Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Sex Harassment Complaint Closes Kitchen At Gordon Ramsay's The London NYC
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 21, 2011
Modified Apr 21, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 21, 2011
Modified Apr 21, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A junior chef at a posh midtown restaurant associated with Gordon Ramsay has filed a complaint with the State Division of Human Rights, accusing cooks at Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC of sexually harassing her. And after she couldn't take it any more and complained, the male chefs refused to work with her and staged a walkout. Commis chef Janet Kim claims she was groped, called a "whore" and propositioned for oral sex while working in the kitchen, and she tells The Post, "We're way past 'Hell's Kitchen'. It's more like Dante's Inferno."
After she complained about the sexual harassment that allegedly runs rampant in the kitchen, she says she was "forced to make tiny hors d'oeuvres in what her male colleagues derisively called 'the c--t corner.'" And her complaint alleges that she wasn't alone in the "c--t corner"; executive chef Markus Glocker "repeatedly assigned Asian females" to work there. "Every cook in fine dining is suspended for walking out," says Kim. "No one will talk to me." If these allegations are true, it sounds like maybe she's better off.
Oh, and the Post notes that Gordon Ramsay no longer owns the restaurant, and only works with the place as a consultant. But his name is still attached, and his shadow still looms long over the establishment—Kim's shocked and appalled lawyer tells the tabloid, "It's outrageous that someone as famous as Gordon Ramsay... would allow this to go on." It's a real...Kitchen Nightmare.
Update: Ramsay's publicist gave us this statement, "Gordon Ramsay has not been served with any proceedings and these allegations do not relate to him in anyway. The restaurant ‘Gordon Ramsay’ at The London, New York is not owned or operated by Gordon Ramsay or Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) and hasn’t been since November 2009 when all operations were handed back to the hotel. Neither Gordon Ramsay or GRH have any involvement with or responsibility for the operation of the restaurant, including anything to do with human resources which is entirely the responsibility of the owners."
Tagged
gordon ramsay
gordon ramsay at the london
hell's kitchen
kitchen nightmares
sexual harassment
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 1:31 p.m. ET
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .