The team behind the world-renowned restaurant Noma said Tuesday it is committed to addressing workplace concerns following the resignation of its Danish chef amid a protest last week outside its Silver Lake pop-up over alleged employee abuse.
René Redzepi resigned hours after the demonstration began Wednesday outside the restaurant’s temporary location, where protesters called for dialogue, reparations for workers and broader changes in the fine-dining industry.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Noma team said it has implemented changes in recent years to improve workplace conditions.
“Much of what has been shared publicly in recent weeks does not reflect the Noma of today, nor the many people who have contributed to meaningful change within our organization. That said, we take all concerns about our workplace seriously,” the statement read.
The Noma team said the restaurant has introduced initiatives in recent years aimed at fostering a “safe, respectful, and rewarding environment” for employees and emphasized that those efforts are ongoing.
The protest last week was organized by Jason Ignacio White, a former head of the restaurant’s fermentation lab, along with the wage-advocacy nonprofit One Fair Wage.
“For over two decades, the culture surrounding René Redzepi and Noma has been celebrated without confronting the true harm countless workers have experienced behind the curtains,” White said during the protest.
The demonstration coincided with the start of Noma’s 16-week pop-up residency in Silver Lake, where tickets were priced at about $1,500 per person and sold out shortly after being released earlier this year.
“Beneath the glamour and stars, workers being pushed beyond their limits, workers being punched and choked, workers being humiliated, and dreams being broken,” White said.
Noma, founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2003, has been ranked among the best restaurants in the world and is widely credited with helping popularize New Nordic cuisine.
Allegations involving Redzepi resurfaced following a report by The New York Times detailing accounts from former employees describing psychological abuse, intimidation and other mistreatment.
American Express, Blackbird and the booking platform Resy pulled partnerships and canceled events tied to the pop-up following the allegations.
In a statement posted on Instagram after the demonstration began, Redzepi apologized to those affected and acknowledged past behavior.
“The recent weeks have brought attention and important conversations about our restaurant, industry, and my past leadership,” René Redzepi wrote. “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.”
He added, “After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I’ve decided to step away and allow our extraordinary leaders to now guide the restaurant into its next chapter. I have also resigned from the board of MAD, the nonprofit organization I founded in 2011.”
Noma remains open during its Silver Lake residency, with the team saying it plans to continue operations while addressing concerns raised in recent weeks.