Restaurants and business

Chef Redzepi abuses: resigns after losing sponsors

The chef apologised for the pain he had caused in the past and promised to be changed

by Food Editor

11 March 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Resignation
The scandal and sponsors

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Just hours before the 11 Marchopening in Los Angeles of the pop-up of Noma - the Copenhagen restaurant repeatedly regarded as the best in the world and now engulfed by allegations of abuse levelled at its chef and founder René Redzepi - two of the main sponsors, American Express and Blackbird, are pulling out of the project. And the celebrity chef is resigning dismissing.

The resignation

Considered one of the best chefs in the world, inventor of the so-called 'New Nordic Cuisine', the chef announced the decision with a story on Instagram, in which he speaks movingly to employees gathered in the room before the opening. "After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I have decided to take a step back and let our extraordinary leaders accompany the restaurant into its next chapter," said the Dane, who admitted he had misbehaved in the past, but promises to be changed.

Redzepi also resigned from the board of Mad, a non-profit organisation he founded in 2011, which on its website claims to focus on assisting those new to the restaurant business.

The scandal and the sponsors

At the basis of the sponsors' renunciation is the New York Times investigation that reports allegations of past abuse and aggressive behaviour towards employees of the now closed Noma in Copenhagen by the chef. Accusations that have gone around the world in recent days.

American Express had reserved six evenings for its Platinum customers in the United States, while Blackbird had purchased tickets for about $100,000 distributed throughout the 16-week opening at $1,500 per cover, which sold out in 60 seconds.

"I would like to address some past events related to my leadership in the kitchen that have recently resurfaced. Although I do not recognise all the details of these events,' Redzepi wrote on social media, I see in them a sufficient reflection of my past behaviour to understand that my actions were detrimental to the people who worked with me.

To those who have suffered because of my leadership, bad judgement or anger, I am deeply sorry and I am committed to change'. "These accusations do not reflect the working climate at Noma today. Although they are stories from many years ago,' the chef said again, 'we are considering them carefully. We have improved since then."

The temporary opening in Los Angeles is one of the itinerant projects with which the restaurant continues its activities after the closure of its historic location. At the foot of the villa in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Silverlake, rented for the occasion, during the day there were protests organised by Jason Ignacio White, who was responsible for the unrest at Noma, and the One fair wage association.