Chef Eric Adjepong is subject to a court-issued protective order following allegations brought by his former wife concerning their daughter’s welfare. Under the terms of the order, Adjepong may continue to see his daughter only when supervised by an individual agreed upon by all involved parties.
The protective order comes amid ongoing custody disputes between Adjepong and his ex-wife, Davis-Mack. The couple, who divorced after nearly five years of marriage, initially reached a child custody settlement in August 2022 but reopened the case in early 2025 to seek modifications. Davis-Mack filed for divorce in December 2021, and Adjepong responded with a counterclaim three months later.
Davis-Mack publicly affirmed her support for their daughter, sharing screenshots of the protective order on social media and underscoring her commitment to safeguarding her child. Her attorney, Todd K. Mohink, stated that the court acted to protect the best interests of the child.
Adjepong has denied any misconduct regarding the allegations. Court records include email correspondence in which he asserted that he treats his daughter “appropriately, safely and in an age-appropriate manner.” His legal team also submitted letters from family members attesting to his role as a dedicated father. One relative described their relationship as a strong “Daddy’s girl” bond, dismissing allegations of wrongdoing as false.
The custody dispute intensified after a November 2024 incident in which Adjepong was stopped by Howard County police for driving 116 mph in a 55 mph zone. He was charged with speeding, reckless driving, and driving while impaired by drugs and alcohol, though prosecutors eventually dropped all charges. Following this, Davis-Mack sought further changes to the custody arrangement, citing concerns arising from the incident.
In January 2025, Adjepong was also charged with violating a temporary protective order by contacting his former wife. That order was part of a petition Davis-Mack filed requesting protection from domestic violence. Court documents related to this case remain sealed and are not available to the public.
Adjepong, who resides in Washington, D.C., has expressed a preference for resolving these matters through legal channels rather than public discourse, emphasizing the child's well-being.
Born in New York to Ghanaian immigrant parents, Adjepong is known for his culinary career and appearances on television cooking competitions. He gained recognition as a finalist on Season 16 of "Top Chef" and returned for the "All-Stars L.A." edition in 2020. Adjepong has hosted Food Network shows including "Alex vs. America" and "Wildcard Kitchen" and released a children’s book in 2023 titled “Sankofa: A Culinary Story for Resilience and Belonging.” In 2024, he was named an ambassador for Save the Children, though the organization has since suspended its relationship with him indefinitely. Save the Children issued a statement underscoring its commitment to child safety and announcing the pause of all activities with Adjepong pending further developments.
In addition to his media work, Adjepong opened his first restaurant, Elmina, in Washington, D.C., in 2023, where he highlights Ghanaian cuisine with his own culinary interpretations.