Celebrity chef and author Sandra Lee announced her split from longtime fiancé Ben Youcef in an April 23 Instagram post. Youcef, 47, is an Algerian-born actor and activist best known for starring in Steven Spielberg’s 2005 epic historical drama Munich.
Lee, 59, began her lengthy statement:
“After a great deal of reflection, I’ve made the decision to end my engagement. This hasn’t been an easy or quick decision. Life has a way of bringing both extraordinary joy and unimaginable challenges. Over time, those experiences shape you in ways you don’t always see until you pause long enough to listen to yourself.”
The Daytime Emmy winner continued:
“I’ve spent much of my life deeply committed to relationships, to family, and to the responsibilities that come with both. I’m incredibly grateful for all of it. But this moment has asked me to look at my life differently and to move forward with a deeper sense of clarity, intention, and honesty with myself.”
Sandra Lee described Ben Youcef as a “kind, wonderful man” for whom she has “nothing but respect.” The Food Network star said that she cherished their moments together, while truly wanting him to move forward into a “life that brings him happiness,” just as she is “committed” to doing the same.
The former Lounges & Clubs host mentioned that the “next chapter” is about growth, healing, and creating a life that feels completely in alignment with her values, work, and things that matter most to her.
“This will be the first time, in my entire adult life, that I will be completely single and unencumbered, which changes everything for me… it is scary and exciting all at once. I’m stepping into it with gratitude, grace, and an open heart. I want to thank you all for your love and thoughtfulness, and for supporting me through the decisions that I make as I move through this extraordinary life. With Love, Light and Peace, Sandra,” she concluded.
Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef began dating in March 2021 and got engaged later that year, despite talks about their 12-year age gap. Since then, the pair has been called “Bendra” by fans and colleagues alike.
Ben Youcef: Life, career, and more
According to IMDb, Ben Youcef was born in Algiers, Algeria, in February 1979. His father was a diplomat. He spent his formative years in Saudi Arabia with six siblings and later moved to London for higher education.
Ben began his career as a New York model for high-end brands like Armani, Gucci, Donna Karan, H&M, and Hugo Boss. While in the Big Apple, he also trained as a theater actor and worked in off-Broadway productions.
Subsequently, he stepped into Hollywood and found guest roles on police procedural TV shows such as NCIS: LA, CSI: New York, Law & Order, and Chicago P.D.
Ben Youcef is a go-to voiceover consultant for Arabic-language roles, including in Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, and X-Men: Apocalypse. For the 2011 feature film, For the Rough, opposite Michael Clark Duncan and Taraji P. Henson, he won the Best Actor Award at the London International Film Festival.
Back then, Ben Youcef explained to The Pop Culture Principle what made him say yes to For the Rough:
“It’s a true and inspirational story about the first African American female golf coach… For my character [Bassam] in particular, she helped him find his inner peace. It’s such a beautiful story. In the past, I’ve done a lot of roles that dealt with terrorism, so it was refreshing to do something much more inspirational and also a film with a great message. I’m not representing my people in a bad light, so that was a great motivator for me.”
About working with Henson, Youcef noted:
“She was wonderful! With Taraji, you didn’t have to do much. Just remember your lines, listen and react; she would do the rest. She treated you as an equal and if you wanted advice or had any questions, she was there for you. Mostly, she treated you very respectfully, and she was very open and kind.”
In the same interview, he gave a shoutout to his mentor and retired casting director Richard Sassin and his late acting coach Peter Haskell for hand-holding him through his career.
Sandra Lee’s now-ex-fiancé appeared in the 2024 Netflix romantic drama Lonely Planet alongside Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth. He also worked with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Chris Weitz on the film Afraid. His other movie credits include Bruno, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Body of Lies.
Youcef also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the independent film, The Algerian.
On the advice of Steven Spielberg, Ben Youcef joined the nonprofit Abrahamic InterFaith, an L.A.-based community focused on uniting people from different religious backgrounds. As part of the organization, Youcef launched a “Call to Prayer” initiative, which became an overnight viral sensation on NPR and YouTube, amassing over 20 million views.
In fact, renowned music composer Philip Glass invited Ben Youcef to perform “Call to Prayer” at the Hollywood Bowl in front of an 18,000 live audience. The Los Angeles Times described the performance as “uniquely moving and important,” while The International Press lauded Youcef for being able to “captivate people with his extraordinary charisma and talent.”
When Ben Youcef is not acting or busy doing activism, he is seen traveling, playing tennis, attending major global sporting events, and exploring world history. He is reportedly an expert in “cultures, religions, architecture, and landmarks.”
During a past interview, Ben Youcef was quoted as saying:
“My objective as an actor is to bring a new understanding of the Middle Eastern culture to the rest of the world. My life integrates the Islamic spirit with modern energy. I still retain an almost naive way of seeing the world that comes from a truthful place of a kid that was me.”
In 2024, Sandra Lee told Us Weekly that she had a chance encounter with Ben Youcef at a restaurant, who then asked her out for a walk:
“Meeting Ben was incredible. It was the perfect intersection of timing and chemistry… I hadn’t been intimate in years and years. I literally felt like a virgin at 55, and I just didn’t want to get involved again. He finally kissed me [two months later], and I stood there stone-still. He kept his lips on mine, and my mind just went blank. I still didn’t kiss him back.”
The Semi-Homemade Cooking alum continued:
“He waited and persisted, and here we are. My chemistry with Ben is something that I’ve never had before. It’s mental, it’s emotional, and it’s a connection that I can’t even describe. When he kisses me, my mind goes blank. It’s the only time I can meditate, which is why I love kissing him.”
Sandra Lee also compared his relationship with Ben Youcef to that of her courtship with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“When you live separate lives, you are not creating a life together. Ben is very patient, and he’s very transparent. He checks in all the time and shares everything with me. He loves helping people without an agenda or motive. He truly tries to be a better human every day.”
The Santa Monica native added:
“We all go through pain and hurt. You’re either at the beginning, the middle or the end of hurt and pain. It’s life. It’s a cycle. And then you get these amazing runs of happiness that make it all worth it. My life was a nightmare that slowly turned into a dream.”
Sandra Lee was a de facto First Lady of New York when she dated Andrew Cuomo (he was the Governor from 2011 to 2021) between 2005 and 2019. Before that, she was married to businessman and philanthropist Bruce Karatz for four years.
Edited by Pallavi K