George Calombaris Reveals Personal Turmoil Following Career-Defining Scandal
Celebrity chef George Calombaris has publicly detailed the profound devastation he experienced as his once-thriving career dramatically unravelled in the wake of a significant wage underpayment scandal. The former MasterChef Australia judge opened up about this challenging period during a recent episode of I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia, providing raw insight into his personal struggles.
The Sudden Silence and Descent into Alcohol
Calombaris described to his campmates the jarring transition from a life of constant activity to one of complete professional silence. 'It was the weirdest feeling, you've suddenly gone from your phone buzzing all day long, emails, MasterChef, restaurants, blah, blah, blah - to nothing,' he confessed. This abrupt halt left him questioning his purpose, leading to a period of intense personal difficulty.
'The first couple of months were horrible,' he continued, revealing that he turned to binge drinking as a coping mechanism. The situation reached a critical point when his best man discovered him in a distressed state. 'I was binge drinking and then one day, my best man found me in a bush down the road, literally, and slapped it out of me. I'll never forget that moment,' Calombaris shared, marking it as a turning point where he decided 'Enough is enough. I'm gonna pull my head in.'
The Scandal That Shattered an Empire
The catalyst for this downfall was the 2019 wage underpayment scandal involving his MAdE Establishment Group. The hospitality empire was ordered to repay $7.8 million in staff underpayments and fined $200,000 after more than 500 workers were affected. This very public controversy ended his long-standing role on MasterChef and transformed his public image dramatically.
While acknowledging the severe financial and professional consequences, Calombaris expressed that the personal stigma was even more difficult to endure. 'The most hurtful part of what I went through was being tagged a thief,' he told The Daily Telegraph, emphasising how this label conflicted with the values his parents had instilled in him. He maintains that he takes 'full responsibility' for the events that transpired.
Life After the Fall: Relocation and Business Ventures
Following the collapse of his Melbourne-based restaurant group, Calombaris relocated his family to Sydney in 2023. There, he entered into a notable business partnership with now-bankrupt pub baron Jon Adgemis, involving him in several venues including Alpha, the Empire Hotel, and Hotel Diplomat. However, the hospitality landscape remains challenging; his final Sydney venue, Gazi Supper Club in Darlinghurst, closed in December, and industry rumours suggest his Melbourne restaurant, The Hellenic House Project, may also be for sale.
Seeking Perspective and a Platform for Redemption
Reflecting on the entire ordeal, Calombaris did not mince words about its impact. 'It was horrendous and something I never want my worst enemy to go through,' he stated. Despite the setbacks, he claims to have gained perspective, noting that others face circumstances far worse than financial ruin.
Now, he sees his participation in the reality show as an opportunity to directly address the narrative that has followed him for years. 'In a way, if you want to call it redemption, yeah a little bit of that,' he admitted to The Daily Telegraph. For Calombaris, the jungle provides a unique platform away from courtrooms and boardrooms, allowing him to confront his past while asserting that his life is currently 'in a really good place.'
