Irvine resolution, part 1

In reference to the Food Network's relationship with Robert Irvine, network president Brooke Johnson says the following:

“We looked into the situation and found that, as Robert as already admitted, there were some embellishments and inaccuracies in his resume. The few and minor incidents of the inclusion of these embellishments into ‘Dinner Impossible’ have been removed. The show is, and has always been, completely accurate in the depiction of the cooking challenges faced by Robert. We will continue airing both old shows and the new season of programs currently in production. We have not renewed Robert's contract for future seasons but will fulfill our contractual obligations. We rely on the trust that our viewers have in the accuracy of the information we present, and Robert challenged that trust. We appreciate Robert's remorse about his actions, and we can revisit this decision at the end of the production cycle, but for now we will be looking for a replacement host. "       

Robert Irvine's statement is as follows:

"I was wrong to exaggerate in statements related to my experiences regarding the Royal Family. I am proud of my work while serving in the Royal Navy and on board the Royal Yacht Britannia , also as part of the Guest Chef program in the White House with the United States Navy, in addition to my culinary accomplishments. I should have stood on those accomplishments alone, without embellishment. I remain committed and enthusiastic about my work with Food Network and other future endeavors. I am truly sorry for the errors in my judgment. To all my family, friends and loyal fans, I will work tirelessly to regain your trust and continue to use my show and life to benefit the less fortunate."

Questions remain. It's my understanding that the Food Network had recently signed a new contract with Irvine. Does this mean he will continue filming new episodes of Dinner: Impossible until the contract runs its course? And he was among the chefs filmed in the Chefography series. Will his segment be broadcast? Also, we need clarity on the future of Ooze and Schmooze.

More soon...

Comments

[Rachel]

Dinner Impossible is one of the most lame shows on Food Network anyway.

[JM]

Looks to me like the Food Network's playing it completely safe here: they've chastised Irvine for fibbing, remain non-committal about his returning to DI, and are going to simply wait and see how this unfolds over the next couple of months.

Clearly Irvine's future boils down to how his show's ratings (i.e. advertising dollars) are impacted. If the ratings fall, he's gone. If not, all's forgiven. How does the FN lose in either scenerio?

No wonder why they kept everyone muffled the past couple of weeks! It was pure containment.

[Richard Guzinya]

What about the falsified college degree from Leeds University? Doesn't anyone feel that is the largest transgression? Not even a mention of it here! That is BS. RG

[JM]

Neglected to add: I find it very amusing the Food Network takes zero responsibility for its failure to vet the high-falutin claims of one of it's most popular celebrity chefs (think they might be doing that now?). I bet even the lowliest production hand has his or her resume parsed by the HR department.

Apparently the FN failed to notice the egg also on their faces!

[Annette]

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones; my comment is for Wendy LaTorre! If you check her "public" records; they're a disaster!

[John]

Somebody should look into him using steroids/HGH...
I've been working out for 10 years and I can tell you that's NOT natural, he's not fooling anybody.
Maybe that's what contributes to this guy being such a jerk

[dreaming]

isnt it time to stop hounding this guy? i mean, hes a chef, not a member of the joint chiefs of staff.

thank you sptimes for destroying someones life. are you happier now?

[Robert]

This happened recently with "Next FN Star," with the contestant "Jag" who apparently falsified much of his military resume. I guess it will take the FN one more blowup like this for them to hire someone to really do some leg-work *before* they put people on-air.

[whatever]

Robert Irvine is not a bad person. He is a person who made a mistake. It's unfortunate that the sptimes will not stop until his life is ruined. I smell revenge. I feel like there is more to this story than any of us know. You wanted blood laura you got blood. Enjoy it.

[Ted]

Food Network should get rid of Rachel Ray.

[JM]

The St. Pete Times "ruined" Irvine's life? How ridiculous.

Irvine is a public figure who become one by massively lying about his past accomplishments. It wasn't a question of if it would catch up with him, only when. The Times merely broke the story, and kudos to them for doing some great reporting.

By the way, who said Irvine's life is "ruined"? Far from it. If his show's ratings hold, he'll be fine. Even if he's off the air, someone will employ him and at top dollar. Count on it.

