Why did American Express and Blackbird drop Noma LA sponsorships?

Sponsors pull back amid abuse allegations

Two sponsors withdrew support for planned pop-up dinners tied to a high-profile restaurant after allegations emerged about the chef’s treatment of staff. The sponsors’ decisions followed reporting that accused the chef of physical and psychological mistreatment of employees. Those reports prompted immediate corporate distancing from the events in Los Angeles.

The fallout reverberates beyond a single series of dinners. Local restaurants and producers who had anticipated the pop-ups warned of disruption: the dinners were positioned as major opportunities for regional exposure and for bringing attention — and business — to partnered farms, suppliers, and service workers.

Immediate consequences and broader questions

• Cancelled or postponed events and lost sponsorship dollars for organizers.
• Reputational damage to the chef and the brand behind the pop-ups.
• Increased pressure on venues, sponsors, and ticket buyers to weigh ethics and safety when partnering with globally recognized restaurants.

What happens next will depend on investigations and on how the parties involved address the allegations. Promoters, sponsors and the broader dining community face practical decisions about whether to move forward with planned collaborations, and diners must decide how to respond as more information becomes available.