Ending long-term relationships is not new waters for Sandra Lee, as she previously parted ways with a partner after 14 years together. The Sandra Lee Calls Off Engagement With Partner Of Five Years first appeared on The Blast

The wedding bells are now silent for Sandra Lee after they chimed for five years.

The Food Network star met and got engaged to her partner, Ben Youcef, in 2021. The timeline has often left fans over the years asking when they would tie the knot. Now it has been revealed that the nuptials are off the table after she was spotted in public without her ring.

Ending long-term relationships is not new waters for Sandra Lee, as she previously parted ways with a partner after 14 years together. She and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spent over a decade together before going their separate ways because their relationship shifted largely towards friendship.

Sandra Lee Has Dropped Her Fiancée Status

Lee and her longtime partner, Youcef, have called it quits after being in a relationship for five years. This comes after she was spotted in public last week without her engagement ring. The Food Network star’s rep, Jen Abel, confirmed that Lee has ended the engagement while speaking to TMZ without disclosing the reason for the split.

Speculations already started making waves after her last encounter with news outlets in New York City when she dodged questions about their wedding plans. In response to the question, Lee flipped the switch to talk about her work instead of giving a timeline for the supposed wedding.

Another eye-catching moment was when reporters noticed her left ring finger was missing an important piece of jewelry. When asked about her engagement ring, Lee shrugged it off by saying that her outfit did not call for jewelry. The explanation seemed sus as she usually has her ring on, and there was nothing on the finger.

Inside The Former Couple’s Meet Cute Moment

The freshly separated lovebirds met at a restaurant in Santa Monica in March 2021 and got engaged that same year. A source revealed that even at the early phase of their relationship, the pair bonded in a very short time, and Youcef became “her friend and loving confidante quickly.”  

Youcef and Lee even celebrated the holidays together, ushering in 2022 with good food in each other’s company. They were together for New Year’s in California, counting down to midnight on Friday night at Nobu Malibu.  

“They are very much looking forward to the New Year,” a source close to the former couple previously told PEOPLE, before adding, “They are happier than ever.”  The insider also remarked on their compatibility, saying that the actor seemed to be a good match for Lee as he has a deep understanding of the combination of her career and family life.

The Food Network Star Previously Took Time Off Dating

While it remains uncertain how long she will stay off the dating scene following her split from Youcef, the timeline may not come as a shock to many. As earlier stated, Lee was in a relationship with Cuomo for 14 years before they parted ways in September 2019. 

After Cuomo, it took the lifestyle icon two years before she considered dating again. According to an insider, “she wanted to be sure she could make herself happy and to heal before she brought someone into her life.” 

The actor, who was previously married, separated from his wife in 2019 and then filed for divorce the following year. Diving into a relationship with Lee, they became inseparable, enjoying each other’s company and often showing PDA. Their friends reportedly shipped the former lovebirds, calling them “Benda,” coined from a combination of their names, Ben and Sandra.

The TV Personality And Andrew Cuomo Parted Ways On Good Terms

The Blast reported at the time that the Food Network star and her ex-partner of 14 years ended their relationship, but were still supportive of each other. Speaking to news outlets at the time, Lee confirmed that she still talked to her ex, describing him as “still [her]guy.”

“We share a home, we share children, we share friendship. I will protect him and be there for him until the day I die,” she said of the former governor. She displayed this protective claim, rising to his defense after people started asking if the former New York governor had a nipple ring.

She lashed at the naysayers, calling them out for “body shaming” and warning them to stop taking unnecessary “cheap shots” at people working on the front lines. Cuomo’s rep said that “the governor wishes her well” after their breakup was made public. They hinted at the reason for their split in their joint statement, which read, “We have realized that our lives have gone in different directions and our romantic relationship has turned into a deep friendship.”

Sandra Lee Previously Battled With Cancer

Lee battled with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent a double mastectomy as a result. About seven years later, she shared a post detailing that she had postponed her follow-up breast cancer surgery multiple times since then till her gynecologist noticed some changes in her cells during a routine appointment.

Following a series of tests, it was revealed that the lifestyle icon had to then undergo a full hysterectomy. Lee noted that she was a bit embarrassed that she could not find the courage to share the details of her health until the final stage. She also gave a shout-out to all the brave women who had gone through similar procedures and disclosed that she often admired other women in awe and fear who went public with their health decisions without looking back.

PEOPLE shared that Lee noted her source of support during the process was Youcef, whom she said was at her side and “will be taking a little time off work to stay home” to help care for her during recovery. The Food Network star ended her message with words of encouragement to others who needed to go through similar medical ordeals.

Will Sandra Lee share the reason behind her second failed relationship?

The Sandra Lee Calls Off Engagement With Partner Of Five Years first appeared on The Blast