CBS2 Exclusive: 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro Apologizes For Driving While Impaired
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- "Cake Boss'' Buddy Valastro says he's "very disappointed'' in himself for driving after having a drink in Manhattan last month.
CBS2's Steve Langford spoke exclusively to the reality show star, whose formal name is Bartolo Valastro, pleaded guilty Monday to driving while ability impaired.
"You know, I'm sorry," Valastro said. "I made a mistake, and I realize that."
Valastro's conviction amounts to a ticketable violation rather than a crime. His driver's license will be suspended for three months, and he will have to pay a roughly $300 fine and attend classes on the hazards of drinking and driving.
Just after leaving court, Valastro issued a clear apology.
"I'm very disappointed in myself, and I'm going to do everything I can to let people know that you can't drink and drive -- like one is too many -- and that's what I'm going to practice," he said outside court.
Last month, there was a mob scene outside court after Valastro, 37, was arrested following what police said was some erratic driving up Tenth Avenue.
Valastro was stopped after police said they saw his yellow 2014 Corvette swerving through traffic around 1 a.m. Nov. 13.
When he was pulled over, police said officers noticed Valastro was flushed, had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol.
Police said Valastro smelled of alcohol and registered just above the legal blood alcohol limit at 0.9. Outside the courthouse Monday, Valastro said he drank three glasses of wine before climbing behind the wheel, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
Prosecutors said he told police: "You can't arrest me. I'm the Cake Boss."
But on Monday, the attitude was gone.
"I pled guilty because I want people to know," Valastro said Monday.
Many seemed to be accepting of his apology.
"He shouldn't have done it, but I suppose if he's owned up to it, nobody got hurt," said Irish tourist Elaine Park.
Valastro owns Carlo's Bakery on Washington Street in Hoboken, where TLC's "Cake Boss" is filmed.
At Valastro's Hoboken bakery that has become something of an international shrine to him, fans were forgiving.
"I think people are entitled to make mistakes, and I'm OK with him apologizing and saying that he's sorry," said California tourist Claudia Escala.
"Everybody gets in trouble, so I think we'll want to forgive him," said Colombian tourist Saloma Lopez.
"We're all human," said Emily Rubin of Haledon, New Jersey. "I don't think people should criticize or look at him too differently or judge him."
Valastro said outside court that he did not realize at first that he was too impaired to drive, but should have.
"I mean, look -- I can tell you honestly when I got in that car, I thought I was fine to drive," he said. "But I wasn't, and I put people in danger."
Valastro also took to social media to apologize to his fans.
"I want to thank everyone for their support. I also want to apologize to everyone. I pled guilty today because I wanted to make this right," Valastro wrote. "I learned an important lesson that if you have even one drink you shouldn't drive. I thought I was fine to drive, but I wasn't. I put people in danger. I am very disappointed in myself. I'll never get behind the wheel of a car again, even after one sip. My sincerest apologies to my family, friends and fans.
In addition to the Hoboken bakery, Valastro also has several other bakeries located in New Jersey, Manhattan, Queens, and Las Vegas.
TLC said in a statement that his arrest was "a personal matter'' and declined to comment further.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)