Mario Batali Accused of Condoning Sexual Harassment in Butt-Slapping Lawsuit

Mario Batali‘s name has been dragged into a sexual harassment lawsuit in New York — in which an ex-waiter claims the famous chef stood by for months … while his fellow workers tortured him with butt slaps and masturbation stories.

Eugene Gibbons filed the suit in NY Supreme Court, claiming several co-workers ruthlessly harassed him while he worked at Batali’s Babbo Restaurant in NYC — co-owned by “MasterChef” judge Joe Bastianich.

According to the suit, Eugene’s co-workers “smacked his buttocks on a weekly basis,” repeatedly grabbed his genitals, and made crude sexual comments … including one instance when an employee told Eugene he masturbated to Eugene’s pictures after his wife went to sleep.

Eugene claims Batali and Bastianich were fully aware of the harassment — but did nothing to stop it …  the suit claims … by their inaction the two chefs condoned the campaign of humiliation.

Eugene ultimately quit — he’s now suing his former co-workers and the restaurant for unspecified damages. Batali and Bastianich were not named as defendants. Calls to Mario and the restaurant were not returned.