Guy Fieri's recent faux pas has left a bad taste in fans' mouths.
The restauranteur and longtime Food Network star drew criticism on social media after footage of him interacting with controversial influencerAndrew Tatewent viral over the weekend.
While attending the UFC 327 event in Miami on Saturday, April 11, Fieri was spotted speaking to Tate, according toonline videoshared by BroBible sports editor Jorge Alonso. The pair can be seen warmly shaking hands and bumping shoulders as they greet each other.
Fieri and Tate were both in attendance at the UFC match, held at Miami's Kaseya Center, according to event photos reviewed by USA TODAY.
In recent years, Tate has become a polarizing figure due to his various cultural and legal controversies, including allegations against him of rape. A self-described misogynist, Tate gained millions of fans online by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say denigrates women.
"I will never watch @foodnetwork again," @justchantelibra wrote onThreads. "I didn't know @guyfieri was hanging around people like this. It says a lot about him."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Fieri for comment.
Guy Fieri interview:Food Network star reflects on decadeslong career
Farm to table? How about kitchen to television. Here's a look at some of TV's most memorable chefs starting with Alton Brown.
Brown not only taught fans how to cook, but how to use food science to spice up their cooking on "Good Eats." " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
The late Anthony Bourdain promotes his new book Medium Raw at the Hazlitts club in London on Sept. 2, 2010.
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Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith attend The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 on May 19, 2025 in London.
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Rachael Ray attends KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at Grand Tasting Village on Feb. 22, 2014, in Miami.
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Bobby Flay attends The Players Tailgate Hosted By Bobby Flay and presented by Bullseye Event Group for Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023 in Phoenix.
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Chef Giada De Laurentiis attends Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by Capital One Grand Tasting at Pier 94 on Oct. 13, 2018 in New York City.
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Judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry during Celebrity Bake Off in 2012 in Somerset, England.
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Guy Fieri prepares food during the 12th annual Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appetit Grand Tasting event at Caesars Palace on May 11, 2018, in Las Vegas.
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Chef Buddy Valastro attends a book signing during the 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Feb. 27, 2016, in Miami.
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Masaharu Morimoto hosts dinner with Esther Choi and Masaharu Morimoto at The National Arts Club on Oct. 15, 2022 in New York City.
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From screen to table: TV chefs we’ll never forget
Farm to table? How about kitchen to television.Here's a look at some of TV's most memorable chefs starting with Alton Brown.Brown not only taught fans how to cook, but how to use food science to spice up their cooking on "Good Eats."
Guy Fieri says he does not 'support' Andrew Tate after viral video
Fieri addressed the online backlash in anX postTuesday, telling fans he was "devastated" by the controversy.
"I was there to see the fights, and when I was walking through the venue, the Tate brothers stood up and said hello and that's when the exchange happened," Fieri, 58, wrote. "I did not know them or about them before that moment."
He added: "I'll never pretend to be a perfect person but let me be crystal clear: I do not know the Tate brothers, nor do I support them in any way."
Why is Andrew Tate controversial?
Tate's social media content is heavily associated with"the manosphere,"a digital collection of websites, videos and social media that promote male supremacy and advocate for traditional gender roles.
Tate, 39, has also been accused of numerous sexual abuses. He was arrested in December 2022, alongside brother Tristan Tate and two other women, and later charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organized crime group to sexually exploit women.
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Tate and his brother werepermitted to return to the U.S.in 2025, although Romanian authorities have expanded their investigation to include accusations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering.
Additionally, four British womenbrought a civil lawsuitagainst the former professional kickboxer in June 2024 for sexual offenses including rape, assault and coercive control. The claims pertain to when Tate was living in England and in the early stages of launching an adult webcam business, from 2013 to 2015. He has denied all allegations in the case, according to court filings.
Last May, Tate was dealt another legal blow when British police announced it wasfiling nearly a dozen chargesagainst him in a separate case, following allegations of human trafficking, rape and inflicting actual bodily harm.
And in March, Hertfordshire police in England said it wouldreinvestigate previous claimsof sexual abuse made by a trio of women, stemming from alleged incidents in 2014 and 2015, according toBBC NewsandThe Guardian. The case was closed in 2019, but a follow-up probe will investigate authorities' handling of the original investigation.
Fans slam Guy Fieri for Andrew Tate interaction
Several fans and commenters blasted Fieri on social media for his encounter with Tate.
"[Food Network], your boy hanging with guys who assualt women. Not a good look," @maribethdipintomoss wrote onThreads.
"Diners, drive-ins and human traffickers doesn't have quite the same ring to it," @likeliterallysame commented, referring to Fieri's Food Network series "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Andrew Tate's controversial impact:These young men were sucked into the manosphere.
"The food guy that pretends to be a good guy seems to be awfully chummy with sex offenders," X user@RJ_T0daywrote.
"Ugh. I liked him and [to] go to his restaurants on vacation. Never again,"@stormie2405commented.
"I'm done with Guy Fieri," @nastynatasha__1 wrote on Threads. "And @foodnetwork, when your viewership drops, he's the reason."
This story was updated to add new information.
Contributing: Rachel Hale, Kim Hjelmgaard and Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY;Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Guy Fieri criticized after Andrew Tate interaction at UFC event