the star's death. 9 Anne Burrell with her husband Stuart Claxton in 2022. Anne Burrell/Instagram 9 Anne Burrell with her sister Jane. Anne Burrell/Instagram 'She said she had been wanting to meet me for so long,' the Green Lady of Brooklyn said, 'and she finally did, so she was very happy' Other stars who have paid tribute to Burrell include Rachael Ray, who served as a bridesmaid in Burrell and Claxton's 2021, and Bobby Flay, who worked with Burrell on 'Worst Cooks in America.' Burrell's family paid tribute to the adored chef as well. 9 Anne Burrell at the 2016 Food Network and Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Thaddaeus McAdams 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' the family said in a statement last week. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,' the statement continued. 'Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit and boundless love remain eternal.' 9 Anne Burrell attends day two of the Austin FOOD and WINE Festival 2023. Scott Moore/Shutterstock Over 100 loved ones went to Burrell's private wake on the Upper East Side over the weekend. Burrell's Food Network colleagues, including 'Chopped' judge Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag and Marc Murphy, were among the attendees.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Anne Burrell was ‘very happy' days before her death, says influencer who snapped last selfie with late chef
The influencer from Anne Burrell's final Instagram post has spoken out following the Food Network star's shocking death at 55. Elizabeth Eaton Rosenthal, who is famously known around New York City as the Green Lady of Brooklyn, has opened up about what it was like running into Burrell just days before her passing on June 17. 'I don't know her. I meet a lot of people,' Rosenthal, 84, told Daily Mail on Monday, June 23. 'But I am the last photo on her Instagram.' 7 The influencer from Anne Burrell's final Instagram post has spoken out following the beloved chef's shocking death. Brian Zak/Page Six 7 Elizabeth Eaton Rosenthal, who is also known as the Green Lady of Brooklyn, opened up about what it was like running into Anne Burrell just five days before her June 17 death. greenladyofbrooklyn/Instagram 'She [tagged] the photo of me and her to my Instagram, so then I got all the messages,' she continued. 'I know she has passed. I posted a message afterwards for her family on Instagram.' Although Rosenthal would not reveal what she and the cooking icon talked about during their run-in, she did say that Burrell was 'very happy' during the chance encounter. 'She said she had been wanting to meet me for so long, and she finally did, so she was very happy,' the Green Lady of Brooklyn concluded. 7 This picture of the Green Lady of Brooklyn and Burrell was the last Instagram post the Food Network star shared before her death. chefanneburrell/Instagram On June 12, just five days before Burrell's sudden death, the 'Worst Cooks in America' host shared a sweet picture of her and Rosenthal on Instagram. 'I ran into [the Green Lady of Brooklyn] in my neighborhood today!' the chef wrote alongside the picture of her and the popular NYC fixture. 'I'm not going to lie — I have been keeping an eye out for her.' 'I may or may not have followed her down the street for a minute,' Burrell added in her last-ever Instagram post. 'She is just lovely!!!' 7 'She said she had been wanting to meet me for so long, and she finally did, so she was very happy,' the Green Lady of Brooklyn said of meeting Burrell. greenladyofbrooklyn/Instagram Rosenthal, who earned her Green Lady nickname because she has only worn the color green for over 20 years, later responded to say that it 'was so much fun meeting' Burrell. 'It was so much fun meeting you 💚 see you again soon in the neighborhood 💚 the only thing I make is coffee and fig preserves from my fig tree 💚 love and hugs,' Rosenthal wrote. She also invited the Food Network host over to her garden to pick figs. 7 Burrell passed away on the morning of Tuesday, June 17. Variety via Getty Images 'I would like to invite you to my garden and pick figs when they are ready, usually beginning to ripen beginning September, and come and visit the garden on a sunny day anyway,' she said. Rosenthal returned to Burrell's Instagram page once more on Tuesday, June 17, following the tragic news of the celebrity chef's passing. 'Hi Anne,' she wrote, 'you are such a lovely person just to meet and not knowing you, I just love you and so sorry but come to my garden and visit with all your beauty and love and I will be waiting for you.' 7 The cooking icon was reportedly found 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the shower floor by her husband, Stuart Claxton. chefanneburrell/Instagram Burrell died on the morning of June 17 at her home in Brooklyn. She was reportedly found 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the shower floor by her husband, Stuart Claxton, and pronounced dead at the scene. While her cause of death has not yet been confirmed, a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department said a 911 caller claimed Burrell suffered a 'cardiac arrest.' 