SAN JOSE, Calif. — It looks like Guy Fieri’s attempt to distant himself from controversial influencers — and accused sex traffickers — Andrew and Tristan Tate has not gone over well.

The celebrity chef from Sonoma County went on X Tuesday to say he was “devastated” that people were mad that he was recorded at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Miami Saturday night, greeting and shaking hands with the controversial Tate brothers. He explained he didn’t know the brothers, doesn’t “support them in any way” and was just being friendly with anyone who approached him.

But while some people on X told Fieri he was just being “a nice guy” and should “never apologize” to “woke,” “liberal losers,” many others responding to his post didn’t buy his claim that he didn’t know the Tates prior to Saturday night. They also brought up his apparent friendship with Donald Trump and his eagerness to be seen at an event packed with prominent figures in Trump’s MAGA universe, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, as well as Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump.

Plenty of people pointed out to Fieri that Trump has been accused by at least 28 women of various acts of sexual misconduct since the 1970s, ranging from kissing and groping without consent to rape and other alleged acts of sexual assault.

“How about this dude? Did he sneak up on you too?” one person asked, posting a photo of Fieri happily greeting the president at the event. Another person shared the clip of Fieri embracing one of the Tate brothers and alluded to the allegations against them and against Trump by writing: “That stink will never wash out.”

Several others disputed Fieri’s claims to not know the Tate brothers, including someone who expressed the view that the brothers have been falsely accused of sex trafficking. “Guy Fieri knew exactly who Andrew and Tristan Tate were,” this person said.“He stood up, he walked over, and for one moment, he acted like a man who doesn’t need permission to say hello.”

This person furthermore chastised Fieri for giving in to “pressure” to denounce the brothers by offering a “pathetic” apology for being seen with them.

Someone else agreed that Fieri had to know the Tate brothers, given that “you are around UFC news … can’t be that obtuse.” But this person had a much different take on the brothers and argued that UFC CEO Dana White “continues to invite (them) to UFC events” and “give them primo seats.” That person also challenged Fieri to ask Trump “why he allowed these pukes back in (the USA).”

Andrew Tate, who is known for his chauvinistic views and courtship of right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson and Barron Trump, and his brother Tristan face criminal charges in Romania for the alleged trafficking of more than 30 women, including a 17-year-old girl, into their pornography operation, the New York Times reported in December. They also are under investigation in Britain for alleged rape and trafficking. However, Romanian officials lifted travel restrictions on them in February 2025, allowing them to return to the United States.

In addition to being called out for being seen with these brothers, Fieri also was reminded of Trump’s one-time friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious sex offender.

“You support a sexual predator president that’s been accused by over 28 women, his own wife accused him of rape, he took his mistress on family vacation and was best friends with Epstein for years and hung out so nice try,” this person said.

This post specifically referred to Trump’s first wife, Ivana Trump, who accused him of a “violent assault” during their 1990 divorce before walking back on the allegation. It’s also been reported that Trump arranged for Marla Maples, his then-girlfriend and future second wife, to be in Aspen when he took Ivana and their three children on a 1989 family ski trip.

A number of people also told Fieri that they would stop watching his Food Network shows because of his interactions with the Tate brothers and with Trump’s MAGA world.

“I used to be a big fan but no more,” a self-described artist from Canada wrote in a post liked by more than 280 people. “Shame on you Guy, many of us honestly expected a whole lot better of you. You’ve done a lot of good in the world, then you ruin it all by cozying up to filth like Trump and the Tates. Sad. Read the room, people are deeply offended.”

However “devastated” Fieri claims to be, he should be accustomed to facing backlash for associating with Trump, including at a prior UFC event, according to Complex. Back in 2023, before Trump returned to the White House for a second time, musician Jack White called out Fieri and other celebrities — Joe Rogan, Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg — for “normalizing” the divisive former reality TV star.

“Anybody who ‘normalizes’ or treats this disgusting fascist, racist, con man, disgusting (expletive) Trump with any level of respect is ALSO disgusting in my book,” White wrote in an Instagram post. “That’s you Joe Rogan, you Mel Gibson, you Mark Wahlberg, you Guy Fieri.”

At the time, Fieri’s willingness to be seen with Trump surprised many, given that the celebrity chef has long presented himself as apolitical, Complex reported. Then again, Fieri was known to be “good friends” with Trump’s friend and supporter Kid Rock, Complex also reported.

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