Celebrity chef Anne Burrell died by suicide from a lethal drug combination, confirmed by NYC medical examiner. Photo/X.
Anne Burrell, veteran Food Network host and celebrity chef took her life by suicide, reports ABC News. Chef Burrell was 54 years old when she was discovered “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Brooklyn residence on June 17, reports the NYPD.
City of New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner on Thursday after concluding its investigation, said she died by a suicide caused by acute intoxication.
The medical examiner stated that Burrell died due to “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine.”
Diphenhydramine and cetirizine are antihistamines that are frequently prescribed for allergic symptoms. National Library of Medicine reports that they act by inhibiting substances in the body that produce allergic reactions.
Ethanol, or alcohol in beverages, is described by the National Institutes of Health as the most commonly consumed drug on the planet. In excessive amounts, it can lead to ethanol poisoning.
Amphetamine, commonly prescribed for ADHD, should never be taken with alcohol as it may cause unfavorable interactions. Health professionals advise that taking any of these medications in combination has dangerous, unpredictable outcomes even if both medications remain legal when taken individually.
Anne Burrell was born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, New York. Her mother introduced Anne to cuisne early in her kitchen and by television chef Julia Child.
Anne graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and then went on to study the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners and apprenticed in Italy.
IShe cooked in New York restaurants under chef Lidia Bastianich in1998 and then went to become chef de cuisine of Savoy in SoHo, with a specialty in Mediterranean cuisine cooked under an open wood fire. She also taught at the Institute of Culinary Education.
Burrell made her first television appearance as a sous chef on Iron Chef America. She then hosted the Emmy-nominated show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef for nine seasons. She also appeared in Chopped, Chef Wanted, Food Network Star, and most recently House of Knives in 2025.
She also mentored amateur cooks as the longtime co-host of Worst Cooks in America. Her final appearance on the show was cheduled to air Monday, July 28, at 9 p.m. ET on Food Network and will be available for streaming the next day on HBO Max.
Anne is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, with whom she was married in October 2021, and his son Javier.
DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please seek immediate help. You are not alone- reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional. For urgent support, contact a suicide prevention hotline in your area. Help is available.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
Why Elon Musk’s X Has Been Slapped With $140 Million Fine in Europe? All You Need To Know
The European Union has fined the Elon Musk's social media company X with $140 million…
Vladimir Putin sat beside PM Modi as President Droupadi Murmu hosted a state banquet at…
The state dinner invitation to Shashi Tharoor with Putin, while Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge…
