René Redzepi resigned as head chef of the Copenhagen-based restaurant Noma on March 11, 2026, amid severe allegations of workplace abuse. The departure coincided with the launch of the restaurant’s $1,500-per-person residency at the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles, which sold out within minutes of posting.
Activists, including members of the labor organization One Fair Wage, gathered outside the Silver Lake venue on Wednesday morning to protest Redzepi’s treatment of Noma staff. Following the public scrutiny, corporate sponsors American Express and Blackbird withdrew their financial support for the Los Angeles pop-up.
The resignation follows a March 7, 2026, investigative report published by the New York Times that detailed incidents of physical and psychological abuse at Noma. Dozens of former employees provided accounts to the publication. Former director of fermentation Jason Ignacio White described instances of Redzepi punching staff members in the ribs, stabbing workers with barbecue forks, and using collective punishment to publicly humiliate employees.
Redzepi released a public statement regarding his departure simultaneously with the start of the Los Angeles pop-up operations at 11:00 AM local time. In addition to stepping away from Noma, Redzepi resigned from the board of MAD, the culinary nonprofit organization he established.
Noma is recognized globally for pioneering the New Nordic culinary movement and has been named the World’s Best Restaurant five times. The establishment previously announced plans to close its regular dining service at the end of 2024 to transition into a food innovation laboratory. Redzepi’s departure highlights ongoing scrutiny of labor practices within the fine-dining industry.