Cameron Steel
Eric Adjepong from ‘Top Chef’ Allegedly Breached Ex-Wife’s Protective Order Prior to Daughter Securing Order Against Him
Published
Eric Adjepong, the renowned star of “Top Chef,” is accused of breaching a restraining order placed by his ex-wife, Janell Mack. This incident reportedly occurred over a year before their daughter secured a protective order against him, as reported by TMZ.
In January 2025, Janell initiated legal action against Eric, successfully acquiring a temporary protective order that prohibited him from contacting her through any means.
Just one day after the protective order was established, on January 23, Eric purportedly contacted Janell through the “OurFamilyWizard” parenting app, requesting to FaceTime her.
A court summons was subsequently issued, reminding Eric that he must refrain from contacting Janell. The protective order was valid until February 4, 2025.
In a statement to TMZ via his attorney, Eric explained, “The alleged violation involved Mr. Adjepong reaching out to his ex-wife concerning their daughter through the OurFamilyWizard app, which is a court-approved communication tool used during their divorce and custody discussions. The court dismissed the alleged violation since the mandated communication method conflicted with the protective order.”
Eric addressed the situation on Instagram, stating, “The past several weeks have been among the most challenging of my life. I have chosen to remain silent, not due to a lack of response, but because I believe integrity is demonstrated through one’s conduct when their character is questioned. While others may opt for rhetoric, I prefer to stand by the truth.”
The specific actions that led Janell to secure a protective order against Eric remain unclear. Their marriage lasted from 2017 to 2021, and they have a 7-year-old daughter named Lennox.
Reports indicate that on Wednesday, Janell and Eric’s daughter, Lennox, successfully obtained a year-long protective order following allegations of sexual abuse against Eric. These claims were reported to Child and Family Services on May 1, which subsequently alerted the Washington, D.C. police, who found no probable cause for a crime to have occurred.
A judge in Howard County, Maryland, issued a final protective order against Eric on July 10, which will remain in effect for one year.
Through his attorney, Eric conveyed to TMZ that he is complying with the protective order, expressing, “I hope that in the future, my ex-wife and I can resolve these matters privately and through the appropriate legal channels, rather than in the media, for the sake of our daughter.”
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In response to the situation, Janell shared a statement on Instagram, stating, “My daughter was just granted a protective order against her father due to her courage in speaking out against someone who should have been a trusted adult in her life.”
Mason Thompson
Ivy Caldwell
