Celebrity chef Kelsey Barnard Clark, who triumphed in the sixteenth season of the popular culinary competition Top Chef, has been taken into police custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. The incident occurred in Dothan, Alabama, on Wednesday, marking a turbulent period for the chef that follows closely on the heels of a significant personal upheaval.
Arrest Details and Personal Turmoil
Clark, aged 36, was arrested after her vehicle collided with a mailbox. According to reports, she subsequently struggled to complete standard field sobriety tests administered by officers, which included tasks such as walking in a straight line and standing on one foot. This legal trouble arrives just weeks after the official finalisation of her divorce from Deavours Woodham Clark, bringing an end to their decade-long marriage.
Finalised Divorce and Custody Arrangements
The divorce was formally concluded on December 29, 2025, following an initial filing by Kelsey in May of that year. The former couple have reportedly agreed to a joint custody arrangement concerning their two children: eight-year-old Monroe and five-year-old June. This agreement was reached after Deavours moved out of the family home earlier in the year.
Career Highlights and Public Persona
Kelsey Barnard Clark is a prominent figure in the culinary world. Her victory in Top Chef Season 16 in 2019 made her the fourth female champion in the show's history. She also serves as a judge on the Netflix series Next Gen Chef. Beyond television, Clark is the proprietor of the downtown Dothan restaurant KBC and is the author of three cookbooks: Southern Grit, Southern Get-Togethers, and The Flavor of Fire.
In a revealing trailer for her winning season, Clark addressed the camera directly, stating, 'I seem like a Southern belle, but you certainly don’t know the other side of me.' This sentiment was echoed in a 2019 interview with Alabama Life and Culture, where she remarked that first impressions can be misleading, describing herself as a kind person but not necessarily 'sweet' upon closer acquaintance.
Past Sacrifices and Personal Struggles
Clark's path to culinary fame involved considerable personal sacrifice. During the nine weeks of filming for Top Chef, she was a first-time mother who left her infant son, Monroe, in her then-husband's care. She made only three phone calls home during the entire filming period and was forced to stop breastfeeding. Clark has spoken candidly about the emotional difficulty of this separation, including missing key developmental milestones like her son learning to walk, which she described as putting her 'into a spiral for days.'
She coped by focusing on her goal of providing a better future for her family, stating she had to 'block out everything' to get through the competition. Despite encouragement from her family and support from the production crew, she experienced significant guilt, sleep disruption, and anxiety during this challenging time.
Legal Proceedings and Media Response
Following her arrest, Clark was booked on suspicion of DUI. Reports indicate she may be eligible for a pretrial diversion programme, which could potentially prevent the charge from appearing on her permanent record. It is not yet publicly known whether she has secured legal representation to comment on the case. The Daily Mail has noted that its request for comment from Clark's representatives had not received a response at the time of reporting.
