“Top Chef” star Eric Agyepong’s 7-year-old daughter Lennox has been granted a one-year protection order against him.
On July 10, a Maryland judge ruled that there was a “preponderance of the evidence” to believe that Scheff had physically abused his and ex Janelle Davis Mack’s children, according to the Washington Post.
The media outlet claimed that the order is valid until July 10, 2027 and states that Adjepong may continue to meet with Lennox, but that such meetings must be supervised.
The order reportedly prohibits the 38-year-old from contacting, harassing, abusing or threatening to abuse his daughter or estranged spouse.
Additionally, he is required to complete parenting classes and reunification therapy with her.
Adjepong claimed in court records that she raised her children in an “appropriate, safe and age-appropriate manner.”
In a statement shared on social media, he declined to “discuss the underlying allegations or other sensitive family issues” and said “this matter involves my young daughter, whom I love deeply” and “I intend to protect her privacy.”
However, the cookbook author said, “These allegations arose in the context of a lengthy divorce and custody proceeding, which ultimately ended on June 2, 2026.”
He added, “This order of protection follows careful review by law enforcement and the District of Columbia’s Department of Children and Family Services.”
Mr. Adjepong also pointed out, “The Metropolitan Police Department closed the investigation without filing any charges.The (Children and Family Affairs Agency) closed the investigation with a “groundless” disposition, but the report defines this as untrue.”
He called the “last few weeks” “the hardest of[my]life,” and later posted a slew of images and videos of him with his children on his Stories.
Meanwhile, Davis Mack issued a statement via Instagram last week, praising her “brave” child for “speaking out against[someone]who was supposed to be one of the most trusted adults in her life.”
“Unfortunately for him, I will never stop believing in her, protecting her, or reminding her that her voice matters. We’ve been silent long enough.”
Her attorney, Todd K. Mohink, told the Washington Post that “the court did the right thing to protect the best interests of the child.”
Davis-Mack filed a petition on May 1 to protect the ex-couple’s child from alleged abuse by Agyepong after the nurse who was examining her daughter filed a report with the DC CFSA.
This “culminated in an investigation by the Washington, D.C. Police Department,” according to court records.
A police spokesperson told the outlet that the Youth Investigations Unit was asked to investigate allegations of “sexual abuse” on May 1st, and the case was referred back to the CFSA after finding no probable cause for such an occurrence.
Agyepong and Davis-Mack married in May 2017 and welcomed a baby girl the following year.
The two dissolved their union in October 2021 and filed for legal dissolution three months later. Their divorce was settled in August 2022.
In January 2025, Agyepong allegedly contacted his ex-spouse and violated her protective order related to a domestic violence incident.
That same month, he filed a complaint alleging that Davis Mack was preventing him from meeting with Lennox.
She denied this, and later filed a motion to modify the custody agreement against Agyepong, who was accused of driving 116 mph in a 5 mph zone in November 2024. (At the time, the Food Network star was charged with speeding, reckless driving, and driving while impaired by drugs and alcohol, but all charges were eventually dropped.)
In addition to being a finalist on Season 16 of “Top Chef: Kentucky,” which first aired in 2018, Agyepong also competed on “Top Chef: All Stars LA” and Guy Fieri’s “Tournament of Champions.”
He hosts the Food Network shows “Wild Card Kitchen” and “Alex vs. America.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453 or text “BEGIN” to 800-422-4453.
