'Barefoot' Backfire: Make-a-Wish Kid Turns Ina Down
It's the PR disaster heard 'round the world. The tables have turned on Food Network star Ina Garten, the 'Barefoot Contessa,' who got caught red-handed last week turning down a Make-a-Wish kid. On Monday, she called the family of Enzo Pereda, a 6-year-old cancer patient, to say she had reconsidered, but now
TMZ is reporting they turned her down.
"This has been a disaster for Ina," a foodie insider tells me. "She buried her head in the sand for days hoping the bad publicity would go over, but it didn't."
To a casual observer -- as well as the scores of new ex-fans -- Ina's change of heart on Monday appeared to be possibly driven more by the desire to nip a festering scandal in the bud, rather than to make a sick little boy's dream come true.
"She was worried her initial reaction was hurting her business," my source contends.
Ina had twice blew off meeting Enzo after the wonderful Make-A-Wish Foundation approached her before being shamed into finally contacting his family, independently of the foundation.
"Chefs think they are the new rock stars. And no one has a higher opinion of themselves than Ina," an insider tells me. "She forgot a long time ago that it is the fans who make you who you are. You can be the most talented chef in the world, but if people don't like you, they won't watch your shows or buy your cookbooks."
Ultimately, Enzo's family decided to put an end to the madness and move on from Ina. "I don't want to put my son through all these emotions. We're better off just leaving everything the way it is," dad Adrian told TMZ.
It's great to see that the Pereda family holds no bad feelings and is already getting excited to have Enzo's other wish come true ... to swim with dolphins.
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I agree. I will not have anything to do with her shows, books, anything! Anyone who would turn down a terminally ill child's request to meet them, is NOT anyone I want to support. My friends feel the same and she or any of her products will be a part of our large cooking club...many other wonderful chefs in the sea...but not she!!!!!
It is so terrible when people declined, they get to the top and don't want to help someone who might not see the next day. Lady, you should be ashame of yourself! This is SAD.
I sooo hope it does affect her pocketbook, she thinks she's all that but she needs to wake up and smell the coffee. You aint no chef, you a house wife who cooks for friends who think you're nice, boy, are they in for a rude awakening.
Maybe it'll make her lose pocketbook, show and all. Then she might think about what she did. The people are what make's her sale anything. And I hope Million's read this story about her.
Me too Anna! Our family is done with Ina. What a cruel person to turn down the wish of a child... You can bet that Ina's show on the Food Network will soon be a thing of the past. She certainly caused her own negative publicity and Ina can wallow in that nasty stew that she created on her own!!!!
The "Brainless Contessa" is so typical of the uppity, holier than thou Hamptons Clique! Her thoughtlessness turned into a public relations "recipe for disaster"!
we should boy cot her show shes a low life
I agree. What would possess anyone to say no to a child with cancer. She was my least favorite chef anyway.
Didn't know Ina....now I really DON'T WANT TO KNOW INA. So disgusting! I'll go out of my way to NOT SUPPORT her in TV and cookbooks.
Really, SHAME ON YOU!
Anyone that has watched her program has to know she's a self serving snob. The 6 year old boy doesn't need his wishes to be fullfiled by someone as fake as she is!
If it wasn't for her FANS than she would not have a show. Idna Gardner you are a REAL DOUCHE BAG
I couldn't agree more. She's way down my list. And I'm sure he'll enjoy the dolphins more than he would have enjoyed meeting her - ha ha. Hope it hits her in the bank account where it really hurts. It wouldn't have taken much of her time. And how would she have acted if the shoe were on the other foot and SHE'D asked for something like that for her child and been told, no, I'm too busy and don't particularly care.
Hope no one ever watches her again...now she needs to watch out for more than her foof burning...she needs to worry about Karma CATCHING UP WITH HER .. and it WILL... pathetic excuse for a human..if she is one
Looks like she COOKED HER OWN GOOSE ! What a shame anyone would turn down a wish with a little kid who has cancer. I've never watched her and now I never will !
i freaking hate ina so much..she anoys the living crap outa me...she needs to go lose some weight
I totally agree, plus her food sucks, her show sucks, & she talks like she's above everyone!! Poor lil guy!!
I TO AM ASHAMED OF HER, EVEN BUSY TOURING ROCK STARES AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS, ETC HAVE MADE TIME FOR A CHILD THAT IS ILL, I WILL NOT WATCH HER SHOW AGAIN.
[Ina Garten]:Hello, Pereda Family?
This is Ina Garten. I've reconsidered your request.
[Pereda family]: So have we... GFY and have a nice day.
I so agree with you! This is one cold hearted women, Ina Garten you need to cook yourself up a heart and fill it with love for your fans who made you! I will never watch your show, buy a book, or cook your recipes ever again! After all... I'm cooking for my children! What would that say about the fans if we don't stand up to this type of heartless behavior.
We probably don't know the whole story. Did her agent turn the boy down without ever asking her? Does she get a ton of requests? I would have to hear more of the story before I'd stop watching her show.