The Spotted Pig — and what happens in the aftermath of its closure — will have ripple effects throughout the restaurant industry for years to come. One former employee told the Times that she never expected to see any of the promised profits. And now some of the former Spotted Pig employees who came forward are reportedly trying to buy the restaurant, which would mark another major achievement for the cause.
The 78 employees who lost their positions at the Spotted Pig deserve a chance to exist in the restaurant industry, outside of the dark shadow cast by their employer: It is profoundly important that hiring managers across the restaurant industry evaluate these job-seekers fairly , without any assumptions about their relationship to harassment or whistleblowing. And as for Friedman, we can only hope he stays out of the restaurant industry for good.
By the end of its tenure, the Spotted Pig was more an embodiment of the endemic culture of sexism and abuse in the restaurant world than a groundbreaking restaurant. That would be a fitting, even hopeful end to an institution whose impressive highs and truly despicable lows told the story of elite restaurant culture in America. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Filed under: MeToo. Pocket Flipboard Email. Sign up for the Sign up for the Eater newsletter The freshest news from the food world every day. Friedman, according to the press release, "forcibly kissed employees and pressured them to send him nude photos.
In a statement to The New York Times , Friedman said he is "sorry for the harm I caused" and "being part of an environment where women were afraid to speak up. And I hope we are all able to put this painful chapter behind us," he added. In addition to the monetary compensation from the settlement, The Spotted Pig has agreed to implement new policies, which inform employees of their rights under the law, and to provide and require training for its employees and managers on anti-sexual harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment and anti-retaliation protections under the New York State and New York City Human Rights Law, according to the AG's office.
Additionally, Friedman won't have a role or any supervisory authority in the restaurant's management or operations, the press release states. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Mario Batali , who was accused of sexual assault in as first reported by Eater , also once owned a small percentage of The Spotted Pig.
Many also said he retaliated against them professionally when they complained, and that Bloomfield knew of the harassment but did nothing. Batali has apologized in general language for behavior described in reporting by the Times, but has denied specific accusations in civil and criminal proceedings related to an assault allegation in Boston.
In the initial Times story, Bloomfield denied allegations that she turned a blind eye to harassment. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
In the wake of the revelations, Bloomfield and Friedman dissolved their business partnership. Friedman retained control of the Spotted Pig, and asked minority owner Batali—who was mired deep in his own morass of harassment and assault accusations—to return his shares.
If taking my damaged reputation out of the equation gets foodies to come, I would do that. That was before January 7, when the New York Times published an article about the settlement. The women had pushed for a higher lump sum, but Friedman claimed financial difficulties. Last Friday, he continued, human resources told the kitchen that its last day of operation might be February 1. Jamie Seet, who worked at the Spotted Pig for many years, including as general manager, and who is one of the settlement recipients, was unsurprised by the turn of events.
She never expected to receive money from the profit-sharing portion of the deal. We could turn it around from this tragic stain on the restaurant community into a story of redemption and empowerment for women and working-class people.
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