Sandra Lee Breaks Silence After Ending Engagement to Ben Youcef: 'This Hasn't Been an Easy or Quick Decision'

Celebrity chef Sandra Lee has broken her silence after her shocking split from former fiancé Ben Youcef.

Lee took to Instagram on Thursday, April 23, to share an emotional post about her relationship's decline.

"After a great deal of reflection, I’ve made the decision to end my engagement," she wrote. "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. 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."

Lee continued, "Ben is a kind wonderful man. I have nothing but respect for him and for what we shared. I truly want him to move forward into a life that brings him happiness, just as I am committed to doing the same."

The cook emphasized how her "next chapter" in life will be focused on "growth" and "healing" so that she becomes "fully aligned" with her set of morals and values.

"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," she explained. "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."

News broke of Lee and Youcef's split on Wednesday, April 22. The couple started dating in 2021 after spontaneously meeting at a restaurant and got engaged later that year.

When asked about her romance with Yousef in 2024, Lee gave no indication of any issues.

“Meeting Ben was incredible. It was the perfect intersection of timing and chemistry,” she expressed at the time.

The blonde beauty, who previously dated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, felt like Youcef was a fresh start for her after heartbreak.

“I literally felt like a virgin at 55, and I just didn’t want to get involved again,” Lee said. “He finally kissed me, 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.”

She 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.”