Cătălin Scărlătescu, who was sworn in Chef in knives, lost the first open trial by Antena 1. The District 1 Court for obliged Scărlătescu to pay damages of 10,000 euros, following statements, but the decision is not final.
Cătălin Scărlătescu/PHOTO: Facebook
According to the media page, the process was opened as a result of an article published in Can, in March 2024, with the title: “We have super-explusive statements! Scărlătescu, the first reaction about the process with Antena: “They did not pay our salaries for season 12!” + “Is someone who wants the antenna evil! Why did so?”
Among the statements retained by the court are:
– “The esteemed Antena 1 did not give us the money on season 12 … did not pay us the salary of interest what they are ”
– “Not the antenna made us. We made the big antenna. ”
– “There are some boys there who still believe in the stone age. They believe they can do harm to people. Old Voiculescu has not yet woken up to see what left behind. Think only last year how many stars they left.
There is someone there who wants the antenna’s evil. I tell you honestly. I didn’t want to leave Antena 1 never. We were forced because, after 9 years of collaboration, they did not have the good sense to understand what we want. They woke up so they are masters. “
– “Think … Bendeac left, we left, we left Cosmin Seleşi, left Dan Negru and more from the observer, from Antena Stars. To make a list of valuable people, being the least valuable. And I will not go.
– “When will Vociulescu wake up and see what robbery they have made from his television … Some who believe in television people. You find it normal to leave so much? How to understand with the three chefs who have brought you the highest rating in Antenna’s history 1.”
Antenna 1 sued after the statements
Shortly after the incendiary statements made by Scărlătescu, Antena 1 was sued asking 10,000 euros for violating the privacy clauses in the contract.
Basically, they asked for 5,000 euros because it did not comply with the obligation to announce the Antena before granting the interview and another 5,000 euros for “The defamation of the company and the show Chefi at knives through the statements given to the Cancan publication.”
According to motivation, Scărlătescu defended in court, saying that his statements are an expression of the right to free expression, that the interview took place after the termination of the contract and that certain clauses would be null.
His lawyers also said before the court that the Antena “only states that the image was affected, but does not prove that it has suffered any negative consequence of any kind.”
On August 4, 2025, the District Court 1 decided that the former jury at the knife to pay to the trust the average of 10,000 euros compensation.
“Admits in part request for a court formulated by the applicant Antena TV Group SA in contradictory with the defendant Scărlătescu Cătălin Ion, as modified. It obliges the defendant to pay to the applicant the amount of 10,000 euros, the equivalent in lei at the date of payment, as compensation.
Rejects as unfounded the defendant’s request to oblige the applicant to pay the costs. With the right of appeal within 30 days from the communication. ”
The court held in the motivation consulted by Paginademedia.ro that:
- The contractual clauses were applicable and after the termination of the contract, within the established term. “Regarding the non -performance by the defendant of the obligations assumed according to art. 5.12 and 5.15 of the contract, the court holds, first of all, that it has no relevance whether at the date of publication of the defendant’s statements the contract was in force since the parties established that the obligation not to make denigrating statements incur the defendant for the entire duration of the contract “and, subsequently, in the perpetuity”, and the obligation to make a public, unfavorable TV program without the beneficiary’s consent and in the absence of a representative applies “both during the validity period of this contract and a period of 6 (six) years after the termination of the contract”. “
- The statements violated these clauses and discredited Antena Group and its leadership. “The defendant obviously discredited the beneficiary and the persons from the beneficiary’s management, in general, through all the statements made, but especially by stating the following:
“Not the antenna did us. We made the three of us. When I arrived in the antenna, it was not such a big rating. I think I am not the first in Antena 1 1 that left without money, but they will pay because they received for season 12 from others and stopped me.”
“There are some boys there who still believe in the stone age. I think they can hurt the people. The old Voiculescu has not yet woken up to see what left behind.”
“They woke up so they are masters.”
“When Voiculescu will wake up and see what robbery those from his televisions have done … some who believe in television people.”, says motivation.
- The right to free expression can be limited by contract when there is a legitimate interest in protecting the commercial reputation.
- There was no need for proof of a concrete injury, the damages being established by the criminal clause in the contract.
- The court admitted Antena Group’s request and forced Scărlătescu to pay the amount of 10,000 euros. His request to receive costs was rejected.
What clauses violated Scărlătescu
These are the contract clauses that would have been violated by Cătălin Scărlătescu:
– According to art. 5.12 of the contract, throughout the duration of this contract and, subsequently, in the perpetual, the author undertakes not to discredit by statements or any other attitude or modality, individual or collectively, the persons in the management of the beneficiary or the companies that make up the media trust of which the beneficiary is part or the persons in the management of these companies, in front of the employees of the beneficiary, of the beneficiary, of the beneficiary, of the beneficiary, of the beneficiary, of the employees of the beneficiary of business of the respective companies, in the media or to any other third parties and/or not to make any statements, in written or oral form, to the written press, television or any media organizations that may affect the image of the beneficiary or to the respective companies either to the management or employees or their business partners or their products, services or policies.
– According to art. 5.15 of the contract, the author undertakes not to make any public statement or which could be made to the media, on any communication channel (writing press, internet, personal social accounts, etc.), to put in an unfavorable light the TV program, the producer or the beneficiary, the Intact group, regarding the participation of the TV program, which is to be carried out on the program, than with the agreement of the beneficiary and in the presence of a representative of it, both during the validity period of this contract, as well as a period of 6 (six) years after the termination of the contract.
The author understands and agrees that any statements, interviews, the disclosure of any information to the media in relation to the TV program will be done only with the prior agreement of the beneficiary, obtained by consulting the PR manager.
Also, the author has the obligation to notify, in accordance with the provisions of the chapter “notifications” in the contract or at the email address XXX the beneficiary’s public relations department regarding any request for interview, public statement, photo shoot, public appearance, addressed by third parties to the author, following which the beneficiary will not be able to decide on the way Representative of the Department of Public Relations of the Beneficiary during the accomplishment of these activities, in this sense the author will respect the decisions of the Public Relations Department of the Beneficiary being the only party that will keep the relationship with the press.
According to art. 6.10 of the contract, without limiting the rights of the beneficiary stipulated in other clauses of the contract, but in addition to them, in case of defective and/or partial guilt executions assumed by this contract by the author, the beneficiary will be able to claim the author of 5,000 (fifty) Euro, with the title of compensation, within 15 days, within 15 days, within 15 days The sanction of daily delay penalties in the amount of 0.1% of the amounts due, their total being able to exceed the level of the amount on which the penalties are applied.
