A Michelin star chef has quit his job after an alleged initiation ritual was performed on a kitchen hand.
Up until a few weeks ago, chef Aurélien Largeau ran the restaurant at five-star hotel Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, southwest France.
However, the 31-year-old was reported as having swiftly exited his job role - leaving around 21 December according to hotel management - after an alleged initiation incident took place in the kitchens of the hotel on 2 December.
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Regional French newspaper Sud Ouest reports thirty people were involved in the alleged initiation event - known as 'bizutage' or 'hazing' which is the initiation of newcomers - and that head chef Largeau was also present.
The 'ritual' saw a young commis chef allegedly tied to a chair while naked and left there for hours.
The outlet reports images and videos of the young chef were shared on social media, revealing him to have an apple in his mouth and carrot up his bottom.
The content is reported as having since been taken down.
The practice of bizutage has been banned in France and while no formal complaint has been made by anyone - nor the alleged victim - on Thursday (28 December) a preliminary investigation was opened into charges of sexual assault and violence, according to AFP.
Largeau has since responded to the allegations, denying any wrongdoing, telling France Bleu radio: "I would like to formally deny the allegations made against me by several media outlets, and state that the facts reported in no way reflect reality.
"[The reports are] an attack on my honor, reporting false and defamatory facts about an alleged ‘humiliating hazing of a kitchen assistant’."
The chef condemned 'any form of mistreatment, hazing or humiliation' and said he would 'never associate [himself] with such behaviour'.
The hotel management company which runs, but does not own the hotel, the Hyatt, confirmed there'd been 'a worrying incident on the hotel premises'.
The spokesperson added: "This incident does not reflect the values we defend. An investigation has been carried out and the appropriate decisions taken. The security, health and wellbeing of our colleagues, our customers and our partners are our absolute priority."
It's unclear what the 'appropriate decision' fully entailed, however, the hotel did confirm Largeau is no longer working at the establishment.
The additional statement read: "The management team at Hôtel du Palais has concluded an investigation that was launched immediately following concerning allegations and imagery regarding an incident in the premises of the hotel … the management team at Hôtel du Palais confirms that its collaboration with chef Aurélien Largeau ended on 21 December."
UNILAD has reached out to Hyatt and Aurélien Largeau for comment.
Topics: Food and Drink, World News, France
Poppy Bilderbeck