Keith McNally Reflects on James Corden Ban in Memoir

Keith McNally, the owner of New York City's Balthazar restaurant, has admitted in his new memoir that his public ban and criticism of James Corden in 2022 was driven more by a desire to gain social media notoriety and approval from his staff than by a principled defense of restaurant workers. Although McNally accused Corden of being abusive to staff and banned him after an alleged incident, he now concedes he did not witness the behavior firsthand and relished the power and attention the viral post brought him. McNally describes feeling 'like a little dictator' as Corden repeatedly called, pleading for the post to be deleted—a request McNally refused. He acknowledges that his actions were less about justice and more about boosting his own Instagram following, which surged after the controversy. Despite previously calling Corden 'the most abusive customer' and a 'tiny Cretin of a man,' McNally now reflects on the incident as ethically questionable, admitting to exploiting the situation for personal gain. This new perspective offers a stark contrast to his earlier public stance, highlighting the complexities behind viral social media moments.