The death of celebrity chef Anne Burrell has been officially classified as suicide by the New York City medical examiner’s office. The beloved Food Network personality was discovered unresponsive in her apartment nearly five weeks ago. Medical findings point to fatal intoxication from multiple substances, combining alcohol with medications typically used to treat ADHD.
Medical Examiner’s Report Reveals Substance Details
The toxicology report identifies the lethal combination as diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine. PEOPLE magazine accessed the official documentation, while Burrell’s family has declined to make any public statements. Previous reporting by The New York Times suggested overdose circumstances, with police records revealing the chef was found in her shower area with approximately 100 pills scattered nearby.
Network Celebrates Two-Decade Career During Show’s Final Chapter
Burrell’s swan song on television will air in the forthcoming season of *Worst Cooks in America*, launching July 28 on Food Network. She shares screen time with co-mentor chef Gabe Bertaccini, guiding their usual collection of kitchen-challenged contestants. Following the public announcement of her death on June 17, the network arranged a tribute programming block on June 25, honoring her twenty-year tenure as a cornerstone of Food Network’s lineup.
Bertaccini Shares Behind-the-Scenes Memories
Speaking with TV Insider, Gabe Bertaccini opened up about his partnership with Burrell during what would become their final collaboration. Viewing advance episodes proved emotionally taxing, yet he cherished memories of their bond forged during marathon 14-hour filming sessions. Burrell consistently stayed connected with both him and the show’s participants, regularly checking in about their culinary journey.
Bertaccini playfully described managing the eclectic group of non-cooks—ranging from opera performers to content creators and musicians—as akin to supervising a preschool class. He recalled Burrell’s prescient warnings about the challenges of coaching these culinarily-challenged recruits, admitting their lack of basic kitchen knowledge often left him completely at a loss for words.
This summer’s final season featuring Anne Burrell gives viewers one last opportunity to witness her infectious passion for transforming hopeless home cooks into somewhat competent kitchen warriors.
