by Rafael Pena
January 13, 2024
The 36-year-old celebrity chef was booked into the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections.
People reports that renowned Food Network personality Darnell “SuperChef” Ferguson found himself facing serious charges, including strangulation, burglary, and making terroristic threats. The 36-year-old celebrity chef was booked into the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections on Jan. 9, with additional misdemeanor charges such as assault, menacing, criminal mischief, and theft-receipt of a stolen credit or debit card.
While the circumstances leading to Ferguson’s arrest remain unclear, court records revealed the existence of a protection order filed against him on Jan. 2. The identity of the person seeking the protection order remains undisclosed, but later reports indicate the incident involved his estranged wife Tatahda Ferguson. Authorities have yet to provide details, and queries directed to the St. Matthews Police by People on the matter have not received an immediate response.
This isn’t the first time Ferguson has had trouble with the law. After his early successes, such as culinary arts at Sullivan University and being selected as one of the two Black students for the 2008 Olympic Team, financial struggles led Ferguson down a troubling path, resorting to selling drugs to sustain himself. His life took a downturn with eight arrests and the subsequent loss of everything, including his home. Post his release from prison, Ferguson faced unemployment due to a turbulent personal life, causing consistent conflicts at his workplace, leading to multiple job losses.
It wasn’t until he turned to the church Ferguson revealed that he realized the need for a significant change in his life. Seeking an opportunity, he convinced a friend to lease a space in his restaurant for him to serve breakfast. This venture gained traction, with other restaurant owners requesting him to set up pop-ups in their establishments. By 2015, Ferguson opened his own restaurant and three others in Ohio and Kentucky.
Ferguson has made a significant mark on the Food Network, earning recognition as a celebrity chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur. Hosting shows like Superchef Grudge Match and co-hosting Season 25 of Worst Cooks in America alongside Anne Burrell, he has become a familiar face on popular culinary programs. His role as a judge on Chopped and Guy’s Grocery Games and his participation in Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions for three seasons underscores his culinary influence. Ferguson has recently showcased his skills on OWN’s The Big Holiday Food Fight and Food Fantasies.
As news of his arrest broke, the culinary world was left waiting for further updates on this unexpected turn of events involving one of its prominent figures.
