Chef José Andrés was scheduled to appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Tuesday night, but his appearance has been canceled.
No reason was given for the Spanish chef’s change of plans, but his original booking was announced prior to Saturday’s Israeli military strike that killed three workers from his World Central Kitchen charity.
Andrés has been a longtime friend of Colbert’s Late Show, with the celebrity chef’s appearances on the show entering the double digits. His most recent visit was in November 2023, which was Andrés’ fifth Thanksgiving season appearance on show.
Colbert later revealed that he’d taped that episode while in extreme pain due to what turned out to be a burst appendix, which Andrés may have inadvertently made worse when he grabbed Colbert for a spontaneous dance.
Amidst the frivolity, Andrés shared the work that World Central Kitchen does. “We have people in anywhere that disaster strikes. We arrive with one simple idea: Food and water is a right for everybody. We make sure that we provide that.”
In April, Colbert delivered an emotional desk piece in support of Andrés and World Central Kitchen following a series of Israeli drone strikes in Gaza that killed seven WCK workers.
“As many of you know, the World Central Kitchen is near and dear to my heart,” Colbert told viewers. “It was founded by our friend Chef José Andrés to bring food to hungry people after natural disasters and in war zones.”
Colbert called World Central Kitchen “Seal Team Doordash,” explaining, “They get in there with the food, and they do the job.” The charity has distributed more than 75 million meals in Gaza since October 2023.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time that the killing of the aid workers was a mistake. The more recent deaths appear to have been the result of an intentional strike.
The Israeli military stated over the weekend that it was targeting a militant who worked for World Central Kitchen and been part of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
A spokesperson for the charity said, “To the best of our knowledge, no WCK team members are affiliated with Hamas.” The group also said in a statement that it had no knowledge of anyone in the vehicle that was targeted by Israel having ties to the Oct. 7 attacks.
“At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details,” World Central Kitchen said in its statement. As it did after the April killings of World Central Kitchen workers, the group has suspended its operations in Gaza.
Representatives for Andrés and World Central Kitchen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
I’m beyond sad to hear the devastating news of the death of some of your workers ,
Sending warm hugs across the ocean to all of you and the families who lost loved ones
Not “deaths” it was murder. There must be justice for people who are heroes.
How long will Israeli terror go unchecked. The US is complicit in warcrimes.
Again our hearts break and outrage burns within us at this vicious and vile attack upon our valiant volunteers as they go about their mission of feeding those most desperately in need. Israel, I have supported and stood by you, donated to you for years. But these murders you perpetrate upon the innocent of Gaza and the WCK and other relief organizations is not to be tolerated. The world must speak to protect these innocents in harms way. Your wanton murder of WCK volunteers earlier this year and now you again take precious lives,makes you appear as the most guilty of murderers. Bless the good people of Israel, but for those in your government who plan and carry out murder let them be held accountable and tried for war crimes in the International Court in the Hague. As Hamas is tried in this same court so should members of the Israeli government.