Noma Shock: Head Chef Quits Amid Abuse Claims
Celebrity chef René Redzepi resigns from Noma after restaurant abuse allegations from 35 former staff, shaking the global fine-dining industry.
Noma head chef and co-founder René Redzepi announced on Wednesday that he is resigning from his internationally renowned Copenhagen restaurant amid allegations of physical abuse against his staff.
Redzepi faced protests in Los Angeles ahead of a four-month pop-up that launched this week. His resignation comes after the New York Times detailed shocking allegations of physical and psychological abuse, including claims that he "punched employees in the face, hit them with kitchen tools, and slammed them against walls."
"I have decided to step down and let our extraordinary leaders guide the restaurant into its next chapter," he wrote in an Instagram story.
Redzepi said that in recent weeks there has been "attention and important conversations about our restaurant, the industry, and my past leadership." He wrote: "I have worked to become a better leader, and Noma has taken significant steps to change the culture over the years. I recognize that these changes do not correct the past. Apologizing alone is not enough; I take responsibility for my actions." The chef added that the Noma team will also be working together during our LA residency, which will be a tremendous opportunity for them to demonstrate their commitment to the cause."
Redzepi said he was also resigning from the board of Mad, a food industry nonprofit he founded in 2011. He posted a video of himself apologizing to staff and announcing his departure.
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His announcement comes after American Express and Blackbird, a hospitality company, severed ties with Noma before the LA pop-up.
The New York Times report on his abuse was based on interviews with 35 former employees and described a "pattern of physical punishment" and "long-lasting trauma from layers of psychological abuse, including bullying, body shaming, and public ridicule." The report stated that the chef threatened to blacklist employees from the industry, deport their families, and have family members fired from other businesses.
Eater reports that tickets to Noma's LA residency are charging $1,500, but tickets sold out within three minutes.
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