World’s best restaurant on the brink as sponsors flee LA pop-up event over vile claims against abusive chef

Two major sponsors have turned their backs on the $1,500-a-night Noma pop-up in Los Angeles after bombshell claims were leveled against its head chef.

American Express and the startup Blackbird said they were pulling their deals after René Redzepi was accused of physically and verbally abusing dozens of workers.

Last week the culinary world was rocked when 35 people who had worked with the master chef claimed he had attacked them between 2009 and 2017.

The allegations included punching, shoving and threats of deportation and public shaming for mistakes made in the kitchen.

Blackbird founder Ben Leventhal told The New York Times: “René’s past practices, by his own admission, were unacceptable and abhorrent.”

A spokesman for American Express said: “Our priority is to support the restaurant community and not let this decision impact the many people who have worked hard to bring this residency to life, from local farmers to purveyors and more.”

They added the company was “stepping away” and will “reinvest the proceeds” to Los Angeles hospitality workers.

American Express had bought up six nights for Platinum cardholders and Blackbird had $100,000 worth. They both said buyers will be refunded and the proceeds will go to the LA hospitality sector.

Dozens of former Noma staff accused celebrity chef Redzepi of widespread physical, verbal, and psychological abuse last week, describing the work environment as “going to war.”

Workers alleged he routinely punched workers, jabbed them with kitchen tools, and slammed them against walls.

One said: “He just went down the line and punched us in the chest…even the interns who had been upstairs picking elderflowers.”

Thirty former employees said physical abuse by Redzepi and other senior chefs was “routine,” while supervisors engaged in intimidation, body shaming and public ridicule.

Redzepi responded to the claims in a statement, saying: “Although I don’t recognize all details in these stories, I can see enough of my past behavior reflected in them to understand that my actions were harmful to people who worked with me.

“To those who have suffered under my leadership, my bad judgment, or my anger, I am deeply sorry and I have worked to change.”

The LA pop-up will last for 16 weeks and has completely sold out starting Wednesday. A protest is planned by labor group One Fair Wage at the Silver Lake venue.

Redzepi, who founded Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, became a culinary superstar after opening his eatery in 2003.

It was ranked the best in the world by Restaurant magazine a record five times between 2010 and 2021 and was awarded three Michelin stars.

The pop-up, following Noma’s previous events in Sydney, Kyoto, and Tulum, is scheduled to run for roughly 60 nights.

According to Redzepi’s Instagram post, tickets sold out “in minutes” when they went on sale January 26.

Each night features 42 seats, generating up to $63,000 per evening and an estimated $4 million over the entire run.

The ticketing platform Tock, owned by American Express, notes that all reservations are now final, nonrefundable and cannot be transferred.

The restaurant and Redzepi have not made any public statements since the investors pulled out. The California Post has reached out for comment.

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