ABC Pulls 'Great American Baking Show' Amid Johnny Iuzzini Sexual Harassment Claims
A rep for ABC said the network "takes matters such as those described in the allegations very seriously and has come to the conclusion that they violate our standards of conduct."
ABC has pulled The Great American Baking Show from its schedule in the wake of the multiple sexual harassment allegations against one of the show's judges, Johnny Iuzzini.
"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," a spokesperson for the network said Wednesday. "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."
The competition show, which was previously known as The Great Holiday Baking Show, debuted its third season just last week. The second episode was slated to air Thursday night. Instead, episodes of The Great Christmas Light Fight and CMA Country Christmas will take its place this week and next.
Last month, four of Iuzzini’s former employees came forward claiming that the celebrity chef sexually harassed them. One alleged that he stuck his tongue in her ear multiple times, according to Mic. The women who spoke to the website claimed that Iuzzini was regularly verbally abusive and prone to screaming. At times, he allegedly touched female employees' rear ends with kitchen utensils in a suggestive manner. Four more women came forward accusing Iuzzini of sexual misconduct on Tuesday.
