'Barefoot Contessa' Ina Garten Refuses to Meet 6-Year-Old Cancer Patient

By Sarah Crow Posted Mar 25th 2011 12:45PM

Ina Garten is cooking up some seriously bad karma along with her culinary creations.

Garten, known to many by her TV moniker 'Barefoot Contessa,' has refused to meet a 6-year-old boy suffering from cancer, despite his multiple pleas.

The boy, Enzo, is suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia and reached out to Garten through the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the first time three years ago, asking for the celebrity chef to take time to cook with him.

His request fell upon deaf ears, however. Garten's rep told TMZ, "As much as [Garten] would like to, it's absolutely impossible for her to grant every request she receives."

The little boy, who specifically requested to meet Garten because he had watched her show while sick in bed, made a second request through Make-A-Wish, which was met with a "definite no."

Enzo, who asked his parents, "Why doesn't she want to meet me?" has chosen another wish, which the foundation has been able to grant -- the brave little boy is currently taking lessons to prepare for his new dream: to swim with dolphins.

Make-A-Wish issued a statement regarding Garten's refusal of Enzo's request, writing, "From time to time, planning for wishes doesn't turn out as originally envisioned, despite people's best intentions and efforts throughout the wish-granting process."

Watch Ina Garten make Bloody Marys.

Tags: Barefoot Contessa, ina garten

Comments

(616)

Saturday 26 March

By Michelle

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Maybe she should look a little more closely and the requests that she receives. If it was somebody from the Hamptons or one of her rich friends, she would say YES. I will not be watching the show from now on.

Friday 25 March

By Wicked

I know she has a restaurant of her own, but that doesnt seem right to deny a dying kid a wish of meeting a celebrity chef. Not right, Ina.

By Mitzi

Actually, we don't know that. She did own Barefoot Contessa, but sold it. And it wasn't a restaurant, but a specialty food store. But this refusal is pretty uncool; I really like her shows and cookbooks, but now...

By Jennifer

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Most children don't die from A.L.L. it is one of the few cancers that can actually be cured. Although many do have long term effects from the treatment, my personal experience of a relative with this disease is now a very healthy and happy young adult.

Shame on Make a Wish for publishing this, I'm sure they get turned away by celebrities all the time, why pick on this lady now??

By Bonnie

Wow, what a creep. She is so full if herself.

Saturday 02 April

By Cheryl

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I am not at all shocked at this whether true or false about Ina I have always thought that she thinks more highly of herself than she ought to think. Instead of giving food to all those rich friends when you have too much let your viewing audience see you give to someone that's hungry once in awhile.

By ciara

That is honestly one of the saddest things, how can you deny someone what is essentially their 'dying wish'- and all it is, is to spend time with you?

By sknkodiak

I feel horrible for the poor child, but maybe the contessa isn't arrogant so much as afraid. Many people are afraid of children, afraid of dying people, and especially afraid of dying children. I've never watched (or for that matter, heard of her) before, but maybe she's just frankly terrified of being near a sick child and not knowing how to cope.

By Pat

If she's afraid of dying children inagine how the mother of that slaughtered lamb felt as her baby was used as veal.

Tuesday 29 March

By Breehappy

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Ummmm Pat.... for one thing, veal is from cows, not lambs. For another.... what the heck does that have to do with anything. You are just showing that most fanatics dont have a clue.

By looon

Check the Barefoot Contessa off my viewing list!

By di

i agree some what heartless. shes all about herself oh yea and cooking for jeffrey,

By Julie

Shame on you Ina Garten! You are definetly off my viewing list. Same on you!

By Liz March

Me too, I was a big fan

By bcarrknapp

I will never watch her again!!!!!! Shame on you!!! What arrogance!

By Anna

Cross her off my viewing list also. Whatever she's got cookin', I don't want it.!!!!!!

By kristine

What a irrogant creep.. Checking her off my list!!!!!

By Dan

Same here!!!! I have watched her for years!!!! NO MORE!
She recently build a fine new home, or addition to the one she has had, in East Hampton. I'll bet she would have all the time requested if one of her rich neighbors asked a favor!!!

By Ricky Fox

She has always been my fav but now I just won't see her the same. I will have to skip her show from now on. She needed to put this one little wish at the top of her list. What an honor it is to be the one some sick child wants to meet most of all and what kimd of person would turn it down. I would like to see the list that turn them down...will be a list I stop watching.

By Barbara

Will do the same.

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