Mike I. Defends Sexist Comment on 'Top Chef'

It's probably ancient history now on Top Chef and the perpetrator was actually eliminated last week, but Mike Isabella's not-so-popular standing on the Bravo cooking show more or less stemmed from a sexist remark he made on the very first episode of Top Chef. It was the season's first quickfire challenge, a mise en place relay, when Mike said something like, "a girl shouldn't be at the same level I am" when he noticed that Jennifer was right up his pace.

After his sort of shocking elimination from Top Chef last week, Mike tells People that the sexist-sounding remark is the only thing he would rephrase given a chance to say anything differently, and that he actually meant it as a compliment.