- **Q: Who did Keith McNally accuse of being rude?
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Celebrity / Nyc Restaurants
Famed NYC restaurateur Keith McNally has pulled back the curtain on a decades-old incident involving punk rock icon Patti Smith. In an excerpt from his upcoming memoir, McNally alleges that the singer was 'incredibly rude' to a waitress dur...
Keith McNally, a prominent figure in the New York City restaurant scene for decades, known for hotspots like Balthazar, Pastis, and Minetta Tavern, shared this anecdote from his early career in an excerpt from his upcoming memoir, 'I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir'. The incident reportedly occurred at One Fifth, an iconic Italian restaurant popular in the 1970s, frequented by artists and notable figures.
McNally recounts that Patti Smith often dined there with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, sometimes joined by Mapplethorpe's patron and ex-lover, Sam Wagstaff. While McNally noted Mapplethorpe 'never tried to belittle' staff, he alleges Smith's interaction over forgotten bread was harsh enough to make a server cry.
This revelation echoes McNally's previous public confrontation with James Corden in 2022, whom he banned (and later unbanned after an apology) from Balthazar for alleged abusive behavior towards staff. These incidents highlight the power dynamics often present in the service industry and spark conversations about celebrity conduct and the treatment of hospitality workers.
Social media reactions to the Smith anecdote have been varied, with some users claiming to have witnessed similar behavior, while others expressed disappointment or defended the singer, suggesting she might have changed over the years or the context might be missing.
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This anecdote adds another layer to the long history of interactions between celebrities and service staff in NYC's vibrant restaurant scene. It follows McNally's previous public calling-out of James Corden for similar behavior, sparking debate about accountability.
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