The Food Network ruled out America’s 20th Season of Worst Cooks after the winner of the cooking contest was accused, along with her husband, of beating her three-year-old adopted daughter to death.
The season with South Carolina’s 29-year-old Ariel Robinson is no longer available for viewing on Hulu, Discovery +, YouTube or the Food Network website.
The competition, which was co-organized by the Food Network’s veteran chefs and personalities, Anne Burrel and Alex Guarnaschelli, was filmed in February 2020 and aired during the summer.
Robinson, a retired teacher and up-and-coming comedian with a husband and five children, took home the $ 25,000 grand prize.
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Ariel Robinson, 29, and Jerry Robinson, 34, were arrested by Simpsonville police on Tuesday for the death of their daughter
The two are accused of beating to death Victoria Rose Smith, three, who they adopted in March 2020
The 21st Season of America’s Worst Cooks, hosted by Burrel and fellow chef Carla Hall, debuted on the Food Network earlier this month. It is available for streaming, along with the first 19 seasons.
The Food Network has not commented on its decision to suspend season 20 after the arrests of Ariel and Jerry Robinson in South Carolina two weeks ago for the murder of three-year-old Victoria ‘Tori’ Smith, Deadline reported.
Police officers from the Simpsonville Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division responded to a call about an indifferent child at the Robinson family home in Sellwood Circle around 2:25 pm on January 14, according to a statement to the press.
Victoria was transported to a local hospital, where she died.
Police said the Robinsons “committed child abuse by inflicting a series of blunt injuries that resulted in the victim’s death.”
Ariel won a grand prize of $ 25,000 after competing at Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America in August. The network has now pulled the entire season 20 from streaming platforms
The coroner’s office confirmed that the cause of death was multiple blunt injuries, WHNS reported.
Each of the Robinsons faces a “child abuse homicide” charge and, if convicted, faces up to 20 years in prison, police said.
Ariel and Jerry Robinson are being held at Greenville County Detention Center without bail, prison records show.
Ariel told Greenville News last year that she had adopted three children, who moved into her family’s home in March 2020. One of the children was Victoria.
‘I simply know that the Lord had his hands on me and had a purpose for me to remain there,’ she told WYFF4 in August. ‘He knew we were going through this adoption, we could really use the money and he just let it all go for our good.’
Authorities accused the Robinsons of ‘child abuse homicide’ after Victoria Rose Smith died at a local hospital
Robinsons face 20 years in prison if convicted
Robinson planned to use his earnings on the program to plan a fun trip with his big family, she told the outlet.
“I want to take you to an aquatic resort or the beach. Vacation so we can do something important as a family this year, ”she said.
Victoria spent most of her short life in foster care before her adoption.
“She was as sweet as she could be, so it makes no sense how anyone could hurt her in any way,” said Alan West, whose aunt was Victoria’s adopted mother for a year.