Robert Irvine Slams Food Network Over Restaurant Impossible Reboot
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Robert Irvine announced he won't watch Food Network's reboot "Restaurant Impossible: Last Call," saying on X that "it was MY baby not the networks" and calling the network "shameless."
- Irvine explained his absence from the reboot by revealing the network chose to film in Canada and "wanted a new crew, builder, designer, etc.," which he refused, accusing them of doing it "for tax credits."
- Irvine slammed the reboot as a "shit attempt to cheapen and revive what was a popular show across the world," saying the network is "ruining the legacy and making a mockery of the talent."
- Restaurant Impossible: Last Call premiered this week with Chef Aarón Sánchez and Jen Agg stepping in as hosts, after Irvine hosted the original series for 22 seasons (or 15 years, per his own account).
- Irvine credited his former team — naming Tom, Tanya, Lynn, and volunteers — saying they "did amazing work" together and that he still keeps in touch with families he helped on the show.
- Deadline reached out to Food Network for comment but had not received a response at time of publication.
Why it matters: A 22-season host publicly torching his own network's reboot signals a real reputational headache for Food Network, which is now launching a successor show while its original star is telling fans it's a shameless tax-credit cash grab. Irvine's framing — that the network cycled out his loyal crew to chase Canadian filming incentives — gives the controversy a concrete financial motive rather than mere creative differences.
