If you’re a fan of culinary competitions, you know that winning a high-stakes show can propel a chef’s career to new heights. Victors of popular cooking contests like Top Chef often open their own restaurants or gain celebrity status, and the same goes for bakers on esteemed programs like The Great British Baking Show. So, when Mia Thompson clinched victory on the American version, The Great American Baking Show, she likely envisioned a bright future filled with accolades and opportunities.
The show debuted in early December and attracted 3.7 million viewers for its premiere episode. With six hour-long episodes filmed, the series was set to broadcast two episodes weekly, culminating in a finale on December 21. However, shortly after its initial success, the show faced an abrupt halt due to serious allegations against one of its prominent figures, celebrity baker Johnny Iuzzini.
On December 13, Mia received a shocking call from a producer informing her that after just two episodes, The Great American Baking Show would be removed from ABC’s lineup. This decision followed a report from Mic detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against Iuzzini, a well-known chef and judge on the show.
Mic’s report highlighted accusations from four former employees of Jean-Georges, the high-end New York restaurant where Iuzzini previously worked as a pastry chef. One pastry chef recounted, “He would frequently slide up next to me and put his tongue in my ear. I cried every time.” Others described an environment under Iuzzini that was rife with harassment. A follow-up article revealed even more claims from former staff who alleged that he abused his authority over female colleagues.
In light of these developments, ABC deemed it necessary to pull the show, despite its strong viewership, effectively shelving the remaining four episodes, including the one meant to celebrate Mia’s victory. Instead of a grand finale, Mia was left with a brief Facebook Live segment that garnered fewer than 10,000 views.
“I was in disbelief,” Mia expressed in an interview. An ABC representative could not confirm if the show would return in any format without Iuzzini, leaving the future uncertain for everyone involved, especially for Mia, whose hard work went unrecognized.
Past winners of The Great British Baking Show have catapulted to stardom, with many becoming sought-after food writers, television personalities, or authors. Mia had a cookbook proposal in the works, now likely less appealing without her televised win. “I invested a lot of effort into a proposal based on a show that didn’t air,” she lamented.
Nonetheless, Mia remains undeterred. She is still committed to creating a cookbook and plans to share one of her winning recipes via her blog, Sweets from the City, which also chronicles her experience. “You are certainly not the first to ask why the show stopped airing,” she mentioned, emphasizing the lack of communication from the network. “It’s been a disappointing situation for everyone involved.”
Mia is determined to maintain a positive outlook despite the setbacks. “While the letdown of the show not airing is still fresh, my resolve remains strong. I’m channeling that same perseverance now. I’m making lemon curd from these lemons,” she quipped.
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In summary, the cancellation of The Great American Baking Show due to serious allegations against a key figure has left both contestants and fans disappointed. Mia Thompson, the winner, now faces an uncertain future as she navigates her career aspirations without the recognition she rightfully earned.