r/foodnetwork 3d ago

Bobby & Brooke at US Open

This relationship still seems weird to me. Can‘t really explain why.

238 Upvotes

120 comments sorted by

202

u/almondsmana 3d ago

Why does everybody here hate them being together? They are grown ass adults. Yes, he has cheated, yes she is younger. But they are both ADULTS. She's 47 and he is 60, people act like he is robbing the cradle, she's almost 50! This isn't a huge age gap, I just don't get the hate. Get a life!

116

u/lidder444 3d ago

I think the hate comes more from Bobby being a serial cheater type. It gets boring seeing him with yet another new blonde girlfriend.

This is the first time I’m actually seeing him as looking old though. He skated by on his ‘boyish’ looks for many decades.

34

u/ghostwalls 2d ago

I haven’t liked him since his performance on the original Iron Chef 😅

11

u/Confettireadi 1d ago

I’m still mad that he cheated on Stephanie March. 

Do I think they enjoy each other’s company 😏, yes. Do I think this is PR driven? Also, yes. 

9

u/heybuggybug 2d ago

It’s shitty behavior for sure to be cheating but “boring” to see him with another woman of his preferences? Why does anyone care so much about it lmao

23

u/lidder444 2d ago edited 2d ago

It was just a thought as to why people don’t like them 🤷‍♀️

I mean Bobby just has a revolving door of girlfriends tbh , divorced 3 times and cheated on all his wives and girlfriends.

I can’t speak as to whether they cheated on their partners but Brooke did get divorced last year.

I think Bobby’s ‘cute boy next door ‘shtick gets a little old to be honest. He’s 60 years old now but still seems to still see himself as the playboy type.

I have no issue at all with their ages. At least she’s not in her 20’s

Just my thoughts.

5

u/emilygoldfinch410 2d ago

Idk, I'm seeing more hate towards Brooke than I am towards Bobby.

10

u/lidder444 2d ago edited 2d ago

I personally think there are better ‘personalities’ that could be in her place at food network . She’s a little bland for me. But again that’s just me!

7

u/NTataglia 2d ago

Im not crazy about the FN hiring Top Chef people, for the most part they are all sort of "bland". It feels like the network has given up on creating and investing in their own stars, or recruiting chefs and cooks with interesting personalities.

5

u/str8grizzlee 1d ago

Interesting, I very much feel the opposite way. It’s a talent pipeline that is purely meritocratic and focused on cooking and food, during a time when they could easily be leaning into bullshit TikTok trends or looking for less talented “personalities” who can’t cook.

46

u/Ok-Dog5107 2d ago

I hate them being together because I have been a fan of Brooke since her first season on Top Chef and I just thought she had higher standards than to date Bobby. I understand that in person he might be charming, but he gives me the ick and nothing about his personal life indicates my vibes are off.

18

u/Oy_wth_the_poodles 2d ago

This 100%! Ive been a fan since Too Chef but this was disappointing. Bobby is a womanizer and has a terrible history with women.

18

u/NoUserNameLeft529 2d ago

I liked her a lot in her first season but then her attitude became so entitled and I was over her. Don’t much care what she does now

14

u/lidder444 2d ago

Agree. She just doesn’t appeal to me at all. And anyone that’s attracted to a serial divorcee and chronic cheater is a little weird tbh.

3

u/Interesting-Foot-439 2d ago

I honestly think she's mostly doing it to further her career. 

1

u/Tsuru0815 1d ago

That kiss cam shot was performative.

3

u/Confettireadi 1d ago

She’s interesting to me because she’s clearly an incredible chef and an asset to FN. 

My problem with her is that she is limited to brief judging and competing. She’s just too much of a wet noodle to host. 

Dating Bobby is great for job security, but deep down she has to know that eventually it won’t end well given his track record.

Maybe he is great in bed, and she is ok with it? It’s none of my business, but I understand the side eye when they are on screen together. 

-6

u/Acornriot 2d ago

I hate them being together because I have been a fan of Brooke since her first season on Top Chef and I just thought she had higher standards than to date Bobby.

Parasocial

6

u/Ok-Dog5107 2d ago

And? What’s your point? They asked a question and I answered it. If you didn’t also have parasocial relationships you wouldn’t be here either. 😅

-6

u/Acornriot 2d ago

My point is that's a very parasocial reason to hate someone else's relationship lmao

1

u/Ok-Dog5107 2d ago

I don’t have real life friends to judge. I need to live vicariously through the people on my TV. 😂

9

u/disicking 2d ago

I want to be a hater (and I am) but some of that is curbed by Bobby being a decent cat dad. Maybe Brooke sees some of that too. (Miss you Nacho!!!)

33

u/SnooMarzipans1593 2d ago

For me it’s not the age gap. Maybe because they work together professionally? It’s like the employee dating the boss. Kind of ick.