Bottom line, it's how good the food tastes. Who cares if you have Chef with some sea stories. I believe it's just part of his creative mind. We all lived with the inflated stories of many WWII veterans for half a century without a blink.

[Monday]

HES A FRAUD!

[Jane]

I've been reading the Times since I was about 8 years old. Bravo to the stellar job you have done most recently in exposing some really fraudently characaters. Please keep up the investigative journalism and exposing these phonies (and the bullies at the jail).

Come on, who cares if he lied on his resume? What matters is whether he can cook. All he would have had to say is "Yes, I lied, yes, I'm embarassed. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He should not have lied, but he did. Why can't he at least be given the chance to make up for it?

[TONI]

If this was any one of us average people and we lied on a application, and it was found out, we would lose our jobs, whats fair is fair. Hes not a nice person, a good cook or a person who made a mistake, he is a liar. He is also not very smart, someone was going to find out about the lies, it just happen to be sptimes.

[Alan]

Sheesh, first Robert Irvine pads his resume then the St. Pete Times pads their comment section with a ridiculous amount of duplicates.

[WTF]

I think it just all comes down to nothing more than credibility and honestly. Once you've enabled yourself to compromise that then you alone have made that choice and you alone will pay whatever consequences follow. I'm sure he is a really nice guy but he did what he did. There is no reason for anyone to be nasty with him just accept that he did it and move on. He is the only one that knows the reasons behind it, everyone else can only speculate.

[Tom Scherberger, tampabay.com deputy metro editor]

Alan, just for the record, the Times does not "pad" reader comments. Readers are free to post whatever they like, as long as their comments stay within our guidelines. We don't review them in advance.

[pharmgirl]

I agree with the comment about Wendy La Torre, no way is she owed $100K for "advising" Robert. She sounds like someone who is trying to take advantage of the guy. And now thanks to her the restaurant will probably never come to fruition. Too bad.

[pharmgirl]

I also agree with the national news that reported the St.Pete Times did an "oddly thorough" invetigation of the Food Network's Robert Irvine. The guy was just try trying to open a restaurant not run for public office. What difference could it possibly make in the scheme of things that he embellished his resume?

[JM]

Tom and Laura, I think the person who commented on "padding" may have been joking because at one point this afternoon comments were being posted twice. I noticed it myself (right after I had posted something). But, the glitch appeared to be fixed pretty quickly.

Still, I obviously understand why you want to make that point loud and clear!

Great work guys.

[The Mouth]

Don't know why that was happening this afternoon, but people were commenting and numerous versions of the same comment were popping up. Unfortunately, they weren't all of the "The Mouth is so great. I'd like to invite her to my next quilting bee!" kind of comments. Win some, lose some with the random egalitarianism/entropy that is cyberspace.

[varnadore]

JM...
Is your last name Poynter?

The coverage is indefensible. It is downright disgraceful by any journalistyic standard.

[Jackie Martling]

What a joke...

She writes, "More soon." You've been boring most of us to death. Why stop now?

[Alan]

Tom, JM's assertion is correct. I was just poking fun at the double (and a few triple, quadruple and quintuple) posts that were making their way onto the comment section. No harm intended, I just found it humorous. :)

But I do appreciate your response.

[JM]

The coverage is "indefensible"? I think that's a stretch.

My last name isn't Poynter, but I attended a summer seminar there a long time ago. Does that count for something (may I suggest a free beer?)?

Do this: Google "Robert Irvine"; note the story is in papers all over the world. So I guess everyone everywhere is doing the indefensible, right?

[Bob Morris]

It seems to me that he has more of a mental issue than a credibility problem. People who make themselves out to be more than they really are, are often sad souls who feel inferior to others. The fact that he did while applying for a job in TELEVISION smacks of desperation and insanity.

Think people. Who in their right mind would tell so many outrageous lies about their past to try to get a very public job? He knew deep down he was going to get caught. Maybe he wanted to get caught without realizing it.

Should he be kicked off of television? I don't think so. I still think he is entertaining. After all he is a chef. He doesn't make policy for a government nor hold a high office with a law enforcement agency.

