Some celebrity chefs are more iconic for their personalities than their cooking, and you might agree that’s the case as far as TV icon Guy Fieri is concerned.
The 57-year-old chef, restaurateur, author and Emmy Award-winning TV presenter has hosted a litany of popular shows on the US’s Food Network. Once seen as ‘the face of the network’, per the New York Times in 2010, Fieri is known for his flamboyant presenting style and ‘Welcome to Flavortown!’ catchphrase.
He’s also famous for sporting a much-memed black shirt with flame detailing along the bottom. Fiery, you might say.
Sadly Fieri isn’t making headlines at the moment for shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives or Guy’s Chance of Lifetime, but instead because a winner of one of his shows is taking him to court.
Guy’s Chance of a Lifetime saw contestants duke it out in a string of cooking challenges with the goal of taking charge of one of Fieri’s Chicken Guy restaurants.
The show’s winner, Kevin Cooper from Philadelphia, is suing Fieri over claims that the prize turned out to be a poisoned chalice.
He alleges that the winnings included the opportunity to lead a Chicken Guy chain with a base salary of $100,000 (£73,000), and he claims he received assertions that operating costs exceeding the outlet’s first year’s takings would be reimbursed. The Guy’s Chance of a Lifetime winner also claimed he was due to receive $10,000 to cover legal fees.
Franchisees of Chicken Guy must typically pay fees to the owner totalling around $69,000, with Cooper claiming this fee was supposed to be deferred.
Cooper claims in the lawsuit that he never received that compensation, and that this represents a breach of contract. He is seeking to recoup the aforementioned monies along with the $100,000 salary he claims not to have received.
The Chicken Guy location he headed up in Philadelphia closed a year after he took charge in February 2024 for undisclosed reasons.
On 29 June 2025, Cooper posted an Instagram video in which he said: “I ain't mad, I ain't angry, and I ain't even trying to make anybody look bad, man. I'm just here to let y'all know that I am completely free, and now I got something to say.”
On 1 July 2025, Fieri took to Instagram to seemingly respond to the lawsuit along with photos of him and his family.
"I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse," Fieri said, channelling Don Corleone of The Godfather.
FOODBible has approached Fieri for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Scott Dudelson / Contributor/Getty ImagesTopics: Celebrity, TV and Film, News
Rachael Davis