Top Chef winner Gabe Erales apologizes for workplace affair that cost him his ...

Top Chef winner Gabe Erales apologizes for workplace affair that cost him his ...
Top Chef winner Gabe Erales apologizes for workplace affair that cost him his ...

Gabe Erales issued an apology Saturday addressing his firing late last year over sexual harassment allegations.

The chef, who won the most recent season of Top Chef earlier this month, wrote on Instagram that he was 'deeply and sincerely sorry for the impact my poor decisions had on those involved.'

The circumstances surrounding Erales ouster from his restaurant Comedor in Austin, Texas, came into clearer focus in July after he admitted to carrying on an affair with a female employee at his restaurant, before later decreasing her hours.

Owning up: Top Chef winner Gabe Erales shared an apology to Instagram on Saturday after admitting to carrying on a workplace affair and docking the employees hours later on

Owning up: Top Chef winner Gabe Erales shared an apology to Instagram on Saturday after admitting to carrying on a workplace affair and docking the employees hours later on

'The last three weeks have been a trying time of reflection and personal growth,' Erales began his Instagram text post.

'I have been silent not because I thought it would go away, but because I needed time with my family to start the healing process before making a public statement,' he continued. 'To say I am sorry that I let my family, friends, staff, supporters, and my Top Chef family down may feel like an understatement at the moment, but it's the first step and a genuine start on my road to making amends.

Rather than devoting his energies toward the woman he's accused of harassing, the chef spent more time apologizing to his wife.

'Most importantly, I let the one person down who has always been by my side supporting my career and our family, my wife,' he wrote. 

Changing the focus: Rather than devoting his energies toward the woman he's accused of harassing, the chef spent more time apologizing to his wife

Changing the focus: Rather than devoting his energies toward the woman he's accused of harassing, the chef spent more time apologizing to his wife

Taking ownership: He admitted to the affair and later reducing her hours, though he only referred to the situation as 'poor judgement' [sic]

Taking ownership: He admitted to the affair and later reducing her hours, though he only referred to the situation as 'poor judgement' [sic]

Moving on: Erales concluded his statement by vowing to learn from his 'mistakes.' He was fired in December from his Austin restaurant Comedor

Moving on: Erales concluded his statement by vowing to learn from his 'mistakes.' He was fired in December from his Austin restaurant Comedor

The reality star continued, writing 'I must continue to  acknowledge my mistakes including the termination from my former job.'

'To clarify, unbeknownst to my wife, I had a consensual relationship with a co-worker and later reduced her work hours, which in combination was a poor judgement [sic] call and led to my termination after I filmed Top Chef,' he claimed.

After the firing, he said he was at his 'lowest point,' putting him in danger of 'potentially losing my family while I had already lost my job.'

'I am deeply and sincerely sorry for the impact that my poor decisions had on those involved. My personal growth will be a perpetual apology in seeking forgiveness,' he continued.

Opening up: Erales first admitted to the affair to the Austin American-Statesmen in July, just after winning Top Chef; still from Top Chef

Opening up: Erales first admitted to the affair to the Austin

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