Social media chef Darius Cooks accused of being a crook

Social media foods feeling Darius Williams, improved known by his enterprise identify Darius Cooks, has appear underneath hearth right after a number of allegations from fellow cooks and enthusiasts.

The food stuff blogger — who has additional than 1 million followers on Facebook — is being accused of thieving recipes from lesser-acknowledged chefs, as properly as fraud and even assault. 

There experienced been some peaceful allegations in opposition to Williams for more than a year from followers of his on Fb, who accused him of not sending cookbooks that they purchased or refusing to refund tickets to his personal Eating with Darius supper get-togethers, which have been regularly scheduled then canceled. These incidents gained Williams a number of problems against him filed with the Improved Organization Bureau. 

But final 7 days, important accusations from a well-liked fellow chef have acquired steam and turned the tide of his admirer guidance. Non-public chef and cookbook writer Angela Davis, recognized as The Kitchenista, shared a lengthy write-up on her Instagram site final in June.

Immediately after becoming accused of producing prices of misconduct versus Williams, she in-depth many of the accusations versus him. 

On June 24, Davis wrote that in addition to BBB issues, Williams has “dozens of active lawsuits and liens.” She pointed out the chef has quite a few allegations of unpaid wages from quite a few staff members of his 3 now-shut places to eat, Soul Crab Atlanta, Soul Crab Chicago and Greens and Gravy, also in Atlanta. 

A single commenter tweeted her help of Davis. Kiara Ross labored as a server at Williams’ Soul Crab restaurant in Atlanta. She in the end filed a police report from him for assault just after confronting him about her back pay out. 

According to Southern Grit magazine, Ross wrote, “I just desired my dollars. This is two a long time ago. I do not know Angela. I started off going by means of the thread and I needed to notify my story. I have been sitting down on it for so long and it has to prevent. I did not know how much it induced me until now.” She has due to the fact established her Twitter account to non-public. 

Meals Network host Sunny Anderson also instructed the journal she had detrimental interactions with Williams. 

“I acquired messages on Twitter about Clean2Go,” a supply-provider company of his in which she’d invested, Anderson stated. “There were being complaints that individuals had offered their credit history card info but no delivery they achieved out to me because he was on my show. I termed him to inquire what was likely on and he hung up. I referred to as again and he by no means picked up once more.” 

“Hopefully folks that do small business with him will investigate him,” she ongoing. “When you include up almost everything, he took an chance and ruined it. At just about every turn, he’s deciding upon to be dishonest, and I hope he stops.”

On Tuesday, Anderson, the co-host of The Kitchen, tweeted about the bombshell report, crafting, “Read this then adhere to @TheKitchenista for far more specifics and receipts. Let us amplify this story… this man is gross and I’m so sorry I place him on my demonstrate yrs ago. Worthy of a study and a RT.” 

TheGrio achieved out to Davis for comment but has not obtained a reaction as of press time.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s “Dear Culture” podcast? Obtain our newest episodes now!
TheGrio is now on Apple Television, Amazon Fire and Roku. Down load theGrio.com nowadays!