Bobby Flay couldn’t be prouder of his daughter, Sophie Flay.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the celebrity chef praised Sophie’s dedication as she reported live from the front lines of the Los Angeles wildfires.
Sophie, a reporter for ABC7 Los Angeles, covered the devastating fires that swept through Southern California starting on January 7. Equipped with a face mask, goggles, and protective gear, she provided crucial updates on safety and evacuation efforts as more than 80,000 residents were displaced and thousands of structures were destroyed.
“She’s fantastic,” Flay said at the 2025 South Beach Wine & Food Festival. “I got hundreds of messages from people telling me how incredible she was out there. She was spectacular.”
Flay, who shares Sophie with his ex-wife Kate Connelly, admitted he couldn’t take his eyes off her coverage. “I downloaded the news app and watched 24/7. She didn’t even sleep. It was crazy.”
Sophie’s fearless reporting has not only earned her father’s admiration but also the respect of viewers who relied on her updates during the crisis.
Despite the chaos of the wildfires, Bobby and Sophie stayed in constant contact.
“The fires were literally behind her,” Flay recalled. “I kept asking, ‘Do you feel safe?’ And she’d say, ‘Yeah.’ Then, the next day, a tree hit their van—but luckily, they weren’t inside. It was like the Wild West. Absolutely crazy.”
Beyond his concern, Flay couldn’t hide his admiration for his daughter’s dedication to reporting.
“I was so proud of her because, most importantly, she was providing critical information to people who needed it,” he shared. “And she was just so good. I kept thinking, ‘Who is this girl?’”
Bobby and Sophie share a strong bond, often enjoying food and travel adventures together. Last year, the father-daughter duo attended the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris—not for work, but simply to experience the magic of the games.
