Because the competition is timed and filmed in front of a studio audience, producers couldn’t stop things to tell Flay to cover up; but afterwards, they approached and informed him they would not be able to edit around his shirt.
The drama began over the summer at the final taping of Iron Chef Showdown.
Flay acknowledged to producers that was the point of him doing it, and thus sparked the news to the world and Food Network that Flay might be attempting to exit the show.
In the midst of the episode, Flay tore open his apron and revealed a shirt which read “THIS IS MY LAST IRON CHEF BATTLE EVER,” and kept the shirt in full view of the camera.