Anne Burrell was discovered unconscious in the shower at her home, and authorities are investigating the new information. Fans, however, are asking people to leave her alone despite the scrutiny.
Early on Tuesday morning, June 17, 2025, long-time Food Network presenter Anne Burrell was discovered unconscious on the shower floor of her Brooklyn home.
Between six and seven in the morning, her husband, Stuart Claxton, found her body and phoned 911 right away. According to law enforcement officials who spoke to TMZ, “a large quantity” of unidentified tablets were discovered in the vicinity of Burrell’s body.
“Dozens of pills” were also found at the site, according to the New York Post. “The incident was reported as a cardiac arrest,” said a New York City Fire Department official. Despite their best efforts, emergency personnel were unable to revive Burrell.
It’s unclear if Claxton followed the 911 operator’s advice to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation. According to TMZ, when he discovered her, her corpse was already cold. Claxton reportedly last saw his wife alive at around one in the morning on Tuesday.
Burrell had done an improv show at a local Brooklyn venue the night before she passed away. The New York Post said that a witness said she was “in great spirits” at her final known public appearance, which was about 1 a.m.
The official cause of death has not yet been announced by the city medical examiner. According to law enforcement officials, there is currently no suspicion of foul play and it is too soon to say whether the tablets had any part in her demise.
The 55-year-old Burrell was well-known due to her hosting of “Worst Cooks in America.” Other well-known Food Network shows that she appeared on included “Iron Chef America,” “Chef Wanted,” and “Chopped.”
Her show “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” received an Emmy nomination and ran for nine seasons. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and working in kitchens in New York City, Burrell established a prosperous career, known for her unique bleached haircut with spikes.
Food Network released a statement calling her “a remarkable person and culinary talent — teaching, competing, and always sharing the importance of food in her life and joy that a delicious meal can bring.”
She is survived by her mother, brother, sister, stepson, and husband.
Social media users’ reactions to the news of her passing came flooding in. Some demanded restraint and respect, while others voiced mistrust.
One fan questioned, “In the shower? Doesn’t make sense, how does he not hear her fall in the shower? I don’t know just something is off.”Another speculated, “Unless something really suspicious happened to her then she most likely dropped the bottle when she fell.”
Someone else wrote, “Dozens of pills?? in the shower?? now see this is what I was saying.. suspicious.” Some fans were more direct in their suspicions, with one commenting, “No. No. No. Huge red flag. those were planted there. IMO.”
But others urged caution, such as the fan who said, “If she had a heart condition she would have a lot of prescription meds don’t make it sound suspicious until you know.” Another added, “I wish they would leave all of this and autopsy confidential as its no one’s business but the families.”
Many echoed the need for evidence, not speculation. One person posted, “Unless the pills were found in her body, they didn’t play a role,”while another noted, “Pills could be normal medications for someone in mid 50s.” A similar view read, “Maybe to take a pill bc she thought she was having a heart attack and they spilled?!?”
After years of looking for true love, the “Worst Cooks in America” host’s last years were filled with stability and happiness, spent with her husband and stepson.
Burrell was engaged to fellow chef Koren Grieveson before to meeting Claxton. After years of cohabitation, the couple’s relationship came to lightin 2012 when Ted Allen, a fellow Food Network celebrity, casually disclosed that Burrell was a lesbian.
According to her representatives, the relationship was well-known in the culinary industry. Those who knew very little about her personal life were taken aback by this.
Later, when discussing how she ran her office, Burrell said that she enjoyed cooking alone and that even her fiancé, Grieveson, was not allowed in her kitchen.
Sadly, the pair parted ways, and Burrell set out to find love once more. She created an account on the dating app Bumble, where she eventually met her future husband and fiancé.
According to Burrell, who described the encounter, she and Claxton linked almost instantly. Claxton was unaware that she was a well-known cook. His ignorance seemed to delight her, and she added that it was helpful.
Claxton was enamoured with his lover’s appearance on their first date. She looked better in person than in pictures, he told Today. Her date was exciting to Burrell as well, and they have remained together ever since.
Claxton and Burrell were placed under quarantine in her birthplace of Cazenovia, New York, when he proposed the momentous question. Claxton first received a wedding ring, but he thought it was fitting to consult Burrell’s mother before making his choice. Therefore, he sought her approval before asking her to assist with the plan.
They adorned his future mother-in-law’s townhouse and opulent apartment, putting up a lovely table and creating an ambiance fit for a romantic evening. The two didn’t tell Burrell about their painstaking arrangement.
After a while, Claxton asked his beloved to join him for supper. The pair was flanked by family members for the event. Claxton chatted endlessly about their relationship’s history and future over the dinner table, including songs they could play at their wedding.
His lover thought this was absurd and thought the topic was unsuitable given the situation—they were among her family. This didn’t stop Claxton, though. Rather, he shifted the conversation to family and offered to pop the question. The enthusiastic Burrell responded with a loud “yes!”
Burrell never imagined getting married, even though the cookbook author acknowledged that they were a perfect match from the beginning and that she believed the relationship was genuine. This was because, given her advanced age, Burrell had given up on being married and she had never exchanged wedding vows with anyone.
Therefore, despite falling in love with her ex-fiance, the TV host was more excited about establishing a prosperous career than she was about getting married. To commemorate the most memorable day of their lives, Burrell and her hubby organised their fairy tale ceremony a few months after the unexpected proposal.
At Cazenovia’s Windridge Estates Redbarn 20, the couple exchanged vows. Family and friends were invited, and it was a wonderful celebration. The most stunning woman in the room, Burrell, was dressed in a bridal gown by Caroline Herrera.
Her four bridesmaids followed her to the altar as she rode in a horse-drawn carriage. Her husband chose his teenage son, Javier, to be his best man, while Burrell’s sister and close friends wore burnt orange classic fifties-style party dresses as bridesmaids.
Claxton, who is accustomed to weddings and has children from a previous marriage, looked dapper in a tuxedo by Ralph Lauren and Nike sneakers. According to the renowned chef, she hopes the wedding would be “fun and have a sense of whimsy.”
Burrell’s wedding ceremony featured only the best food. The menu, which included dishes of delicious short ribs, pasta, and a vegan option, took months to create.
After the wedding, the newlywed became the stepmother of Javier, her husband’s only kid. The three of them spent time together and had a great relationship. Burrell chose not to have a conventional honeymoon in spite of the excitement that comes with being a first-time bride.
The newlyweds moved into their renovated Brooklyn flat following their wedding and after-party. The cookbook author acknowledged that she would prefer to be pampered at home rather than go on her honeymoon abroad.
Supporters would concur that their Brooklyn residence offered the tranquilly and comfort that any private couple might desire. It had a fantastic kitchen with the right fixtures, appliances, and cabinetry colours.
In addition, Burrell’s apartment featured a small living area, dining tables and chairs that faced the television, a spot for fresh flowers and enormous windows that provided a stunning view of the city skyline. And the couple’s unorthodox honeymoon was spent in this residence.
Although it can be daunting to adjust to marriage as a novice, the couple handled their affair quite well. Burrell was unconcerned about praising her spouse online, even though she loved seclusion.
The Food Network personality seemed to love every aspect of her marriage. She frequently posted pictures of herself and Claxton enjoying a good time, even in the absence of any odd festivities. In fact, she had enjoyed her life as a married woman and a stepmother, and Burrell, who had previously valued her profession over marriage, had discovered a partner and a love story that she embraced.
