‘Barefoot Contessa’ Finally Agrees To Make Ailing Child’s Wish Come True

A happy ending! Ina Garten, host of the Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa, recently received a wave of criticism for her decision not to make a terminally ill child’s “Make-a-Wish” dream come true. It seems the pressure from a disappointed public has gotten to Garten, because she is finally inviting six-year-old Enzo Pereda to cook with her on her show. Pereda, who is battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a huge fan of Garten’s, and wanted nothing more than to be able to prepare a meal with the Food Network star. And to think: All it took was a massive public shaming.

A spokesperson for Garten shared the good news with ABC News:

Ina became aware of Enzo’s story this weekend and will be calling him today. She looks forward to inviting him to spend some time with her at the Food Network studios.

This directly goes against previous comments to TMZ attributed to Garten’s reps, wherein Garten’s busy schedule was cited as the reason she could not meet with the young boy.

So: Was she aware of his wish and too busy, or was she not made aware of Enzo’s desire to meet her until this weekend?

Pereda’s mother describes her son’s ordeal:

I felt terrible for him, he has been unwavering in his desire to meet her for 3 years and despite many attempts to get him to pick a 2nd wish or change his mind he would not. Last year Ina gave a ‘soft no’ supposedly because she had a 10 month book tour and they called and asked him what he wanted to do and he said ‘I will wait’ and he did.

She also writes that her son has “moved on” and, despite her initial snub, is still a fan of Garten.

h/t ABC News