Bobby Flay may be one of the biggest names in the culinary world, but when it came to pursuing a relationship with fellow chef Brooke Williamson, he turned to a famous Hollywood friend for advice.
Entertainment Weekly reports that, in the new issue of People, the 61-year-old Food Network star revealed that a close friend he described as a "gigantic movie star" helped convince him to take a chance on romance with Williamson, 48, who won Season 14 of Top Chef.
Flay explained that he was initially hesitant to pursue a relationship with someone he worked with, despite developing feelings for Williamson.
"I'm not going to drop any names, but she's a very good friend of mine," Flay told the outlet.
During a dinner together, Flay opened up to the actress about his concerns over dating someone in the same industry. His friend pointed out that actors frequently develop relationships with people they've worked with on movies, and encouraged him not to let that stop him.
The mystery celebrity also offered some advice that would eventually influence a major romantic gesture.
Flay, who has been married three times, said his friend suggested that Williamson might not be interested in getting married again, either. Instead, she floated the idea of celebrating their commitment without a wedding.
Flay liked the suggestion, and he eventually presented Williamson with a diamond commitment ring.
Williamson, who joined Flay for the interview, said she appreciated the gesture and didn't feel that marriage was necessary to demonstrate their commitment to each other.
But the identity of Flay's famous friend remains a mystery.
When People asked whether the actress happened to be married to Colin Jost, an apparent reference to Scarlett Johansson, Flay declined to confirm the speculation.
"No confirmation," he responded.
"Zero confirmation," Williamson added.
Flay and Johansson have been friends for years, but neither Flay nor Williamson confirmed that Johansson was the person behind the advice.
The couple, who confirmed their romance in March 2025, have previously spoken about their decision not to get married. Flay explained the meaning behind Williamson's diamond ring on his Bobby on the Beat podcast earlier this year, revealing that the gift initially caught her off guard.
While the ring itself isn't new information, Flay's revelation about the Hollywood friend who helped shape his relationship adds another surprising chapter to the couple's love story.
And although fans may be curious about the mystery actress, Flay and Williamson appear perfectly happy keeping that particular secret to themselves.
This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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