If you remember the glory days of Man v. Food, you could be forgiven for wondering what happened to Adam Richman.
After four series, 59 challenges and hundreds of restaurants, the exuberant host had successfully etched himself into food folklore. No one could sell a heart-attack-inducing meat mountain quite like Richman.
But, despite the series’ enduring popularity, the presenter decided to call time back in 2012. Many have been left wondering what happened next.
Adam Richman quit Man v. Food in 2021 (Credit: PA)
What happened to Adam Richman?
Even though eating the most delicious meals on the planet might seem like a dream job, it seems that hosting Man v. Food wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
In the years following his departure, Richman has revealed that there were several reasons behind his exit. Despite Internet rumours to the contrary, none of them involved chronic illness, or death.
READ MORE: 7 Man v Food facts including how Adam Richman got the job
However, although the show never made Richman fall sick, it is true that his resignation was partly health-motivated. As described in a 2013 Yahoo News report, the pressures placed on his body by years of eating challenges did cause him to become depressed about his weight.
Despite this, Richman has gone on to rubbish rumours that he was forced to quit by health issues. In a 2016 BBC interview, the former host revealed the extent to which these falsehoods bothered him.
In reality, Richman’s main motivation was creative. As he explained in a 2012 interview with The Guardian, following his retirement announcement:
“The simplest way to put it is to say that the spectacle diminishes over time.
“As a producer, if nothing else, I had to be aware of giving my audience something that they wanted to see. I believe that if you wait for your audience to say they want to see something new, you’ve waited too long.”
There was also a physiological factor at play. As he told the BBC:
“I don’t miss the…feeling after having a spicy challenge and having that much food in you.”
No matter how tasty something looks, you can always have too much of a good thing.
Adam Richman attempted some seriously impressive eating challenges on Man v. Food (Credit: Food Network)
Where is Adam Richman now?
After exiting the iconic eating show, Richman has been on the hunt to find the next magical food formula. Needless to say, he’s yet to repeat the same success.
The year after the original Man v. Food ended, Richman hosted the first and only series of “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America”, a show which delivered exactly what it says on the tin.
READ MORE: Best Man v Food challenges ever attempted by Adam Richman
Despite an interesting premise and host of popular guest stars, including the late great Anthony Bourdain, the show never made it past season one.
Other hosting gigs have included the Travel Channel’s Fandemonium, as well as a judge on the British series “BBQ Champ” alongside Mylene Klass.
It’s safe to say that Richman is still struggling to recapture the magic of Man v Food.
The Man v. Food icon adopted a vegan diet after leaving the show (Credit: Food Network)
Is Adam Richman vegetarian?
Despite his legendary meaty exploits, rumours have still persisted that Richman is a recent convert to plant-based dieting. As it turns out, this isn’t a million miles from the truth.
READ MORE: 10 amazing Man v. Food restaurants you can still visit
In a 2015 interview for The Independent, Richman revealed that he had been vegan for three months as part of a training regime for that year’s Soccer Aid charity match.
As he explained at the time:
“Now, does that mean I’m not going to have a steak? No, I absolutely will when I want to, but it’s just about picking and choosing my spots, and when I want to have that cow and I wanna have that bacon, I’m going to make it count, I’m going to make it great quality.”
The former Man v. Food star has also been embroiled in his share of dieting controversy. After uploading an Instagram snap under the hashtag #thinspiration, Richman received significant blowback for the phrase’s connection to anorexia and bulimia.
His expletive-laced response was heavily criticised at the time, resulting in the postponement of a new show “Man Finds Food” and an extensive apology from Richman.
There were a lot of rumours surrounding Adam Richman’s departure from Man v. Food (Credit: Food Network)
Is Adam Richman married?
For a man who is so willing to hold nothing back on TV, Adam Richman’s personal life remains incredibly mysterious.
READ MORE:How much does Casey Webb make on Man v. Food? The new host replaced Adam Richman
Richman has never been seen with anyone who could be presumed to be a partner or wife, despite referencing ex-girlfriends in old social media posts.
It seems like he’s still determined to be best known for his appetite. So far, the 46-year-old is managing to keep his cards close to his chest.
