Celebrity chef René Redzepi, founder of the iconic Danish restaurant Noma, which has won three Michelin stars and numerous other international recognitions for its New Nordic cuisine, has announced his resignation in the wake of allegations of abuse and assault at the Copenhagen landmark. “I have worked to become a better leader and Noma has taken big steps to change the culture over several years,” he wrote in the caption of Thursday’s post. “I recognize that these changes do not repair the past. An apology is not enough; I take responsibility for my actions.”
physical assault, public shaming, abuse
The allegations against Redzepi are not new, but this time they did not go unnoticed. The New York Times reported a detailed account of the harrowing experience of employees working under the world-renowned chef – just days before a Noma pop-up launched in Los Angeles. Now, the sponsors have withdrawn their funding from this LA project and protests were organized against Redzepui. Those who worked under him reported that going to work felt like going to war. The NYT report highlighted a 2014 incident when Redzepi ordered the entire kitchen staff to follow him out of the restaurant during the busy dinner hour. He was pushing a young chef, a young man, who introduced a style of music that the boss didn’t like. He punched the employee in the ribs, while 40 chefs watched – because it was a ritual, with a new target each time. Redzepi was knighted by the Queen of Denmark. In 2013, Anthony Bourdain called him “without a doubt, the most influential, provocative and important chef in the world”.One woman said Redzepi punched her when he saw her using a phone, which was strictly prohibited during service. She fell against a metal counter and broke her hip. He said that after that attack no one said a word and he had to end his shift.