Salt Bae, the controversial Turkish chef and internet sensation known for his flamboyant salting technique and extravagant meat dishes, has become a polemic figure due to allegations of theft, discrimination, and misogyny. Former employees at his Nusr-Et luxury steakhouses have filed lawsuits against the celebrity butcher, accusing him of tip theft, labor violations, and creating a testosterone-saturated culture of fear.
While Nusret Gökçe -his actual name- portrays himself as a wealthy and luxurious figure, former employees denounce that his empire is built on the exploitation of his workers. At the heart of the controversy surrounding Salt Bae are allegations of tip theft. And here are some of the accusations against him and his empire.
Inside Salt Bae’s Restaurant Empire: Theft and Toxic Culture Allegations
Former staff members from several of Gökçe’s restaurants have claimed that he instructed them to take a portion of their tips and place them into a communal pool, which was then distributed to the kitchen staff. This practice is illegal in many jurisdictions and is seen as a form of wage theft. In addition to tip theft, former employees have also accused Gökçe of creating a toxic work environment that fostered discrimination and misogyny. One former bartender at Nusr-Et London described the restaurant as “gold from the outside but sh*t from inside.”
Despite his flamboyant image and ostentatious displays of wealth, Gökçe’s restaurants offer a false promise of luxury. The former employees who spoke to Insider described an atmosphere of fear, with arbitrary firings and a culture of favoritism. Gökçe’s obsession with wealth and excess seems to extend only to himself, with little regard for the well-being of his workers. In his empire, former workers say, he’s the only making tons of money, and the “trickle down” does not exist.
The presence of the “salt boy,” who trails Gökçe with a bowl of salt, is emblematic of his performative and superficial approach to his business. Glitz and showmanship are the lifeblood of his empire, but they come at the expense of his workers, who are expected to work long hours for low pay in a hostile environment. While Gökçe enjoys a life of luxury, his employees struggle to make ends meet.
Salt Bae Restaurants’ Misogyny Environment
According to a former reservation agent at Nusr-Et Miami, who spoke to Insider, working for Nusret Gökçe, the butcher, made her feel disrespected. She added that the restaurant’s female employees were forced to wear revealing outfits, as mentioned in the complaints.
Another former employee, Elizabeth Cruz, who worked as a bartender at Nusr-Et New York, filed a complaint in November 2021 stating that she had to wear revealing clothing as part of the dress code. However, Cruz faced even more discrimination after one of the managers found out she was Dominican. He made inappropriate comments, implying that Dominican women are sexually promiscuous.
Despite seemingly complying with the dress code, Cruz says she was harassed by several male colleagues. The complaint details that one male colleague suggested she become a stripper, another attempted to date her, and a third followed her home. The male-dominated workplace at Nusr-Et was a hostile environment for Cruz and other female employees, she stated.
What Salt Bae and His Lawyers Have to Say About the Serious Allegations
In response to the allegations, Gökçe’s lawyer dismissed them as “salacious and meritless claims.” However, the sheer number of lawsuits filed against Salt Bae’s businesses suggests that there is a pattern of exploitation and mistreatment: the Justice is the place where this is going to be properly discussed. The fact that former employees are afraid to speak out publicly for fear of professional repercussions speaks to the power dynamics at play in Gökçe’s restaurants.
The controversy surrounding Salt Bae highlights the dark side of celebrity culture and the restaurant industry. While Gökçe may be a talented chef and a master of self-promotion, his success may have come at the expense of his workers.