Alison Roman Apologized To Chrissy Teigen After Targeting Her In 'Stupid' And 'Careless' Comments

From Delish

Update: May 11, 2020 8:11 p.m. Cookbook author Alison Roman issued a lengthy apology to Chrissy Teigen and Marie Kondo via her Instagram and Twitter Monday night, calling her comments in an interview for the New Consumer "stupid, careless, and insensitive."

Alison began her note by saying she was "formally" apologizing to Chrissy and Marie, saying that she needs to learn "the difference between being unfiltered and honest" and "uneducated and flippant."

"The burden is not on them (or anyone else) to teach me and I'm deeply sorry that my learning came at Chrissy and Marie's expense," she wrote.

The New York Times columnist also acknowledged that she had insulted two successful, Asian women and that she is "a white woman who has and will continue to benefit from white privilege."

"The fact that it didn't occur to me that I had singled out two Asian women is one hundred percent a function of my privilege (being blind to racial insensitivities is a discriminatory luxury)," she wrote. "I know that our culture frequently goes after women, especially women of color, and I am ashamed to have contributed to that."

Alison ended the four-scroll Instagram apology by giving her email (hello@alisoneroman.com) and inviting people to give her their "knowledge, guidance, or opinions" and help her to become a better listener.

"I owe you my attention," she wrote. "I promise to read any feedback I receive."

You can read her whole note here. Neither Marie nor Chrissy had publicly acknowledged Alison's apology as of this writing, but on Sunday, Chrissy said she was taking a "little break" from Twitter because of some peoples' reactions to the conflict.

Original: May 9, 2020 12:12 p.m. Chrissy Teigen admitted she had never "been so bummed out by the words of a fellow food-lover" after New York Times columnist and cookbook author Alison Roman said the career trajectory of the Cravings guru "horrifies [her]" in a controversial interview with the New Consumer.

Chrissy viewed the move by Alison to label her a "sellout" as an attempt to invalidate her work. She later suggested Alison unfollow her on Twitter after revealing that she had signed on to executive produce the TV show recently sold by the columnist, which has not yet started filming due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It has been crappy to deal with this all day, but I couldn't not say something," Chrissy wrote: "I know the actual tears I put into the work I do, and it's really hard to see someone try to completely invalidate it. Someone I really liked."

After tweeting non-apologies, Alison attempted to clarify her remarks on Twitter by saying that she was merely trying to point out that a product line was not part of her business model. She added that she had personally sent an email to Chrissy amid her attempts to apologize for any pain caused by her words.

"I want to clarify, I am not coming for anyone who's successful, especially not women," she tweeted. "I was trying to clarify that my business model does not include a product line, which work very well for some, but I don't see working for me."

Teigen's husband John Legend was also quick to come to her defense.

"I love what you are building. I love that it comes straight from your heart and your brilliant, creative mind," he added, "I'm so proud of you."

Celebrity chef José Andrés also showed his public support for his fellow chef, thanking her for what she has taught him about food.

"You should raise up above all stronger. You’re a smart, happy, intelligent women, a caring mother, a loving wife, a concerned citizen caring for people in need!" he wrote. "Look at that mirror and tell yourself: I’m awesome! 35 years cooking I have, and I learn from you."

Alison's original remarks came after she asked if there was "a fine line between consumption and pollution" in a conversation about content creation with Dan Frommer. She championed her own approach, saying "you're making something, but it goes away" before calling Netflix phenomenon and organizational expert Marie Kondo a sellout, as well.

"Like the idea that when Marie Kondo decided to capitalize on her fame and make stuff that you can buy, that is completely antithetical to everything she’s ever taught you," Alison said. "I’m like, damn, bitch, you fucking just sold out immediately!"

Alison then name-checked Chrissy, calling her success "crazy to me."

"She had a successful cookbook. And then it was like: Boom, line at Target. Boom, now she has an Instagram page that has over a million followers where it’s just, like, people running a content farm for her," she said: "That horrifies me and it’s not something that I ever want to do. I don’t aspire to that. But like, who’s laughing now? Because she’s making a ton of fucking money."

Chrissy took particular issue with the allegations of "running a content farm," making it known that she personally touched every part of her business. She called herself "the cows, the horses, and the pigs."

"Cravings isn't a 'machine' or 'farmed content'—it's me and 2 other women," she wrote. "I didn't 'sell out' by making my dreams come true. To have a cookware line, to get to be a part of that process start to finish, to see something go from sketch to in my hands, I love that."

The celeb also made it clear that in addition to doing the work herself, "there is NO monetary gain yet."

"It is just work work work and the reward is you liking it," she continued. "So to be called a sellout....hooooo it hurts."

Delish reached out to Alison Roman for a quote but did not hear back at the time of publishing.

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