Major sponsors have officially pulled out of Noma's Los Angeles residency after a New York Times exposé detailed allegations of abuse at the Copenhagen restaurant. American Express and hospitality start-up Blackbird announced they would no longer be part of the 16-week, $1,500-per-person pop-up that begins this month.
The investigation, written by Julia Moskin, interviewed more than 35 former employees about the alleged psychological and physical trauma they experienced working for chef René Redzepi. The allegations span from 2009 to 2017 and include claims that Redzepi punched workers in the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements, and slammed them against walls.
Blackbird, a restaurant loyalty platform, had bought $100,000 worth of tickets to offer to its members. The company says all proceeds from its ticket sales will be donated to organisations advocating for hourly wage workers and hospitality industry professionals.
"René's past practices, by his own admission, were unacceptable and abhorrent," Blackbird founder Ben Leventhal told Eater. "We cannot lean on time elapsed and rehabilitation claims when these things resurface. Regardless of context, this is highly problematic behaviour."
Resy, which is owned by American Express, had pulled its support after buying out six nights of Noma LA to offer to U.S. Platinum cardholders. The company was also planning an event at the pop-up with invitees from within the restaurant industry, but an executive from Resy sent an email to those attendees saying it would not go forward.
The withdrawal of sponsors was first reported on Monday evening, March 10, 2026, the day before the pop-up was set to open. Yet representatives for Noma said that the pop-up series would continue.
Redzepi acknowledged that while he doesn't recognise all the details, he can see enough of his past behaviour reflected in the stories to understand that his actions were harmful to his employees. He referenced therapy, stepping back from daily operations, and past admissions like a 2015 essay where he called himself a "bully" who yelled and pushed staff.
A protest is planned by former Noma fermentation-lab lead Jason Ignacio White and worker-rights nonprofit One Fair Wage, beginning on 11 March at the Silver Lake site. The advocacy group and White are calling for wage increases in the hospitality industry, as well as further accountability regarding the allegations against Redzepi.
Noma was named best restaurant in the world five times and announced in 2023 that it would shift from service at its Copenhagen location to a "seasons" themed style of service that could be hosted anywhere. The restaurant's global reputation for innovative Nordic cuisine made it one of the most sought-after dining experiences on Earth. When tickets for the Los Angeles residency went on sale, they sold out in 60 seconds.
Noma is proceeding with opening plans unchanged, donating 1% of revenue to LA training programmes. The outcome will offer a rare test of whether corporate partners and diners are willing to separate a chef's current practices from documented past behaviour, and whether institutional change can satisfy both the business case and the moral case for engagement.