Top Chef winner Gabe Erales got the "Good Guy" edit that has been demolished by his sexual harassment scandal

Jezebel

As Shannon Melero notes, Erales' scandal "has broken the imaginary fifth wall and, through its cracks, you can see the ugly side of the restaurant industry reappearing." She adds: "From the start of the show to its grand finale, Erales was framed as a Good Guy, down on his luck, looking to make an impact on the food industry for the sake of his family and all of the chefs like him who never had a fair shot. The editing choices made by producers worked to perfectly amplify this narrative. A few well-placed musical notes and the right cut are the difference between a show villain and a show hero. Erales was, without a question, an on-screen hero, as were most of the cheftestants this season. The pandemic ravaged the restaurant business and the theme of coming together to save an entire industry was palpable throughout the entire season. But as is the truth with so many men who are framed as heroes, the truth did not align with the story."