Sandra Lee Ends Engagement with Ben Youcef

Sandra Lee has split from her 46-year-old fiance, actor Ben Youcef.

Jennifer Abel, publicist for Lee, has confirmed to the Daily Mail that the star has ended her engagement after being together for five years.

Lee, 59, began in March of 2021 and they became engaged later that same year. 

Lee is a celebrity chef who appears on TV shows and an author. 

She is known for her Semi-Homemade cooking concept, which she describes as using 70 percent packaged products and 30 percent fresh ingredients. 

Lee and Youcef are believed to have met at a charity event in Santa Monica, California in March 2021, with him making the first move.

He is a father to twins with his ex-wife, California-based realtor Apryl Stephenson.

They separated in 2019 and filed for divorce in January 2020.

Youcef proposed to Lee in August 2021 during their whirlwind trip to France that coincided with the sexual harassment scandal surrounding her ex Andrew Cuomo.

'Ben really wanted to distract Sandra from all the news, so he whisked her away to Paris,' an unnamed source close to Youcef told the New York Post.

'He knows how hard this has been on her and he wants to make sure she feels loved and supported.'

The source added: 'Ben is incredibly protective of Sandra. They're soulmates and head-over-heels in love.'

Cuomo resigned from office in August 2021 after investigators working for New York Attorney General Letitia James authored a report concluding he had sexually harassed 11 women. 

The disgraced governor has denied the allegations and some are speculating he could challenge James in the upcoming election.

He released an ad that depicted him as the victim of a 'political attack' launched by James, who later launched a failed bid for governor.

On Valentine's Day in 2021 she gushed over Youcef.

'So this happened! Ben happened! Love happened! Happiness happened!' she wrote. 'I was certain it never would again. I was shocked when it did. I swore I would never fall again, trust again, love again or open myself up again.

'On our one year anniversary I shall share the story of how we met but until then, my wish for you is that no matter where you are, how old you are or what has happened, you can welcome hope back into your life again.'