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Friday 13 March 2026

Head chef of Noma resigns in wake of abuse claims

A much-hyped LA dining experience is proceeding all the same

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The head chef of Noma, one of the top restaurants in the world, has resigned after being accused of creating a toxic work environment. René Redzepi was preparing for a residency in Los Angeles, where Noma, normally based in Denmark, is putting on a 16-week dining experience. A recent NYT report spoke to dozens of former Noma employees who accused Redzepi of physically and psychologically abusing them between 2009 and 2017. Redzepi initially apologised and said he had changed, but stepped down on Wednesday after several corporate sponsors withdrew from the LA residency. “An apology is not enough,” he wrote online. “I take responsibility for my own actions.” The residency, which costs $1,500 a person, opened on Wednesday. At the time of writing, Redzepi’s photo remains on its home page.

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