Duff Goldman Defends Cohost Kardea Brown Amid Food Network Recasting Fan Backlash
What To Know
- Duff Goldman took to social media to defend Kardea Brown from Food Network fans.
- Brown has received backlash for taking over for Valerie Bertinelli on Kids Baking Championship.
- Brown and Goldman will serve as cohosts on the upcoming Food Network competition series Baking Championship: Next Gen, which premieres this month.
Duff Goldman is coming to Kardea Brown‘s defense against Food Network fans who are mad at her taking over for Valerie Bertinelli.
Following Bertinelli’s exit from Kids Baking Championship in 2024, Brown took over as Goldman’s cohost on the series for Season 13 in early 2025. She reunited with Goldman as a judge on Season 12 of Holiday Baking Championship in November 2025 and will team up with him again to cohost the new series Baking Championship: Next Gen, which premieres this month.
Brown’s role as Bertinelli’s replacement on Food Network has earned her some online hate. Goldman vocalized his support for Brown while promoting Baking Championship: Next Gen in a Tuesday, December 30, Instagram post.
“Who is excited for the series premiere of Baking Championship Next Gen? I know I am. I know @kardeabrown is. And I know that millions of kids out there are, and especially all the incredibly talented and hilarious and kind kids that we had the pleasure of baking with,” he began his lengthy message. “I hope you guys are excited. That being said, I’d like everyone to take a deep breath and think about your words.”
Goldman went on to address how many fans miss seeing him and Bertinelli together onscreen, stating, “Valerie taught me so much about the craft of television and the shows we do with kids wouldn’t be the same without her warmth and spirit that to this day infuses every part of the show. But, things happen. Things that you or I know nothing about. TV is a crazy business and people all have complex lives. Valerie was my co-host and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from her and I cherish our continued friendship.”
Goldman proceeded to praise Brown for following in Bertinelli’s footsteps, calling her “warm, kind, and empathetic.” He added, “She’s a great baker and a positive mentor for the kids. Let’s all remember to be kind. We are real people with real emotions and having to read negative comments about yourself isn’t fun for anyone. And if you feel the need to make negative comments then maybe take a breath and ask yourself why putting someone down makes you feel better or vindicated or justified or whatever.”
View this post on Instagram
Goldman told his followers not to “be lame” and “be mean,” noting that people have the choice to tune in to the show or not. “We don’t care that you’re not going to watch. We care about the kids that we get to bake with. We care about creating a show and an environment that encourages creativity and craft,” he stated. “Don’t ruin that for us by being nasty because events beyond your understanding or control unfolded how they did. Stay positive, guys.”
He concluded his post by writing, “I love Val. I love Kardea. And I love creating the most positive and creative show on @foodnetwork. Thanks.”
Brown thanked Goldman for the heartfelt message in the post’s comments. “Thank you, Duff. 🤍 I’m so grateful to be part of this show and to support these amazing kids. Valerie’s impact is deeply felt, and I have so much respect for her as well,” she wrote. “Thank you for always being so supportive……your friendship and support mean more to me than you’ll ever know 🫶🏽.”
Brown previously called the backlash she has received from fans “alarming” in a December 5 Facebook post. “I hear you……you’re tired of competition shows and you want Valerie back,” she said last month. “But guess what?! I can’t control any of that, so leaving nasty comments on my page won’t change a single thing.”
She went on to add, “I think as adults some of us have forgotten the core principles we teach children: be nice, be kind, and if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. We need to get back to the basics of manners. Social media has become a breeding ground for unnecessary meanness and unhappy people and it doesn’t have to be.”
Baking Championships: Next Gen, Series Premiere, Monday, January 5, 2025, Food Network
Conversation20 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
S
Honestly, I couldn't watch it with Valerie Bertinelli. I can watch it now! I love Kardea.
-
H
I agree. I think Kardea is a great choice to mentor children. I love watching both of you. Ya'll are rock stars. The network made their decision for reasons we don't understand but that's the way it is. We will love you as much as we loved Valerie. Keep doing what you're doing.
-
S
Have you ever stopped to think that it was V. B. decision to leave. People have other things going on their lives that drives the decisions or choices they make.
Give replacements a break...folks move on...that's life!!!!
I love THE SHOW!!!!
LOVE DUFF
LOVED VALERIE
LOVE KARDEA!!!!!
-
J
We all know why "they" are clutching their pearls.
-
J
Val was annoying
-
P
You should be mad at food network. It's not Kardeas fault.
-
C
Now that’s a novel thought.
-
G
Better yet, trust that Food Network made the correct decision in choosing to prioritize the sanity of their entire production staff -- Kardeas is an absolute stress-free joy to work with, unlike some former divas.
-
-
V
People stop, it a new year please be kind to each other, god is watching. No one know why Valerie quit.
-
C
It is not Kardea’s fault. She doesn’t call the shots at Food network. You don’t have to watch if it’s painful. Look at something else.
-
J
I think Kardea Brown is a great choice to follow Valerie! She is positive, bright, talented and a great cook. I loved her show on the food network channel! What I like most about her is that she is REAL! Not a phony t.v. personality. I rember her talking, on her show, about her fiance. She nearly broke my heart when she admitted that she never thought she would be loved and find someone to love. Well. Clearly she found her soul mate and is a married lady! This is a sweetheart and Im sure everyone will love her as much as I! I wish her the greatest success on the show with Duff. By the way. He is also very real, and what a talented baker he is. He really knows his stuff!
-
M
In this new age of media, the legacy networks are being phased out by Netflix and YouTube. There just isn't the big budgets for these type of shows anymore.
-
T
FN did not do Val "dirty". Kardea is a much better fit for kid-centric programming given Valerie's penchant for promoting herself online with skeevy selfie photos and expletive-prone commentary. Neither the show's young contestants nor its adult production staff should have to contend with a host like Valerie who brought the negative, high-strung energy of her self-created dramas to the studio.
-
T
No surprise that a chronic complainer like ValeriMeMeMe has attracted a bunch of equally annoying Karens eager to complain about Kardea hosting the "Next Gen" spin-off before that new show had even aired! But kudos to Kardea and Duff for keeping it classy and keeping the focus on the ***kids*** who are super excited to bake their little hearts out while inspiring other kids to do the same. Beyond obnoxious to imagine the world must center around ValeriMeMeMe!
-
F
I didn't know why people would blame her. It's crazy. She was just offered a job and good for her. If you want to shoot and at someone send those keys and videos to the network that did Valerie dirty. This poor woman want part of that.
-
R
Nope, it’s not the same without Val, she was the sweetest, most beloved star of the “kids” shows!! Kardea is fine, just want the old dynamic back…Duff and Valerie and the kids.
-
R
Bertinelli bore but one child and unfortunately has not spared poor Wolfgang the pains of her narcissism and compulsive mendacity. She was a stepmother to Tom Vitale's children for a decade but their memories of her are even more painful. Bertinelli's TV characters may be the sweetest, but the act fades quickly behind closed doors.
-
-
D
Food network did not want Valeria anymore so let it be they take all the hood people off the air .they need to take the pioneers woman off she no good anymore all the kids is on they own so why is she still on the food is the same take her off 🤔 next
-
S
What?
-
-
B
Bring back Valerie Bertinelli. Not the same.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services