James Beard was a BIG FAT man who was never without his male escort, typically young and blonde and of the three dollar bill type...
He was a great chef and did many good things in the communities he lived in.
I can remember meeting him at a friends house, he would not even get up to meet the lady of the house - likely too much effort for his enormous body. I recall thinking: ‘Wow! this guy is FAT! and that guy with him is a queer.’
So, in my opinion, James Beard was a big fat gay man who died way too soon because of his lifestyle (fat any gay). The James Beard Foundation overlooks this point and the hypocrisy fits right in at the White House.
My personal opinion as one of the few who actually met the man.
I’ve heard those stories. Didn’t he also cook with no pants?