‘No Michelin stars for violence’: What’s happening with Noma? Rene Redzepi resigns amid protests and bombshell allegations

The celebrity chef of the iconic Copenhagen spot is facing serious accusations from former employees.

René Redzepi [Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images]

René Redzepi, the chef behind Copenhagen’s Noma, has resigned from the iconic restaurant he co-founded and its food non-profit MAD, amid abuse allegations. The move comes after protesters gathered outside Noma’s 16-week Los Angeles pop-up Wednesday.

A recent New York Times article reports that former employees of the restaurant allege a pattern of abuse, including “punching, slamming, screaming,” from 2009 and 2017. The Times interviewed dozens of former employees throughout 18 of the chef’s 23 years at the restaurant. The report also alleges unpaid interns worked 16-hour days.

On Wednesday, protestors outside Noma’s L.A. pop-up chanted and held up signs that read “Unpaid Labor Built Your Empire,” and “No Michelin Stars for Violence.” (The price for dinner at the L.A. residency is a staggering $1,500 a person.)

Fast Company has reached out to Noma for comment on the allegations and protest.

Noma, which under Redzepi, put New Nordic cuisine on the map, holds three Michelin stars and is considered one of the best restaurants in the world, if not the best.

“An apology is not enough; I take responsibility for my own actions,” Redzepi wrote on Instagram. “I have worked to be a better leader and Noma has taken big steps to transform the culture over many years. I recognize these changes do not repair the past.”

“After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I’ve decided to step away and allow our extraordinary leaders to now guide the restaurant into its next chapter,” he added.

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