Tim Allen of the popular sitcom Home Improvement went to jail for a while for drug charges and we still love him. A small number of our female stars like to flash their body parts in public for the media and they only get lip service. Sports stars often get probation for worse offenses. Firing Robert Irvine won't bring the troops home sooner nor will it clean the streets of drugs and junkies. It won't have the same meaning that punishing a murderer does and it won't stop any number of you out there who are prone to lying on your resume from doing so. He said he was sorry. We need to be more forgiving of people. Let him keep his job and only fire him if he does something similar again.

[lb]

Signature entree: Double deep-dish baloney smothered in a manure rapscallion
sauce...

[Disgusted with FN]

I think the FN blew this way out of proportion. He is an excellent chef and padding his resume should not have cost him his job.

I hope that Food Network will reconsider at the end of the season.

[Disgusted with FN]

I think the FN blew this way out of proportion. He is an excellent chef and padding his resume should not have cost him his job.

I hope that Food Network will reconsider at the end of the season.

[no mush]

Need to get back to discussing fine dining in the Bay area rather than tabloid manure.

[Lynne]

I personally love the show and hope FN keeps him around. While they are at it, they should bring Emeril back and get rid of some other not so wonderful "chefs".

[The Urban Eater]

Oh, god. Not Emeril again.

[Old Chef Dude]

WOW MY HEADS A SPINNIN !

[chiffOnade]

I am a PROFESSIONAL CHEF who graduated from Peter Kump's Culinary Institute, and also hold a certification as a PASTRY CHEF. I am a SENIOR ADVISER to SeriousEats website.

I do not like liars, like this guy Irvine, especially when I am the best there is and I can't even find a job down here in Clearwater, Florida (and, NO, it's not because of my long police record or my tattoos and body piercings).

Food Network sucks anyway, except for Sandra Lee who is the most talented person on that has-been FN.

You need good recipes?, great cooking advice?, to see my lovely photos of me and my boyfriend "Big Bear"? Go to my website and/or email me at chiffonade@hotmail.com and I can answer all your cooking questions.

[Old Chef Dude]

Chef o naid why you so angry?? it's not called a tropical depression for no reason!!There are a lot of people out here with proper credentials who are in the same boat.

[malnourished for real news]

Let's see how long we can keep this farce going. The SPT, after swallowing the foodie's credentials hook, line, and sinker, must think it can pull a Pulitzer out of the hat. As one who is starved for Bay area Food news, I'm going somwehere else.

[The Mouth]

Hey all, on this string and a couple others I've heard chefs talking about how hard it is to get a job around here. Is that true? Why do you think that is?

[Hank]

ChiffOnade,

Find a good head hunter or career resource in Orlando. They are experiencing a shortage of qualified AND experienced culinarians there. Many new ventures are opening/planning to be opened and I know for a fact that they are pulling in culinary talent from other areas to get coverage. I would think that an experienced CPC, CPEC would create interest in that market.

Mouth, to your question regarding chef opportunities, I find the Tampa restaurant scene is rather bleak, nothing terribly new, (past bright stars resting on their laurels etc.) and when a restaurant has a “chef” the recipes are easily replicated by cooks. No need for multitalented folks. Except some of the clubs. I still think that there is a great story to be told by someone who has access to several of the really good club restaurants in and around Tampa. I have met some of these talented chef’s and tasted their food. Really good product and at times, inspired cuisine.

[Old Chef Dude]

$$$$$$$$$

[Old Chef Dude]

Chiffonade; Thats classic Thanks

[Angel Kisses]

Please people who has not embelished their resume at one time to get that important opportunity in life? Come on now.Robert Irvine did his job very well and professional.Let's worry more about the Health Insurance of this country and Senior's that are still working and can't afford good food or even buy it.Who's is PERFECT! HE GOT OVER! YOU GO BOY!I hope he goes on an other show I will be watching.

[Bryan]

While I disagree with his choice to lie about his resume; I also feel he has been appropriately punished for it.

I am a big fan of the show and the man is clearly a skilled chef, so let's not pretend he isn't qualified. Furthermore, I appreciate the dignity and humour with which he approaches his unskilled helpers and guest - always being sure to uplift them at the end of a challenge.

