Bobby Flay Divorce: Stephanie March Was His Taste Tester?
The divorce proceedings between Bobby Flay and his estranged wife Stephanie March have reportedly hit a roadblock.
According to TMZ, Stephanie wants to have the prenuptial agreement removed from the equation. March claims that Bobby Flay depended on her to become successful due to what he allegedly called her “amazing palate.”
Bobby Flay’s Estranged Wife — He’s Rich Because of My Mouth! http://t.co/QAMP5ksezG
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 21, 2015
Based on the conditions of the prenuptial agreement, March would receive $5,000 a month and nearly a $1 million buyout for the estranged couple’s family home.
Page Six reports that Flay sent March a check back in March, but it was returned along with a letter by March’s attorney Deborah Flans. Flans claimed that the prenuptial agreement was “unenforceable,” making it clear that she and her client would be challenging it.
The 40-year-old Law and Order: SVU actress has filed legal documents to override the prenuptial agreement based on the claim that her taste testing Flay’s foods and critiquing his recipes led to the success of his restaurant and culinary career.
“[Stephanie March] says she sampled a number of items at their home and gave thumbs up and down, which led to the finished product.”
Two restaurants that are specifically identified in the legal documents, according to TMZ, are the now-failed restaurant Bolo and the popular New York City restaurant Bar Americain.
March reportedly claims that it was her idea to add tapas to the restaurant menu. Even though Bobby Flay allegedly rejected the idea at first, the restaurant became highly successful as a result – earning a three-star review from The New York Times.
In addition to taste testing the menu items, Stephanie March claims that she also played an instrumental role in developing Bobby Flay’s restaurant experience – including lighting, music, design and the overall ambiance.
Multiple reports also claim that Bobby Flay was cheating on his now-estranged wife with 28-year-old Elyse Tirrell, Bobby’s hostess-turned-assistant.
Did A 3-Year Affair With An Assistant Wreck Bobby Flay’s Marriage? http://t.co/2VA0VDCEFv pic.twitter.com/X34iefHjfs
— Gossip Cop (@GossipCop) April 20, 2015
Bobby Flay’s rep addressed the allegations with an official statement, which was published by Us Weekly:
“We will continue to refrain from responding to the continued efforts by certain parties to spread rumors and innuendo. This specific allegation was in a letter sent from one attorney in this case to the other. It was written and then leaked specifically to try to insert this story into the press, and that’s unfortunate. Even more unfortunate is that all of this is being done in order to renegotiate a prenuptial agreement that was agreed to over a decade ago and never amended during the marriage.”
Bobby Flay and Stephanie March became husband and wife on February 20, 2005 – marking Flay’s third marriage and March’s first.
[Image Credit: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images]