39

u/adelynn01 3d ago

Ppl love to hate Bobby for anything

34

u/Desperate-Ad-3705 2d ago

The mass cheating isnt that great. And that's the core of who you are.. your personal relationships with people...

So he sounds like a shit dude.

8

u/lidder444 2d ago

Totally agree. If you are a shitty guy with women and have no qualms about chronic cheating and multiple divorces I’m not doing business with you.

2

u/winky143 1d ago

Yes, and if I was dating him, I would care about that but I’m not so I don’t really understand why anyone besides Brooke should care. 🤷🏻‍♀️

15

u/deftoner42 Slices, Sticks, Dices 3d ago

people act like he is robbing the cradle

Naw, she's robbing the grave (/s, ha! good for them, they look happy)

1

u/CalliopeKB 2d ago

BAHAHAHAHHA nice

11

u/wallstreet-butts 2d ago

Because something about it is just kinda gross, between their working relationship, his serial cheating, the potential contribution to her divorce, and her physical transformation. Yes, they can do whatever they want, and it can still give ick.

3

u/sf040581 2d ago

That's exactly what I thought! Gives me the ick.

27

u/JazD36 3d ago

I like them as a couple - I don’t get the hate either.

2

u/cajo63 2d ago

I also like them as a couple. Just let them be one and stop the hate.

6

u/pickanamehere 2d ago

Because he’s a douche canoe.

4

u/atlbravesfanok 2d ago

I'm 46 and my husband is 60. We've been together for almost 25 years. I don't get the big deal about the age difference.

5

u/NoDadSTOP 2d ago

I haven’t heard someone say get a life in years lol

5

u/onedayasalion71 2d ago

I know, I kinda want to bring it back

2

u/Professional_Set3634 2d ago

Is this sarcasm i cant tell

1

u/L_Swizzlesticks 2d ago

I, personally, am happy for them. I hope neither of them end up getting their hearts broken, but if they do, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. For now, they seem happy and I’m happy for them.

B&B!❤️

25

u/Conscious_Occasion 3d ago edited 3d ago

CAN WE PLEASE GET A MASTERPOST FOR THESE TWO. PLEASE.

This is r/foodnetwork, not r/bobbybrookeobsession

8

u/librarycatlady 3d ago

Thank you. I thought I was the only one. This feels like Oh No They Didn’t but exclusively for them.

2

u/Nesquik44 3d ago

Agreed. We don’t need every photo from across the internet reposted here.

85

u/Tight-Supermarket277 3d ago

He looks like her grandpa

18

u/CityMouseBC 3d ago

But she's older than I thought.13 year difference, so he couldn't even be her father, much less grandpa. Still....

17

u/curiousbydesign 3d ago

No still. WTF. They are consenting adults. Can we mind our business and not pass judgment when consenting adults do things we may not agree with?

15

u/CityMouseBC 3d ago

Well, I meant he looks old. And this is Reddit. No one is minding their own business, so chill out. I'll raise your WTF with a JFC.

-16

u/curiousbydesign 3d ago

My family uses your same logic to marginalize the LGBT community. And they feel as justified as you do too. Righteous. Regressive. Love it (vomit noises).

Yeah, JFC indeed.

You can chill out. That's your prerogative. I have communities to protect. Enjoy your rest and relaxation. Others will do the work for you.

Consenting adults 13 years apart. Let's be critical but also chill out.

Kids, today's lesson is hypocrisy. Recess!

9

u/Desperate-Ad-3705 2d ago

Omfg you need to sit down and shut up. You are not the community "saviour".

You are not special. Chill.

0

u/curiousbydesign 2d ago edited 2d ago

I misread and apologized below. I don't need to be spcieical. And no, I will not chill. You can do you while I do me.

1

u/CityMouseBC 2d ago

OMG, someone has some reading comprehension issues. I was defending them. I said, if you'd like to go back to the record ☝️, that he wasn't that much older than her. Not grandpa, not father. A peer, at their ages. My comment you seem to be taking issue with was just related to the fact that, in THIS picture, he looks old. And he does. He looks old. Like a 60 year old. Which he is. BFD. You sound very intolerant and quick to judge. I'm a full blood Native American, so don't presume to lecture me about protecting communities. That's all I do. Now, let's talk about intolerance, shall we? Get your dictionary out, because I'm not sure you understand the word.

0

u/curiousbydesign 2d ago

Ok.

"But she's older than I thought.13 year difference, so he couldn't even be her father, much less grandpa. Still..."

The last incomplete sentence. "Still."

3

u/curiousbydesign 2d ago

I reread and did misread. Apologies.

2

u/MisterBowTies 8h ago

I think Makeup and camera magic do a lot to make her look like she's been in her 20's for over a decade.

