Noma’s René Redzepi ‘steps away’ following allegations of past abuse

Danish chef René Redzepi has stepped down as the head chef of Copenhagen’s famed Noma restaurant following allegations of abuse.

In a video addressing his staff, Redzepi announced his departure. “We will get through this. But because it’s so much focused on me, I have to remove myself.

“I am so proud of where we are as an organisation, it’s just we’re in the belly of the beast here. In order to make sure you guys are 100 per cent feeling safe, I’m going to step away.”

The resignation follows an investigation published by The New York Times last weekend, based on interviews with 35 ex-staff, which alleged Redzepi engaged in a pattern of physical and psychological abuse.

Ex-staff said he humiliated and intimidated workers, sometimes with violent punishments, including punching employees, jabbing them with kitchen tools and slamming them against walls.

Reports of abusive behaviour at Noma have been documented for years, but public attention intensified ahead of the restaurant’s 16-week pop-up in Los Angeles that opened on March 11. Since February, former employee Jason Ignacio White had been gathering allegations of workplace abuse sent to him by former Noma staff, which he then posted on Instagram.

White encouraged people to protest at the $1500 per person LA pop-up. According to the New York Times, a dozen people attended, holding signs that read “Unpaid Labour Built Your Empire” and “No Michelin Stars for Violence”, and chanted “Stop wasting your time, you’re paying for a crime”.

Hours after the protest, Redzepi decided to “step away” from the business. “The recent weeks have brought attention and important conversations about our restaurant, industry and my past leadership.

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

“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. I have also resigned from the board of MAD, the non-profit organisation I founded in 2011.”

In a video posted online, Redzepi did not deny the allegations, but said the restaurant had changed and that recent reports did not reflect the way Noma operated today. “I can only stand here and say this because when I see what’s going on online, it’s not been like this for a long time.”

Redzepi referenced a Noma 3.0 phase, a period he said was intended to rebuild the business and its operations, suggesting he may continue to play a role in shaping the restaurant’s next chapter.

“So you’ll see me around, but not in the way you’ve seen me around for the past 23 years,” Redzepi said.

“You guys are running the show now, you understand? This is your restaurant now each and every one of you. For me, I’m going into planning the next phase.”