Israeli chef and author Erez Komarovsky found himself in hot water this week after a former employee of his catering company filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him over the incident that allegedly happened five years ago.
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Komarovsky, who is widely considered the godfather of artisanal bread-making in Israel, operated a massively successful bakery and café chain in the 1990s and early 2000s, and since 2007 he has led a cooking school in his home in Mitzpe Mattat in the Upper Galilee. He is also a co-host of the popular reality show Game of Chefs, which airs on Reshet 13.
According to Channel 12 News, A., a former employee of Komarovsky's catering company, claims in her lawsuit that she was the victim of alleged harassment, saying that he would make "offensive remarks of a sexual nature" during their interactions, as well as unwanted physical advances.
The lawsuit details that A. had shared her experience in real-time with her coworkers and immediate superiors and – also disclosing that she sexually abused as a child – asked them to deal with the matter, but they allegedly failed to do so.
Claiming long-term distress that has affected her business, the report noted that she is seeking 1 million shekels ($312,000) in damages from Komarovsky.
A spokesperson for Komarovsky told Channel 12 News that the master baker learned of the lawsuit from the media.
"From the way things are described in the lawsuit this allegedly happened five years ago and I have no recollection of the event. I have been working in the [culinary] field for decades and employ dozens of workers, whom I love and respect," the chef said in a statement.
"I do not seek to question the complainant or her character. I will study the lawsuit and address the matter in court. If someone – anyone – was offended by me or by things that I said, I apologize for that from the bottom of my heart," the statement concluded.
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