Highly problematic behavior': Noma residency in LA starts with PR crisis

"Now, though, with old stories resurfacing from what Redzepi himself has acknowledged to be a shameful history of physical and verbal abuse in the kitchen, the Noma residency in southern California is facing a full-blown public relations emergency. Protests and a rash of last-minute sponsorship cancellations overshadowed Wednesday's opening, and with the entire 16-week residency suddenly in peril, Redzepi announced that he was stepping down from Noma after more than two decades at the helm."

"Earlier in the day, as a succession of a large black and white SUVs with tinted windows drove up to the gates of the fabled Paramour Estate in Silver Lake to deliver guests to the inaugural lunch service, a small circle of protesters held up signs reading: No Michelin stars for violence and: Your kitchen is a crime scene."

René Redzepi, the renowned chef of Noma, launched a prestigious 16-week residency in Los Angeles at the Paramour Estate, showcasing innovative haute cuisine. However, the opening was overshadowed by protests and sponsorship cancellations stemming from resurfacing allegations of physical and verbal abuse in his kitchen. The timing proved particularly controversial given economic hardship affecting ordinary Americans. Protesters, including former Noma employee Jason Ignacio White and labor rights lawyer Sarumathi Jayaraman, demonstrated against the residency with signs condemning kitchen violence. In response to the mounting pressure, Redzepi announced his resignation from Noma after more than two decades, acknowledging a shameful history of abuse and stating that an apology alone was insufficient.

Read at www.theguardian.com