7

u/PaperGeno 3d ago

I'm not trying to be mean but she doesn't look that young either. I would guess they maybe had a 5 year age gap at most

6

u/Tight-Supermarket277 2d ago

She’s 47 and he’s 60

4

u/PaperGeno 2d ago

And they both look 50

4

u/AnotherDoubtfulGuest 2d ago

There was an uncomfortable episode of Beat Bobby Flay that had both Brooke and Giada on it. I wonder if they overlapped.

3

u/Tall_Copy381 2d ago

If they are happy together that's all that matters

32

u/ChrisIronsArt 3d ago

It only seems weird because Brook doesn’t look her real age not even close to it, she looks absolutely fantastic for almost 50. Where Bobby looks about his age or slightly younger.

21

u/whatev3691 2d ago

Personally I think she's had too much work done

6

u/makama77 2d ago

Read some of the comments below yours to understand WHY she may have had work done:

‘That neck tells her age immediately’

‘She needs some resurfacing done. And those lumps on her face’

Christ. You can’t win for losing as a woman in this world.

5

u/Interesting-Foot-439 2d ago

This, absolutely! As soon as she won TC, she started getting way too much done on her face. She is almost unrecognizable now.

6

u/Professional_Set3634 2d ago

That neck tells her age immediately

-2

u/happygoth6370 3d ago

Agree. Brooke looks amazing. I think it's great and wish them well. If it doesn't work out, c'est la vie, but for people to be so cynical and bitchy about it is wild.

-5

u/StopWhoaYesWait123 2d ago

She needs some resurfacing done. And those lumps on her face

3

u/Professional_Set3634 2d ago

I dont think the age gap is an issue they look the same age to me theres just something gross and creepy about Bobby Flay to me and he makes me want to projectile vomit

12

u/more_cheese_please_ 3d ago

I think they look really cute together, and obviously know what their careers entail…let them be happy!

22

u/OkSignificance1485 3d ago

My best friend married a man 15 years her senior. They were ecstatically happy for over forty years. Don't knock it till you know it. This speculation is nothing but adolescent rhetoric!
Men marry women half their age all the time. So what's the big deal this time? Fodder for your little brains to feed on?

13

u/These_Win_4937 3d ago

I am 31 and my partner is turning 49 in a few months, like age gaps work sometimes!!!!

4

u/Thanos_Stomps 2d ago

Same age gap as my parents. Happily married still going on 34 years.

12

u/krissycole87 3d ago

Not exceptionally good angles here for Bob. He looks much better on set when his hair is filled in and fuller.

All that said i like them together and no one will convince me otherwise. They're two grown adults who spent so much time working together they fell for each other. Big whoop he's older, after about 40 everyone is just "an adult grown up" age. Tbf they're probably the same maturity level since Brooke has obviously tried hard to mature while Bobby tries to stay young. Crazy theory, they could actually work out.

5

u/Odd_Progress_8560 2d ago

I can smell the egos

10

u/Serious-Feeling-1811 3d ago

They literally look so good together, ya’ll are weird haters. Also he’s only 13 years older than her lol

14

u/ValorousKnight 3d ago

Holy shit, they dug up Bill Burr's dad!

4

u/jackie0h_ 3d ago

Is this before or after they were on the kiss cam?

-2

u/StopWhoaYesWait123 2d ago

With her lumpy skin

3

u/ptazdba 2d ago

If they are truly happy I wish them the best. But Flay doesn't have a great track record in the love department, so I hope she's not thinking "I can change him". A leopard rarely changes it's spots. Her career could be hurt if it goes awry.

3

u/SeasonCertain 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah I mean, any relationship thing I have ever seen with Bobby makes me throw up in my mouth a bit because of his being a serial cheater and generally being shit to women but she’s nearly 50. She can make her own decisions. The age gap isn’t even that bad here. DiCaprio has done far sleazier as an example.

3

u/FickleAd7176 2d ago

I am happy for them , life lessons , not here to judge , hope they are happy together

4

u/Shelter-Clear 3d ago

Uncomfortable at best

3

u/drunkjedi28 3d ago

Brooke looks like Sunny Smiles.

Bobby is giving Harland...

"Hey, smoothskin!!"

😬

4

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

12

u/OkSignificance1485 3d ago

You do have an excellent imagination 😊

2

u/luzconsazon 2d ago

I was thinking the same thing. His hand on her shoulder isn’t very intimate.

5

u/JJulie 3d ago

Have you ever had a car fight with your partner/spouse and then you have to put on a happy face? Like immediately. Like you could have won an Oscar for how well you came off?

3

u/CityMouseBC 3d ago

I would have never suspected her of having all those tats.

2

u/Lifesabitch59 2d ago

Once a cheater, always a cheater

1

u/OkSquash3710 1d ago

Feels weird to me too, like they worked so closely together for so long. But Triple Threat is much more intimate. Bugs me out when she’s sitting next to him. I always thought if she would hook up with anyone she worked with it would be Michael. Hope it works out for them!

