Authorities are looking into new findings at Anne Burrell’s home, where she was found unresponsive in the shower. Yet amid the scrutiny, fans are urging others to let her be.
Longtime Food Network personality, Anne Burrell, was found unresponsive on the shower floor of her Brooklyn residence early Tuesday morning, June 17, 2025.
Her husband, Stuart Claxton, discovered her body between 6 and 7 a.m. and immediately called 911. Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that “a large quantity” of unidentified pills were found around the area where Burrell’s body was located.
The New York Post also reported that “dozens of pills” were present at the scene. A spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department stated the incident was reported as a cardiac arrest. Emergency responders attempted CPR, but Burrell could not be revived.
While a 911 operator reportedly advised Claxton to perform CPR, it remains unclear if he did. TMZ reported that her body was already cold when he found her. According to reports, Claxton last saw his wife alive at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
The night before her death, Burrell had performed an improv set at a local Brooklyn venue. A witness told the New York Post that she was “in great spirits” around 1 a.m., her last known public appearance.
The city medical examiner has yet to release an official cause of death. Law enforcement sources have stated it is too early to determine whether the pills played any role in her death, and there is currently no suspicion of foul play.
Burrell, who was 55, had become a household name through her hosting role on “Worst Cooks in America.” She also appeared on other popular Food Network programs such as “Iron Chef America,” “Chef Wanted,” and “Chopped.”
Her show “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” ran for nine seasons and earned her an Emmy nomination. Known for her distinctive spiky bleached hairstyle, Burrell built a successful career after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and working in kitchens across New York City.
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 husband, her stepson, her brother, her sister, and her mother.
As details of her death emerged, public reactions on social media quickly poured in. While some expressed suspicion, others called for restraint and respect.
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?!?”
The final years of the “Worst Cooks in America” host were marked by joy and stability, spent alongside her husband and stepson, a chapter that followed years of searching for lasting love.
Before meeting Claxton, Burrell had been engaged to fellow chef Koren Grieveson. The couple lived together for years, and their relationship became public in 2012 after fellow Food Network star Ted Allen casually revealed that Burrell was a lesbian.
Her reps confirmed the relationship, noting it was no secret in the culinary world. This surprised people who knew very little about her private life.
While later speaking about how she managed her workspace, Burrell mentioned that she loved privacy when cooking, and even her fiancée, Grieveson, was not welcome in her kitchen.
Unfortunately, the couple split, and Burrell went on a quest to find love again. She registered on a dating site, Bumble, where she met her next fiancé and husband.
While recounting the experience, Burrell stated that she and Claxton clicked almost immediately. Claxton had no idea she was a celebrity chef. She seemed thrilled with his oblivion, adding that it helped.
On their first date, Claxton was smitten by his lover’s appearance. He told Today that she looked more impressive in person than in photos. Burrell also found her date exciting, and they decided to stick to each other ever since.
When he popped the life-changing question, Claxton and Burrell were quarantined in her hometown, Cazenovia, New York. First, Claxton got a wedding ring but felt it appropriate to run his decision by Burrell’s mom. So he asked for her blessings before enlisting her help for the proposal.
His future mother-in-law owned a townhouse and a magnificent apartment where they decorated, setting up a beautiful table and an atmosphere suitable for a lovers’ date night. The pair kept their meticulous arrangement a secret without informing Burrell.
Eventually, Claxton invited his beloved partner to the dinner date. At the event, the couple was surrounded by family. At the dinner table, Claxton continuously talked about the past and future of their relationship, including songs they could play at their wedding.
This seemed ridiculous to his lover, who felt the conversation was inappropriate considering the setting — they were in the midst of her family. Still, this did not deter Claxton. Instead, he switched to talking about family and later went down on one knee to propose. In response, an excited Burrell answered with a resounding “yes!”
Although the cookbook author confessed they were a perfect match from the start, and she knew that the relationship was real, Burrell never envisioned being married. This was because she had never shared wedding vows with anyone, and Burrell had given up her hopes of having a wedding, considering her age.
