Enzo Pereda, 6-Year-Old Leukemia Patient, Declines Make-A-Wish Meeting With Ina Garten

UPDATE: The Pereda family has decided not to meet with Garten. The father told ABC News, "We're not going to do it. I don't want my son to go through any other stress. We just want to go on with our life."

PREVIOUSLY:

The Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten has agreed to meet with six-year-old leukemia patient Enzo Pereda, after being accused of twice denying his Make-A-Wish Foundation request.

On March 25, TMZ reported that Garten denied Pereda's requests due to scheduling conflicts, though Garten claimed she only became aware of his request this weekend, after the news media picked up on the story.

A spokeperson for Garten explained that she receives about "100 requests a month to support charitable causes" and thus can't answer them all.

Though many news outlets and blogs were fast to criticize Garten, others came to her defense. James Norton at Chow.com dubbed the controversy a "high-tech smearing" of her reputation.

Regardless of perspective, there is a silver lining; Pereda gets his wish and Garten can once again be "the sweetest woman in the world."

Comments

[Blue One]

04:36 PM on 04/07/2011

Whether Ina Garten knew about the request prior to the big brou-ha-ha over it is old business now. Time to move on. She offered to see the kid and the kid's parents said no thanks. What else can she do?

If I were her, I would bundle up a copy of each one of my cookbooks, tie a big ribbon around them and send them off to the little tyke. Write an apologetic note saying that she was sorry that she was unable to meet him.

[InaGartenFAN]

10:24 PM on 05/10/2011

Thank you, Blue One!
I completely agree with your comment. This appears to be a simple misunderstanding blown out of proportion just so the media can juice every bit of it....
This is absolutely ridiculous.

[flashsfo1]

03:34 PM on 05/11/2011

The only one who did not understand the situation and didnt understand the 'proportion" was Ina Garten and staff et el. She is not the biggest celebrity in the cosmos. If Justin Bieber grants 150 of these requests in a years time, don't you think that Ms Garten could have found time. She has a staff of 3-4 people...when this began she or they let it slip and gather momentum. The press was not out to get Ina Garten...she is not all that big of a celebrity...her niche is relatively small.
Who deny's a kid with leukemia at 6 years old is the bigger question.?????
She could have within days bundled videos, books some cookies, etc, whatever and FedEx it to him and it would not have taken the legs it developed.
When you perceive yourself TO BIG to care about fellow human beings, than you have a problem for that is the only reasson we our here...for each other.
It wasn't a misunderstanding it was a missed opportunity.

[Wonder Woman2]

12:14 PM on 04/07/2011

Doesn't surprise me. The kid finally got smart.

[merger]

04:31 AM on 04/07/2011

Not good, Ina, not good.

[John Iacunato]

09:16 PM on 04/06/2011

How disappointing that Ina would not give Enzo the time to meet.
Guess it shows her true colors!

[Pandoras Folly]

04:49 PM on 04/06/2011

i believe her when she said she never heard about this till the media picked it up. But her chief propagandist should have said, huh dying child we better drop by for a couple hours cook an omlet or something. This could get nasty on the internet.

[Ami Munro]

11:45 PM on 04/05/2011

I am a big fan of Ina. I watch her 3 times a day. But I can see her declining this little boys request.

I have noticed in some of her episodes where kids are present, she ignores them. I don't know if it's because she doesn't like them or ??

[CaliforniaGirl]

02:26 AM on 04/06/2011

How is it you can watch her 3 ...times a day.....???

[Ami Munro]

06:49 AM on 04/06/2011

It comes on twice in the morning (bact 2 back) and @4pm. Mostly re runs but I still watch. I like her and the type of foods she prepares.

[nomoredead]

09:28 PM on 04/05/2011

Ina could send a check for the family could go to Disneyland or a place of their choice as a goodwill gesture.....

[krallfan]

01:14 AM on 04/06/2011

IMHO, she should continue contributing to the charities that she cares about without feeling any pressure to do something she does not want to do.

[adamben]

02:45 PM on 04/06/2011

or as a goodwill gesture the family can stop their she/he said carping.

[Andrea Kelly]

04:23 PM on 04/05/2011

I'm so disappointed in Ina and what was she thinking? Andrea

[elan4444]

02:41 AM on 04/05/2011

Wait! I thought I was the sweetest person in the world!!

[darnold993]

04:15 PM on 04/05/2011

Her world doesn't go beyond the Hamptons

[Aranxa]

11:12 PM on 04/05/2011

I thought I was the Barefooted Contessa. That's what my dad told me when I was 2!

[flashsfo1]

03:37 PM on 05/11/2011

Yea, but were you making cookeis, cakes and salmon on the grill at 2 years old? You were Barefoot and precious! She is over 2 years old and tarnished a bit...

[tster1965]

11:51 PM on 04/04/2011

TMZ sometimes blows things out of proportion.

[Aranxa]

11:12 PM on 04/05/2011

That is the reason for their existence.

[msminnie]

11:23 PM on 04/04/2011

What I see happening more and more with celebrities and other public figures is that "we" decide their priorities and values and then condemn them for not living up to our expectations, I can't imagine how many letters and requests Garten gets every week. I don't even get around to opening my 3 pieces of mail every day.

I'm sorry for Enzo and his family and wish them peace.

[fairywhatnot]

08:38 PM on 04/04/2011

Good for the Pereda family!

Enzo, enjoy your swimming with the dolphins! (They might actually HELP you...)

[adamben]

02:46 PM on 04/06/2011

too bad that is cruel for the dolphins who should be allowed to be free. but, this is about the pereda family, i guess.

[flashsfo1]

03:39 PM on 05/11/2011

Dolphins should be free....but this is not about the Perez Family, it is about an innocent 6 year old kid who is battling a bad situation. Ina and the family are not the story...the kid will always be the story as it should be.

[flyinthface]

06:13 PM on 04/04/2011

Ah! Enzo's wish is to now swim with dolphins! Good choice!
http://www.angelsforenzo.com/pleasestopthemadness.htm

[flyinthface]

06:09 PM on 04/04/2011

A six year old wanted to meet Ina Garten? Strange.

[nkadzi]

11:49 PM on 04/04/2011

You are spot on!!

[flashsfo1]

03:41 PM on 05/11/2011

When he was in the hospital taking treatments to combat the leukemia, one of the few shows they could get was Barefoot Contessa and he just focused in on the program....anything to divert that sick feeling when undergoing chemo. So waht is wrong with a boy liking to cook...if your daughter wanted to cook, you would smile and applaud.

[GraphicMatt]

03:12 PM on 04/04/2011

Throw Ina on a spit and roast her over an open flame!!! (just kidding.)

[repelled]

03:28 PM on 04/04/2011

Was that supposed to be humorous?

[GraphicMatt]

03:31 PM on 04/04/2011

You can take it any way you wish.