Comedian James Corden is back in the sights of Keith McNally after being ‘banned’ from Balthazar for allegedly repeatedly visiting Soho restaurant staff. “James Corden just called me and apologized,” McNally wrote on Instagram Monday night. “I’m more fucked up than most and I believe in second chances.”
McNally, who owns Manhattan restaurants including Balthazar, Pastis and Minetta Tavern, joked that if Corden was allowed to “host his late-night show” for nine months, he would bring Corden back to the iconic French bistro. “No, of course not. But…anyone big enough to apologize to a rogue bum like me (and my staff) shouldn’t be banned anywhere. Especially Balthazar,” McNally wrote in the post. “Everything is forgiven.”
About seven hours later, McNally decided to give Corden a “second chance” after the comedian abused French restaurant staff and demanded free drinks from the waiter. “James Corden is a huge [sic] Talented comedian, but a little idiot [sic] Or a man,” McNally said in a post Monday afternoon. “My Balthazar server has been the most abusive of my customers since this restaurant opened 25 years ago. ”
In the post, McNally recounted an incident in Balthazar in June when Corden allegedly found a hair in his meal and demanded “one more drink this second” and threatened Write a “bad review” of the restaurant online. In another incident at the restaurant in October, McNally claimed the comedian went “crazy” after he found traces of egg whites in his wife Julia Carey’s “Omelette with Gruyere Cheese” shouting loudly.”
“You can’t do your job,” Corden allegedly yelled at staff during his October visit. “Maybe I should go to the kitchen and make my own omelettes!” McNally claimed the comedian was “similar” at Cafe Luxembourg, the Upper West Side restaurant McNally opened in 1983 and has since left. Multiple Corden spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
The apology appeared to temporarily resolve the online controversy, although not everyone was happy. “Don’t capture Keith,” one user commented on the post. “This is the guy,” another wrote. “If you want someone like him – I would never eat there.”
Since joining Instagram about two years ago, McNally has become known for her unconventional and sometimes problematic social media presence. McNally, once known as the “invented downtown restaurateur” and an outspoken defender of Woody Allen (the director was accused but not accused of child abuse by his daughter Dylan Farrow), recently praised the Arrested and charged with statutory offences director Roman Polanski’s 1979 Turnip.
Update: October 18, 2022, 9:51 am: This article has been updated to reflect that James Corden has been banned from Balthazar.