Restaurateur Claims ‘Incredibly Rude’ A-List Singer Left a Waitress ‘in Tears’ and Would ‘Belittle’ Staff

Renowned Restaurateur Exposes A-List Singer for ‘Incredibly Rude’ Behaviour

Keith McNally, a well-known restaurateur, has recently made shocking claims about an A-list singer’s behaviour towards restaurant staff, alleging that the singer was extremely rude and even made a waitress cry. McNally, the owner of popular New York City hotspots, detailed the incident in his upcoming memoir, ‘I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir’.

The incident reportedly took place in the 1970s when McNally was working as a general manager at One Fifth. In the excerpt from his memoir, McNally identified the singer as Patti Smith, accusing her of belittling staff and reducing a waitress to tears because she had forgotten to bring bread to the table. Smith, who was dining with her ex-boyfriend, Robert Mapplethorpe, and art curator Sam Wagstaff, was described by McNally as being particularly difficult to serve on nights when Wagstaff was not present.

McNally expressed his dismay at the singer’s behaviour, stating that he can’t listen to a Patti Smith song without recalling the unpleasant incident. While Smith and Mapplethorpe were characterised as surly and rebellious artists, Wagstaff was viewed more favourably by McNally. The restaurateur noted that Mapplethorpe, though terse, did not engage in the same disrespectful behaviour towards servers as Smith did.

In response to McNally’s claims, a representative for Patti Smith has remained silent. This accusation is not the restaurateur’s first encounter with condemning celebrity conduct. In 2022, James Corden faced a temporary ban from McNally’s restaurant, Balthazar, due to alleged poor behaviour. The ban was lifted after Corden apologised for his actions.

Moreover, Graydon Carter, the founder of Air Mail and former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, was banned from another of McNally’s restaurants in 2021 for missing a reservation. Despite these controversies, McNally remains an influential figure in the New York City dining scene. ‘I Regret Almost Everything’ is set to release on May 6, shedding light on more intriguing anecdotes from McNally’s extensive career in the hospitality industry.

As McNally’s revelations spark interest and debate, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respectful conduct towards service staff in all settings. The interaction between celebrities and service industry professionals continues to be a topic of interest and scrutiny, highlighting the power dynamics at play in these encounters.

Overall, the story underscores the complexities of celebrity culture and the impact of their actions on those around them. It prompts reflection on the treatment of service workers and the responsibility that comes with fame. McNally’s candid account serves as a testament to the enduring influence and consequences of interactions between public figures and those in service roles.