Giada De Laurentiis Says She Doesn't Miss the Food Network and Left Because She Was "Bored"

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After 21 years with Food Network, Giada De Laurentiis announced her departure from the channel in February 2023. She almost simultaneously launched her next venture: an e-commerce site and pasta line.

At the time, the television personality said her exit from the network was due to a "rebirth" in her career and what she "really want[ed] to do." But now Giada is getting deeper about her decision.

"It took a while for me to make this decision because I was very fearful of leaving Food Network," she told Rebecca Minkoff on an episode of the designer's podcast, Superwomen, according to Us Weekly. "Because when you’re a big fish in that pond and then you get out, who knows what’s gonna happen next? But I really started to become interested in the entrepreneurial sort of journey. And I realized I couldn’t do both."

Giada admitted that it "felt like the world was crumbling" as she navigated her career, raised her daughter, and grappled with divorce. Ultimately, she decided to leave her life at Food Network behind to focus on new ventures.

"So about two and a half years ago, I finally was like, 'OK, I’m gonna make the jump, and I’m gonna put my energy in Giadzy," she said, referring to her lifestyle brand. "I’ll still do TV. I have a deal with Amazon, so I still do a little bit of that, but it’s definitely not the schedule I used to keep. Definitely not."

The Giadzy founder admits that she was "burnt out" after over two decades at Food Network.

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"I really worked so hard for so long," she said. "I got burnt out and I couldn't see a path that was exciting anymore. I need excitement. I get bored. And if I'm getting bored, my viewers are getting bored."

When asked if she missed Food Network, Giada candidly replied, "No. I know, I should say yes."

However, she did admit to feeling "lucky enough" to be at the channel when they were really willing to hear her voice and take her suggestions. "The landscape hadn't really been fully discovered yet, and so I think they were just more open to the talent."

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