Michael Duarte’s wife breaks silence after food influencer’s death

Food influencer Michael Duarte‘s wife is speaking out for the first time since his shocking death… sharing an emotional tribute as she pushes back on what she calls harmful misinformation.

Michael’s wife, Jess released a statement to TMZ … “I’ve been struggling with what to do since his passing, so I’m doing what feels right… sharing his stories. Whether it’s about his content or about Mike as a husband, father and friend to all.”

She tells us that the love from fans and the BBQ community has been a lifeline. She says she’s moved by how many people Mike has inspired and hopes to continue his legacy even as she learns what that means.

Jess says the support has given her strength, adding she can “feel him moving mountains.” Although she still struggles with the loss, she begins to see that his purpose “was so much bigger.”

She says the family is working on memorial arrangements and will share details soon. But she also directly addresses the noise online, adding, “The false stories are disheartening and disrespectful to the legacy of a great man. This is an active investigation and I ask the media and public to refrain from sharing unverified information.”

She ends her message with a heartbreaking sentence saying, “Mike, I am proud to be your wife, and I will wear that title with honor for the rest of my life. See you on the other side, Dad.”

We broke the story …officers in Texas responded to a 911 call about a man with a knife and acting erratically. The sheriff’s office says Duarte confronted a deputy and then attacked her by yelling, “I’m going to kill you,” prompting her to fire two shots. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.