article: The messy divorce between chef Bobby Flay and actress Stephanie March just got uglier. On Sunday, the New York Post's Page Six alleged that the marriage breakup was the result of Flay having an affair with his assistant Elyse Tirrel, who's 28. But the celebrity chef's  business partner Laurence Kretchmer moved swiftly to dismiss the claims, saying that if Flay, 50, had been having an ongoing affair with an employee, he would know about it. Scroll down for video . The other woman? It was alleged Sunday that chef Bobby Flay has been having an affair with his assistant Eliyse Tirrell and that it led to the breakdown of his marriage to Stephanie March . Secret affair: Page Six claimed Flay, 50, has been seeing Tirrel, who's 28, for three years and that according to a friend of March, the actress learned of the relationship with the former hostess just after Thanksgiving 2014 . Page Six reported that Tirrell is a 'singer/actress who worked as a hostess at the chef's Bar Americain in 2008 and became his assistant.' The gossip site claimed that Flay, who filed for divorce from March, 40, in April, has been cheating on the Law & Order:SUV star for three years with  Tirrell. March's friend Maia Madison, a writer and actress, told Page Six that March arrived 'sobbing uncontrollably' at her home just after Thanksgiving after finding out about the affair. Madision went on to say that Tirrell 'is about to ­become the Monica Lewinsky of the food world.' Messy divorce: Flay filed for divorce earlier this month saying that his 10-year marriage to Law & Order: SVU star March has 'irretrievably broken down' After the story ran, Flay's representative released a statement to the media saying: 'We will continue to refrain from responding to the continued efforts by certain parties to spread rumors and innuendo.' 'This specific allegation was in a letter sent from one attorney in this case to the other. It was written and then leaked specifically to try to insert this story into the press, and that’s unfortunate.' The statement continued:: 'Even more unfortunate is that all of this is being done in order to renegotiate a prenuptial agreement that was agreed to over a decade ago and never amended during the marriage.' Kretchmer defended his friend and insisted that none of the claims about an affair with his assistant are based in reality. He is quoted as saying that the young woman is' a great and valued employee.' 'If she had an affair with Bobby it would have been reported to me. That has never even been suggested, and people like to talk,' Kretchmar said. 'Have Bobby and Elyse been seen together? Yes, that’s her job.' He then suggested that there is more mud-slinging to come in the ugly battle between the former couple whom he has known for 14 years. 'As ugly as Stephanie is going to look [when this news comes out], she will look uglier when other things come out,' Kretchmer told Page Six. Bitter battle: March, 40, is contesting the prenuptial agreement the couple signed ahead of their marriage that means the famous chef, who's worth about $20 million, only has to pay her $5,000 a month in alimony . The Food Network chef filed court documents filed on April 10 saying that his 10-year marriage has 'irretrievably broken down.' The actress, though, has mounted a legal challenge to the prenuptial agreement that the now estranged couple signed which says Flay, reported to be wort about $20 million, only has to pay her $5,000 per month. In return, March has accused the chef of 'bullying through economic warfare.' March's lawyer said the famous chef won't let her and her sick mother Laura Derby stay in their $8m marital Manhattan home unless she signs a press release alleging their split was amicable. Happier times: March was Flay's third wife and appeared as a guest judge on several of his Food Network shows. The couple are pictured here in September 2009 in New York City .
highlights: It was claimed Sunday that the Food Network star has been cheating on his wife with assistant Elyse Tirrell for three years .
  Flay's business partner Lawrence Kretchmar dismissed the report, saying he'd have known if the chef was having an affair with an employee .
  Tirrell, who is 28, used to work as a hostess at one of Flay's restaurants before being promoted to be his assistant .
  The celebrity chef has filed for divorce from March, 40, after 10 years of marriage but she is contesting their prenup .
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