The question of Anne Burrell’s sexuality—specifically whether the beloved Food Network star was bisexual—has long been a topic of public curiosity, fueled by her diverse and public relationships over the years. As of the current date, December 15, 2025, the full picture of her romantic life, which included a confirmed same-sex relationship and a later marriage to a man, offers a complex and deeply personal answer to the question, one that tragically concludes with her recent passing in June 2025.
The celebrity chef, known for her vibrant personality, signature spiky blonde hair, and role on shows like Worst Cooks in America, lived a life in the public eye where her personal relationships often became a subject of discussion. Her romantic journey provides a clear context for the rumors and speculation surrounding her sexual orientation, revealing a pattern of falling in love with the person, regardless of gender.
Anne Burrell: A Life and Career in Culinary Television
Anne W. Burrell was a celebrated American chef, television personality, and culinary instructor whose career spanned decades, making her a household name in the culinary world. Her energetic teaching style and distinctive look set her apart on the Food Network.
- Full Name: Anne W. Burrell
- Date of Birth: September 21, 1969
- Date of Passing: June 17, 2025
- Age at Passing: 55
- Hometown: Cazenovia, New York
- Education: Graduated from Canisius College and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
- Early Career: Worked at prestigious New York restaurants, including Felidia, Savoy, and Centro Vinoteca.
- Television Debut: Known for her work as Mario Batali's sous chef on Iron Chef America.
- Signature Shows: Host of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and co-host of Worst Cooks in America.
- Spouse: Stuart Claxton (Married 2021–2025)
- Previous Engagement: Koren Grieveson (2012)
The Public Confirmation: Anne Burrell's Same-Sex Relationship
The speculation about Anne Burrell’s personal life came to a head in 2012. A comment made by her Food Network colleague, chef Ted Allen, inadvertently brought her private life into the public sphere. Allen, a host on Chopped, mentioned Burrell’s "lesbian chef girlfriend" during a radio interview.
Following this public mention, Anne Burrell released a statement to address the situation directly. She confirmed that she was in a committed relationship with a woman, James Beard Award-winning chef Koren Grieveson.
While the initial reportage used terms like "gay" and "lesbian" to describe her at the time, Burrell herself confirmed the relationship with Grieveson, which had been going on for two years. The couple became engaged in 2012, solidifying their commitment.
Outing vs. Openness: Her Stance on Privacy
Despite the public nature of the confirmation, Burrell's representative clarified that she did not feel she had been "outed." Instead, they stated that she had "made no secret of her relationship" and that her partner was simply a very private woman. This period cemented Anne Burrell as a prominent queer figure in the culinary and television world, an entity that resonated with many fans.
The Answer to 'Was Anne Burrell Bisexual?'
The most compelling evidence to address the question of "was Anne Burrell bisexual" lies in the entirety of her adult romantic history, particularly the relationships that followed her engagement to Koren Grieveson. Bisexuality is defined as romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one sex or gender.
Anne Burrell’s later life demonstrated a clear attraction to both men and women, which aligns with the definition of bisexuality, even if she publicly used other labels at different times.
A New Chapter: Marriage to Stuart Claxton
In 2018, Burrell met Stuart Claxton, a marketing professional, on the dating app Bumble. This relationship with a man, following her long-term, public relationship with a woman, provided a clear indication of her capacity for attraction across genders.
- 2018: Anne Burrell and Stuart Claxton meet on Bumble.
- 2020: The couple gets engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021: Anne Burrell and Stuart Claxton marry in a beautiful ceremony in her hometown of Cazenovia, New York.
Her marriage to Claxton, which lasted until her death in 2025, confirmed that her romantic life was not confined to one gender. While she may have identified as "gay" or "lesbian" during the period of her same-sex relationship with chef Grieveson, her subsequent marriage to a man strongly suggests that her sexual orientation was, in fact, bisexual or pansexual, reflecting an attraction that transcended gender lines.
The Tragic and Recent Conclusion of Her Story
The final, and most recent, update to Anne Burrell’s life story is the news of her tragic passing. On June 17, 2025, Anne Burrell died at the age of 55 at her home in Brooklyn, New York. Her husband, Stuart Claxton, reportedly found her unresponsive.
This shocking news brought an outpouring of grief from the Food Network community, fellow celebrity chefs, and her vast fan base. Entities like Ted Allen and other colleagues shared their condolences, recognizing her immense contribution to culinary television and her vibrant, unique spirit.
In conclusion, while Anne Burrell publicly confirmed a same-sex relationship in 2012, her later marriage to a man, Stuart Claxton, provides the clearest answer to the question of her sexuality. Her romantic history—encompassing a long-term engagement to a woman (Koren Grieveson) and a marriage to a man (Stuart Claxton)—indicates that she was attracted to people of different genders, which is the definition of a bisexual or queer identity. Her legacy, both as a chef and as a personality who lived her life openly, remains a powerful force in the culinary world, tragically cut short in 2025.
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