Former employees of Noma, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Copenhagen, have accused its founder René Redzepi of verbal and physical abuse spanning several years. A New York Times investigation details instances of punching, kicking, and public humiliation. The allegations come as Noma prepares for a pop-up event in Los Angeles.
Noma, founded by chef René Redzepi and ranked as the world's top restaurant five times by Restaurant magazine, has faced serious accusations from former staff. According to a New York Times exposé published on March 8, 2026, at least 35 former employees described a workplace marked by routine mistreatment between 2009 and 2017.
Redzepi, known for his innovative cuisine at the Copenhagen-based establishment, allegedly punched employees in the face, jabbed them with kitchen tools, and slammed them against walls. Staff also reported psychological abuse, including intimidation, body shaming, public ridicule, and threats to blacklist them from the industry, deport them, or affect their spouses' jobs.
One notable incident occurred in February 2014, when Redzepi halted dinner service and led the kitchen staff outside into the cold. He then screamed at and kicked a sous-chef for playing techno music, a genre Redzepi disliked, forcing the employee to publicly state that he liked giving oral sex to DJs. Witnesses said such events were common, and participants never discussed them afterward.
“Going to work felt like going to war,” said Alessia, a former Noma employee. “You had to force yourself to be strong, to show no fear.”
In January 2023, Redzepi announced Noma's shift from traditional restaurant service to a food lab with pop-up events. The restaurant's upcoming $1,500-per-ticket pop-up in Los Angeles is set to begin on March 11, drawing renewed attention to these past allegations.
