Noma chef resigns amid abuse claims
René Redzepi, head chef and co-founder of Copenhagen’s three-Michelin-star restaurant Noma, has resigned following allegations of physical and psychological abuse toward staff [https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/12/travel/rene-redzepi-noma-resignation-abuse-allegations-scli-intl]. Former employees detailed their experiences just before Noma’s Los Angeles pop-up opening [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/noma-was-the-top-restaurant-in-the-world-chef-rene-redzepi-just-resigned-over-abuse-allegations]. The resignation sparks debate around workplace culture in elite kitchens [https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/12/travel/rene-redzepi-noma-resignation-abuse-allegations-scli-intl].
The resignation followed a *New York Times* report detailing accounts from 35 former employees alleging physical and psychological abuse from 2009 to 2017. Allegations included punching, intimidation, body shaming, and public ridicule. One former cook compared working at Noma to "going to war". Jason Ignacio White, a former head of Noma's fermentation lab, collected anonymous testimonies of alleged abuse and posted them to his Instagram page, which went viral. Some sponsors, including Resy and American Express, pulled funding from Noma's Los Angeles pop-up, which opened with protesters outside. Tickets for the Noma L.A. pop-up cost $1,500 per person. Redzepi has admitted to past abusive behavior, writing in a 2015 essay, "I've been a bully for a large part of my career". He apologized on Instagram and said he has worked to change his behavior. Noma has implemented changes including a fully paid internship program, improved hours, and a dedicated HR team. Redzepi also resigned from the board of MAD, a non-profit he founded in 2011 to help chefs. Noma closed its Copenhagen location in 2024 and has been focusing on global pop-ups and functioning as a food laboratory. Redzepi said the Noma team would continue with the Los Angeles residency.
