René Redzepi, the head chef of Noma in Copenhagen, poses for pictures at Noma, at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, on February 10, 2015. YUYA SHINO/REUTERS
The co-founder of Noma, several times crowned the best restaurant in the world, Danish chef René Redzepi said, on Thursday, March 12, that he was stepping down, following reports of past abuse at his fabled restaurant.
"After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I've decided to step away," Redzepi said in an Instagram post.
Over the weekend, newspaper The New York Times published a story detailing witness testimony about stories of past abuse at Noma, including physical violence and episodes of public shaming. The newspaper said it had interviewed 35 former employees about the period between 2009 and 2017.
"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," Redzepi said. He added that "an apology is not enough; I take responsibility for my own actions."
