‘Top Chef’ Alum Eric Adjepong Ordered to See Daughter Only Under Supervision

TV chef Eric Adjepong‘s custody battle has taken a serious turn — and it now involves a judge’s order to keep him at a distance from his own daughter.

A Maryland judge ruled there was “a preponderance of the evidence to believe” Adjepong physically abused Lennox, his 7-year-old daughter with ex-wife Janelle Davis-Mack, according to court records cited in an article the Washington Post, published Wednesday, July 22. The resulting yearlong protective order, which runs through July 10, 2027, still allows Adjepong to see Lennox — but only under supervision.

Per the report, the order bars the 38-year-old chef from contacting, harassing, abusing or threatening his daughter or Davis-Mack. He’s also been ordered to complete parenting classes and reunification therapy with Lennox. However, Adjepong has maintained he did nothing wrong, stating in court records that he parents his daughter “appropriately, safely and in an age-appropriate manner.”

In a lengthy Instagram post on July 22, he wrote, “The past several weeks have been among the most difficult of my life,” explaining he’d stayed quiet “not because I lacked a response, but because I believe integrity is measured by how you conduct yourself when your character is being questioned.”

He continued, “Others can choose rhetoric. I will choose truth. Others can seek public opinion. I will continue to place my faith in God, honor the Court, and let my character speak for itself, as it always has throughout my life,” adding, “My faith has taught me that truth does not need to be loud to endure. As a father, my responsibility has never changed. As a man, neither have my values.”

Adjepong said he was sharing the post “not to fuel public debate, but to ensure that facts exist alongside speculation,” and insisted, “My foremost priority will always be my daughter. I dearly love her, and as her first line of defense, I am here to encourage and protect her, and would never weaponize or abuse her, full stop. I will continue to protect her privacy, innocence and respect the legal process, and trust that truth, my character and time reveal what headlines cannot.”

In the social media post, the Wildcard Kitchen host noted that the allegations “arose in the context of a long-running divorce and custody proceeding, which finally concluded on June 2, 2026,” and that the protective order “followed careful reviews by law enforcement and the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency.” He added that the Metropolitan Police Department “closed its investigation without filing charges” and that the agency “concluded its investigation with an ‘unfounded’ disposition, which its report defines as not true.”

Davis-Mack addressed the ruling in her own Instagram statement on July 17: “My daughter has watched me rebuild our life focused on our safety after I divorced her father four years ago. I’ve also taught her about body autonomy, consent, boundaries, and to tell the trusted adults around her when she feels unsafe. My daughter was just granted a protective order against her father because she was brave enough to speak up against who should have been one of the most trusted adults in her life. Unfortunately for him – I’ll never stop believing her, protecting her, or reminding her that her voice matters. We’ve been quiet long enough.”

According to the Washington Post, her attorney, Todd K. Mohink said, “The court did the right thing to protect the best interests of the child.”

Per the outlet, court records show Davis-Mack filed the petition on May 1 after a nurse examining Lennox filed a report with the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency. The case involved an investigation by Washington D.C. Police. A police spokesperson told the outlet the department’s Youth Investigations Branch reviewed allegations of “sexual abuse” that same day and, finding no probable cause, referred the matter back to CFSA.

According to the article, Adjepong and Davis-Mack married in May 2017 and welcomed Lennox the following year. They split in October 2021, and finalized the divorce in August 2022. In January 2025, Adjepong was accused of contacting Davis-Mack in violation of her existing protective order, the same month he filed a motion claiming she was keeping him from seeing Lennox — an accusation she denied.

Davis-Mack later sought to modify their custody agreement after Adjepong was accused of driving 116 mph in a 55 mph zone in November 2024; he was charged with speeding, reckless driving and driving while impaired by drugs and alcohol, though all charges were ultimately dropped, per the report.