[Severn]

I thought this story was pretty interesting, sine it was a defense of irvine:

http://allyourtv.com/0708season/indefenseofrobertirvine.html

[Angela]

Chef Robert Irvine can never be replaced. He is a true passionate man who loves what he does. And it shows. That is a rare find. DI is a great show, and would never work with anyone else as a host. FN should forgive and forget.

[Angela]

Chef Robert Irvine can never be replaced. He is a true passionate man who loves what he does. And it shows. That is a rare find. DI is a great show, and would never work with anyone else as a host. FN should forgive and forget.

[chiffOnade]

Angela . . .Angela . . . Angela, my dear,

What has your friend Chef Bob been feeding you to make you so passionate?

He is NOT a "rare find" . . he is a FRAUD. DI is NOT a "great show" . . . it is a sham.

FN should NOT "forgive and forget" . . it should eliminate EVERY vestige of this phony from their network.

NOW . . . despite the fact that you are obviously a "friend" or "relative" of Irvine . . . we REALLY do NOT need your DOUBLE post.

Please go back to whatever you were doing before Bob asked you to make this "DOUBLE" post.

[Eannie]

I want to continue to see Chef Irvine on FN. Dinner Impossible will be nothing without him! Everyone does things in there life that they regret, as it seems from his statement he does. Lets forgive and contine to be entertained by him. I hope that FN will not let him go, as that would be an even bigger mistake!

[Chiffonade]

Hello all. Let me apologize for the ramblings of a lunatic. Doc Chuck is an internet troll who chooses a target and does his best to circulate nonsense on behalf of that target. This week it's me. Doc Chuck loves to pose as me on blog comments and has chosen this one because it's local to me. He has a serious mental problem and it has gotten him in trouble in teh past. He has been tried and convicted of internet harassment. If anyone wants to know the real deal on Doc Chuck and our "history" please e-mail me at chiffonade@hotmail.com.

Anyone who truly knows me knows I'd never dis a fellow foodie. It's not my style.

I encourage the blog operator to contact me ASAP. Thank you.

Keep cooking real food! There's nothing like it.

[Old Chef Dude]

Lunaticpier: nice photo??????????

[Chiffonade]

Whenever you see the following phrase, be assured this is not Chiffonade: "Louise (ChiffOnade) is a PROFESSIONAL CHEF..."

For starters, I am not a professional chef at this point, simply a cooking enthusiast. I once did co-own a small restaurant in Colorado but I know that "chef" means one who runs a professional kitchen and at present, the only kitchen I run is mine.

I feel really sorry for you, having to deal with such a loon on your blog.

Chiffonade,
Clearwater, FL
chiffonade@hotmail.com

[kk]

All I can say is simply this: he lied.
Yes, I think FN should have checked everything out before accepting him in the first place, but Chef Irvine CHOSE to lie and so he must reap the benefits of his lies.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing how our new Chef Symon will do with the show.

As much as I enjoyed watching DI, Chef Irvine's attitude and the way he talked to other people annoyed me to no end.

Out with the old (lies)
In the with the new!

Make us proud, Chef Symon!

[Courtland S.]

Who the hell cares? In the entire scheme of the universe, is it really important?

Yes, personal integrity is important, and he should not have exaggerated and lied about his credentials, but let's face it: he MADE the show. He made a mistake, and he is remorseful, but don't let Food Network make another mistake by not allowing him to return.

This may not be a popular stand, but I don't give a rip about popular. I give a damn about someone who takes ownership for mistakes. Let him return!

Besides, who of you have not padded your credentials to make yourself look better?

[PamSays]

I'm sure ALL of you have lied at one time or another in your life..I hope chef Irvine goes on to bigger and better things. He has proved his skills. And for the guy referring to "steroid use" YOUR JUST JEALOUS!!

[T Jaspar]

I agree with Pam, Robert is a great chef and yes ALL of us lie. We are all human, and when we want something bad enough or pushed to prove oneself we can say or do things that we may regret. There may be someone out there who has never told a lie, but I have never met one. Having said that, I am still disappointed with Robert Irvine. My wife and I really enjoyed his show and I hope he will be able to regain the trust and respect he once had. All the best Robert.

[K Richards]

Do you think Robert has ever cooked for Milli Vanilli