1

u/Representative_Basil 1d ago

My roommate saw him in the stands while watching the open and she said “oh Bobby flay is making out with some hot blonde girl” and I was so excited to drop a top chef bomb on her

1

u/sharkysgirl 17h ago

I think she's attractive but the blonde ages her in my opinion...

1

u/Guilty-Chair8556 13h ago

This is an unflattering picture of both of them, but I agree that overall Bobby is looking old. When he does his insta stories and zooms in on his face, you can see it for sure. Brooke seems to always be sort of in limbo with her appearance and I wonder if she is most comfortable back in her frumpy Top Chef days with her hair in those weird pigtails.

1

u/Available-Key-1875 9h ago

Brooke is old enough and experienced enough to take care of herself.

1

u/Barctic48 4h ago

Network must have seen star power in her. She seems to be a fantastic chef and though pretty before the handlers really glammed her up and changed her sweet girl-next-door self. Now she is divorced from the husband who helped her build her businesses and is with BFlay. She could do better.

1

u/Barctic48 4h ago

Wall Street-butts glad someone finally said it. Potential contribution to her divorce.

1

u/ememcat 3h ago

I wish them the best

0

u/Tugboast 2d ago

Horrible tattoos. Youthful bad decisions haunting her.

2

u/Excellent_Shopping03 2d ago

And her clothing is so unflattering with the tattoos!

1

u/AtomicGarden-8964 2d ago

Has he ever dated someone who wasn't a coworker?

1

u/1222sammy 2d ago

Same I agree. Something makes them an odd pair. Maybe because they look related? Older brother maybe

1

u/RastaFried 2d ago

We should know less about each other.

1

u/schleep_69 2d ago

I like them together, I think them being a couple makes sense. Hopefully Bobby has chilled out from his womanizer days. Brooke is so gorgeous, I was seriously shocked to learn she’s almost 50! I thought maybe 40 at most

1

u/bravostan2020 2d ago

They just look so uncomfortable together

1

u/Psychotherapist-286 2d ago

Still in the honeymoon phase which is where he has been multiple times

-5

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

-11

u/Late-Researcher7102 3d ago

In the 2nd pic, she looks like a daughter of his, not GF.

12

u/lidder444 3d ago

She’s close to 50 years old. No one thinks it’s his daughter.

0

u/Late-Researcher7102 2d ago

I said LIKE A daughter i know no one thinks its HIS daughter. sorry you misunderstood. Like she looks like she could be like his daughter, not a GF.

1

u/makama77 1d ago

A daughter he had at the age of 13 ? lol

She doesn’t look LIKE a daughter of his at all

0

u/Late-Researcher7102 1d ago

LoL you are just NOT getting what I'm trying to say. Let me simplify for you what I meant: She looks so young here standing next to him, that she doesn't look like a girlfriend of his, but standing next to a guy that could be his Dad. Okay bye

1

u/makama77 1d ago

Hmmm. You’ve repeatedly said that she looks ‘like a daughter to him’ but also ‘not like HIS daughter’ so what you’re trying to say is that she looks like someone’s daughter?

More than one person has responded to you in the same way, so the issue seems to be with the communicator not with the reader. It seems to be either that, or that you just don’t like people disagreeing with you.

0

u/One-Sea-6153 2d ago

My only thought was "are both of them really that lonely?!” I liked the writer he was with last. Makes me think he can't handle an intellectual. Maybe he was too busy all the time. Maybe another FN chef is the only one to understand his schedule, but he sure seems to make time to step out with Brooke and he didn't with Christina .

0

u/VodkaNCranberry 2d ago

Does it matter? He'll be on to the next soon😂

0

u/Icy_Bag_1200 2d ago

Cuz he looks like her dad tf

0

u/iAngeloz 1d ago

Ewww brotha.. eww

-2

u/StopWhoaYesWait123 2d ago

The closeup of her at The US Open did her no favors. Her skin is atrocious.

3

u/makama77 2d ago

Wow and here people wonder why she (and others in the spotlight) get work done? Why point out her perceived flaws? It just makes you seem mean and insecure. I’m SURE your skin is flawless, even at nearly 50. 🙄

-2

u/StopWhoaYesWait123 1d ago

Not even close to 50 and my skin is perfect! And if I had warts or growths on my face, I would definitely get them removed.

1

u/makama77 1d ago

You realize that at some point, hopefully, you will be close to 50? For your sake, I hope you don’t end up reading mean girl comments (like yours) about yourself from ignorant people online. You just sound jealous and superficial tbh.

-6

u/Desperate-Ad-3705 2d ago

If this becomes the norm like posting about Guy and Hunter... I trust that this sub will do the right thing and riot.

We dont care. Stop posting it.