7 Burrell's loved ones, as well as more than 100 of her closest friends and colleagues, held a wake for her in NYC on June 20. Madison McGaw/ Meanwhile, a source told The Post that Burrell's body was discovered next to dozens of pills. The New York Times later reported that the NYPD was investigating her death as a possible overdose. The city Medical Examiner's Office is reportedly conducting a toxicology screening to determine whether the pills played a part in her death. Burrell's loved ones, as well as more than 100 of her closest friends and colleagues, held a wake for her in NYC on June 20. The Food Network has also announced that Burrell's final season of 'Worst Cooks in America,' titled 'Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible,' will premiere next month.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Anne Burrell will be seen back on TV just weeks after her tragic death
Anne Burrell's final season of 'Worst Cooks in America' is set to air next month, just weeks after the celebrity chef's shocking death on Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 55. The season will be titled 'Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible' and will premiere on July 28, the Food Network confirmed to The Post on Monday. Burrell will star alongside chef Gabe Bertaccini, with the season showcasing 'recruits who are professional performers and used to stealing the spotlight, but in the kitchen, they are dishing out disasters.' 7 Anne Burrell's final season of 'Worst Cooks in America' is set to air next month. Brian Zak/Page Six 7 The season will be titled 'Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible' and will premiere on July 28. Food Network The Food Network will also air a 'curated selection of encore episodes featuring Anne' that will 'highlight her extraordinary talent as a chef, competitor and teacher' on Wednesday, June 25, at 10 p.m. The two-hour special programming block will include episodes from 'Guy's Grocery Games,' 'Worst Cooks in America: Worst of the Worst' and 'Worst Cooks in America: Boot Camp Diaries.' 'Anne Burrell was a one-of-a-kind talent whose loss is being deeply felt by family, friends and fans,' Betsy Ayala, Warner Bros. Discovery's head of food content, said in a statement shared with The Post. 7 The Food Network will also air a 'curated selection of encore episodes featuring Anne' that will 'highlight her extraordinary talent as a chef, competitor and teacher' on Wednesday, June 25. Brian Zak/Page Six '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,' Ayala added. Burrell passed away on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, at her home in Brooklyn. She was reportedly found 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the shower floor by her husband, Stuart Claxton, and pronounced dead at the scene. 7 The cooking icon tragically passed away on Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 55. Getty Images for NYCWFF Although her cause of death has not been revealed, a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department said a 911 caller claimed Burrell suffered a 'cardiac arrest.' Meanwhile, a source told The Post that Burrell's body was discovered next to dozens of pills. The New York Times later reported that the NYPD is investigating her death as a possible overdose. The city Medical Examiner's Office is said to be conducting a toxicology screening to see whether the pills played a part in her passing. 7 Burrell was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the shower floor by her husband, Stuart Claxton. Getty Images for City Harvest 'Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring,' a rep for the Food Network told The Post shortly after Burrell's tragic passing. 'Our thoughts are with Anne's family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.' Burrell, who hosted 'Worst Cooks in America' for 27 seasons, explained why she decided to temporarily step back from the show just months before her death. 'I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I've got more to do in my life, I feel like,' she said on Tori Spelling's 'misSPELLING' podcast in March. 7 The NYPD is reportedly investigating Burrell's death as a possible drug overdose. Getty Images for NYCWFF 'Interestingly, I just started taking acting classes. I started yesterday, actually … It's like an improv for actors' class,' Burrell continued. 'I got there and it's like eight people in the class,' the chef joked. 'I'm the oldest one.' Just hours before her death, Burrell performed an improv comedy show in Brooklyn. Those in attendance were left 'shocked and confused' about her passing because she was said to be in 'great spirits' upon leaving the show at the end of the night. 7 A wake was held for Burrell on the Upper East Side on Friday. Getty Images for NYCWFF Burrell's closest friends and colleagues – including Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence and many more – have broken their silence on the loss of the beloved chef. A wake was held for the late culinary master on the Upper East Side on Friday, June 20. More than 100 chefs, celebrities and other loved ones came out to mourn Burrell in the aftermath of her devastating passing.
