What Happened To Man V. Food’s Adam Richman?

Adam Richman’s departure from the public eye began when he shared a photo to Instagram with the hashtag #thinspiration. Based on a subsequent explanation by Richman, he grew up with body image issues and intended for the post to celebrate a milestone in his personal efforts to lose weight. That said, the hashtag has a dark history, and it’s unclear whether or not Richman was fully aware of its full implications when he first decided to use it. Due to the fact that #thinspiration has been associated with content glamorizing or encouraging disordered eating, its use is banned on many major social media platforms, including Instagram and Tumblr (via Time).

After commenters decried Richman’s use of the hashtag, he doubled down and began to outright insult some of his critics. Though the network didn’t specify a reason, this controversy was most likely responsible for Travel Channel significantly delaying the release of a subsequent show hosted by Richman titled first “Man Finds Food” and later “Secret Eats.” When the show did ultimately see the light of day, it simply wasn’t a success to the same degree as his prior work on “Man v. Food.”

Given that “Man Finds Food” was ultimately released, Richman’s work for the Travel Channel could seemingly have continued in spite of his internet controversy. That said, Richman has since explained that he felt his time on “Man v. Food” had come to a natural end point (via The Guardian). By his estimation, he series was both taking a toll on his physical health and losing some of its novelty.