Who Is Anne Burrell’s Husband, Stuart Claxton? All About His Relationship with the Late Food Network Star

Anne Burrell found love with her husband of nearly four years, Stuart Claxton.

The Worst Cooks in America host, who died on June 17 at age 55, first met Claxton on the dating app Bumble in 2018. Two years later, they got engaged and eventually wed in October 2021.

“Everything was magical,” Burrell told friend Rachael Ray, who served as a bridesmaid, during an appearance on The Rachael Ray Show shortly after her wedding. “I was like, ‘I want the fairy tale! I’m only going to be a bride once!’ ”

“We wrote our own vows, which I thought were very cute and lovely, and then when it came to the time when they said I had to say, ‘I do,’ it just came out of me like, ‘YES I DO!’ ” she added.

In 2023, Claxton opened up to PEOPLE about married life, saying, “It’s been wonderful, to say the least. Anne and I hadn’t lived together before we moved in and got married, so it’s been a whole adventure, but very lovely at the same time.”

According to a statement from Burrell’s reps, which was obtained by PEOPLE, Burrell died in their home in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family said in a statement. “Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”

Here’s everything to know about Anne Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton.

He met Burrell on a dating app

Burrell and Claxton first met on the dating app Bumble in 2018, and she claims they “both knew immediately” that they were right for each other when they first met.

“I don’t know if we had both thought of marriage, but we both were like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is something,’ ” she told PEOPLE. “This is really going to be real and this is going to turn into something.’ ”

Burrell continued, “Once you get to be a woman of 50 years old, you don’t really think that marriage is going to be on the plate for you. I was always really focused on my career and marriage was never a huge thing in my life that I was looking for. Then when I met Stuart, my opinion about all that changed.”

He works in marketing and communications

Claxton attended Swansea University, where he graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and philosophy. He then got his master’s degree in media management in 2008 from the University of Stirling, according to his profile on LinkedIn.

His career has taken him from working for Guinness World Records, where he stayed for nearly 13 years, to working at TIME in corporate marketing and client solutions, as well as in ad sales marketing at Univision. He began working for NextUp in January 2023 as their vice president of marketing and communications.

He has one son, Javier

Little is known about Claxton’s teenage son Javier, whom he welcomed during a previous marriage, but he has made a few appearances on Burrell’s Instagram over the years.

Javier joined Burrell and Claxton to the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup in June, and the trio posed for a selfie.

“#theclaxtons hit the cricket today!!! My first cricket match and it was a blast!!” Burrell captioned a carousel of photos on Instagram. “One of those gorgeous early summer days, just perfect. 🏏🏏🏏.”

He proposed to Burrell in 2020

Claxton popped the question to Burrell in April 2020 in her hometown of Cazenovia, N.Y., where the two were isolating at the time during the COVID-19 pandemic with her family.

“My mom and Stuart got together and made a plan where he and I were going to have a date night,” Burrell recalled to PEOPLE. “We were having a nice time, and Stuart then starts saying, ‘Oh, this is a good song to put on a playlist for our wedding reception.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, sure. But why are we talking about that now?’ ”

“We started talking about family and just how nice it was to be here with everyone, so I sort of started getting weepy already,” she added. “Then Stuart pulls a ring out of his pants pocket and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this is even happening.’ ”

Claxton said that he had already begun planning how he would propose to Burrell prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I got the ring right before we left for Cazenovia [over a month and a half ago], when we didn’t really know how long things were going to go on. But I’m very glad I did it,” he said.

“I think some silver linings come out of this whole situation,” Burrell added. “If it wasn’t happening, we wouldn’t be up here with my family, and they would not have been involved in the way that they were.”

He and Burrell got married in 2021

The couple said “I do” on Oct. 16, 2021, in a fall ceremony at Windridge Estates Redbarn 20 in the bride’s hometown of Cazenovia.

The Food Network star arrived at the ceremony via horse and carriage, where she met her four bridesmaids standing at the altar. Claxton’s son, Javier, served as his father’s best man.

“I don’t care about the cheese factor. Every time I mention the horse and carriage Stuart laughs a little bit,” Burrell told PEOPLE before the wedding. “And I’m like, ‘Alright, whatever. It’s my moment and I mean to have it.’ ”

Burrell wore a wedding dress by Carolina Herrera for the occasion, which was also the first gown she tried on. “I’ve loved Carolina Herrera forever because I feel like she knows how to dress real women,” she explained.

The groom sported a black tuxedo by Ralph Lauren Purple Label and orange Nike high-tops, and the bridesmaids wore burnt orange “classic fifties-style party dresses” with an A-lined, tea-length skirt.

Guests dined on seasonal menu items, including a roasted cauliflower steak with cauliflower puree, a goat cheese and pumpkin ravioli in a sage butter sauce, and braised short ribs with a celery root and parsnip puree.

Wedding planner Megan Hiltbrand of MLH Events helped bring Burrell’s vision to life, which included autumnal tablescapes decorated with vegetables, herbs, and colorful leaves.

A multi-tiered wedding cake created by Cake Boss‘ Buddy Valastro was also enjoyed by guests at the event.

Burrell was called a “beloved wife” in a family statement after her death

Following Burrell’s death at age 55 on June 17, Burrell’s family released a statement, which read, “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,. Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”

The Food Network star is survived by her husband, Claxton, stepson, Javier, mother Marlene and sister, Jane.