Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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René Redzepi, the founder and celebrity chef of the iconic Danish restaurant Noma, has resigned following allegations of abuse and assault against his staff. Noma, which won three Michelin stars and was ranked the world’s best restaurant five times, has been dogged by reports of mistreatment and the use of unpaid interns for years. The criticism recently came to a head on social media and in a New York Times article detailing former employees’ accounts of abuse, leading to the cancellation of a Noma pop-up in Los Angeles and Redzepi’s tearful resignation announcement on Instagram.

Why it matters

Noma’s impact on the global restaurant industry was immense, helping to put Danish cuisine on the map and transforming Copenhagen into a top dining destination. Redzepi’s resignation raises questions about the restaurant’s future and the broader culture of abuse and mistreatment that has been reported at high-profile, elite restaurants.

The details

The allegations against Redzepi and Noma include accounts of verbal abuse, physical assault, and the restaurant’s reliance on unpaid interns. Former head of Noma’s fermentation lab Jason Ignacio White collected anonymous testimonies of the alleged abuse and posted them to his Instagram page, which went viral. In response to the New York Times article, which included interviews with 35 former employees, Redzepi apologized and said he had worked to change his behavior over the last decade.

Noma was ranked the world’s best restaurant five times between 2003 and 2021.Redzepi was knighted to Denmark’s Order of Dannebrog by Queen Margrethe II in 2016.The New York Times article detailing the abuse allegations was published just days before the opening of a Noma pop-up in Los Angeles on March 12, 2026.
The players

René Redzepi

The founder and celebrity chef of the iconic Danish restaurant Noma, which won three Michelin stars and was ranked the world’s best restaurant five times.

Noma

The renowned Danish restaurant known for its innovative “New Nordic” cuisine and its impact on the global restaurant industry, helping to put Danish cuisine on the map and transform Copenhagen into a top dining destination.

Jason Ignacio White

The former head of Noma’s fermentation lab who collected anonymous testimonies of alleged abuse at the restaurant and posted them to his Instagram page.

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What they’re saying

“I have worked to be a better leader and Noma has taken big steps to transform the culture over many years. I recognize these changes do not repair the past. An apology is not enough; I take responsibility for my own actions.”

— René Redzepi (Instagram)

What’s next

It is unclear whether Noma can continue without its visionary founder, René Redzepi. The restaurant’s future is uncertain as it grapples with the fallout from the abuse allegations.

The takeaway

The resignation of René Redzepi from Noma highlights the broader issue of abuse and mistreatment in the high-profile, elite restaurant industry. It raises questions about the industry’s culture and the need for greater accountability and reform to protect workers.