Top Chef winner Gabe Erales posts a lengthy apology saying he's "deeply and sincerely sorry" following revelation of his harassment controversy

Variety

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Erales wrote "the last three weeks have been a trying time of reflection and personal growth." Erales' victory as the show's first Mexican-American winner was overshadowed by the revelation that he was fired as head chef at the restaurant he worked for having an affair with an underling and cutting her hours in retaliation. Erales wrote that he needed “time with my family to start the healing process before making a public statement.” He went on to apologize to his “family, friends, staff, supporters, and my Top Chef family,” and specifically apologize to his wife, who “has always been by my side supporting my career and our family.”